The last few days have presented a whirlwind of exciting and unique subject matter. From psychedelic neon busses to the weathered spice vendors of a trade market, Colombo has offered no end of captivating sights. I was so impressed I thought it deserved a Fujifilm recipe simulation of the legendary Kodachrome 64 film stock. Fujifilm Recipe: Kodachrome 64.
About Kodachrome 64
First introduced in 1935 as a 16mm film format, Kodachrome was one of the first successful film stocks introduced to the market. And As the years progressed and additional sizes became available, it became the go-to option for both photographers cinematographers alike.
Unfortunately, The post-processing technique for Kodachrome is particularly complex and expensive, which meant consumers would be required to buy the film as a process paid. And deliver it to Kodak once spent. That was until the 1950’s when a legal ruling prohibited this action from continuing. Although, it remained in place around the rest of the world.
Even after the introduction of cheaper alternatives such as Fujifilm Fujichrome and even Kodak’s own Ektachrome, Kodachrome remained a leading choice for professionals and enthusiasts. However, despite its long reign of success, due to its expensive process and the rise of digital photography, it would become discontinued in 2009.
Featured Location
This article features images captured over several days in Colombo and includes ones from the Psyhadelic Sri Lankan bus article feature. And additional photographs are from a short time spent in the floating market adjacent to the city’s train station.
It was quite a random development as I had intended to travel north once more to complete an old project in the Tamil community. However, once I arrived at the station, all the tickets had sold out for the train.
This unforeseen development left me an hour and a half before the next train. And instead of spending that time reading a book, I decided to visit the market instead.
Well, it wasn’t long before I realised how wealthy this place was for my photography. I had hit a gold mine. I was disappointed that I had not explored this place more fully in my previous visits to the capital.
Nevertheless, I extended my stay for a few more days to allow me to make images of this ecstatic hub of commerce teeming with life and energy in every direction.
Aesthetic Observations
The first and most notable observation I make when judging the simulation recipe on its aesthetical qualities is its subdued colour range. This result is a symptom of the classic chrome base simulation used. But it is not a negative aspect. While there may be some instances higher saturation is desirable, in a location surrounded by intense colours using such a simulation creates uniformity across the frame.
The contrast is on point, creating a pleasing level of dynamic range while still maintaining balance. There are cases where highlights and shadows have deeded altered slightly. However, these adjustments have been minimal. And unless you’re shooting in a studio or have time to plan and complete a photo shoot, it’s rare to get perfect lighting conditions.
The reduction of blues and increased reds give the images a subtly warm and classical film look reflecting the original character of Kodachrome. The aesthetic is enhanced further by the inclusion of grain which overlays the image’s heightened clarity nicely.
Besides the wide-open shots of the busses cockpits, the photographs used f/1.4 prime lenses, meaning images will be much sharper than any vintage film cameras and lenses would yield. So be sure to consider this when passing your assessment on them.
Recipe Settings
- Film Simulation: Classic Chrome
- Grain Effect: Weak/Small
- Colour Chrome Effect: Strong
- Colour Chrome FX Blue: Weak
- White Balance: Daylight, R+2, B-5
- Dynamic Range: DR200
- Tone Curve: H0, S0
- Colour: +2
- Sharpness: +1
- High ISO NR: -4
- Clarity: +3
View the entire collection of Fujifilm recipes by clicking here.
Another great source of Fujifilm recipes is Fuji x Weekly.
Conclusion
Overall the simulation does a top job of rendering images in likeness to the aesthetics of retro film stock. However, in this case, the inability to matte the blacks or highlights in the camera mean it is difficult, if not impossible, to replicate the look of Kodachrome 200 film.
Nevertheless, it performed well and produced pleasing images from my journey to Kandy’s Central Municipal Market.
What do you think of the results? Let me know in the comments section below. And don’t forget to share this article with your friends and online communities that may be interested.
Sample Reel < >
