Beautiful WW2 4x5 Kodachromes

[EASmithV]

This website has a few really nice B-25 pictures

http://intersections.anu.edu.au/issue8/mchoul.html

But then I found out where they came from...

http://www.shorpy.com/4x5-large-format-kodachromes

Absolutely gorgeous...

[Mike Crawford]

They all come from the Library of Congress website which has thousands of hi res historical images which you are allowed to download including Walker Evans and other FSA photographs.
http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/catalog.html

[Ektagraphic]

Kodachrome is amazing stuff! Imagine 8X10 Kodachromes!

[Jeff Bannow]

Has anyone ever ordered prints from the LOC? Looks like an interesting and reasonably priced service. You can even order negs?

[BetterSense]

Was this 25 speed film? Any estimates as to how expensive shooting 4x5 kodachrome was at the time? Many of those shots look to be lit with flash; flashbulbs I presume?

[Fredrik Sandstrom]

Was this 25 speed film?

No, Kodachrome sheet film was ASA 8 for daylight and ASA 10 for type B. Faster 25 speed Kodachrome was introduced in 1960, long after Kodachrome in sheets had been discontinued.

[tiberiustibz]

I read in some comments that the photographer used regular daylight balanced floodlamps. The lighting is the most impressive since he was working with such slow film.

[Mike Crawford]

Has anyone ever ordered prints from the LOC? Looks like an interesting and reasonably priced service. You can even order negs?

I remember a client bought some prints about 25 years ago includng Dorethea Lange's 'Migrant Mother.' Obviously contemporary prints but certainley then they were good quality.
http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/list/128_migm.html

Also saw an exhibition in Germany of Walker Evans' FSA work which had been printed as large format inkjets.
http://www.martsonhilleditions.com/WE1port2.html
Now of course people here will start crying Judas, however the prints were excellent quality and fascinating to see the work presented in pristine condition. As they called them, 'New Translations.' Also John T Hill was a long term friend, printer and colleague of Walker Evans and as he pointed out, Evans was very interested in the latest technolgy and methods of reproduction so he might well have approved.

[skyrick]

Wow! Absolutely Wow! So the '40s really were in color! Nothing has ever demonstrated that to me as clearly as these amazing Kodachromes!

Yeah, what Ektagraphic said, "Can you imagine 8x10 K-chromes?"

Did I say "Wow!" yet?

Rick

[phfitz]

Just think, they were all shot with UNCOATED lenses. I love the slightly saturated Kodachrome look they have.