[Leica] John Sexton on Kodak Discontinuing Black & White Papers

[dnygr at cshore.com (dnygr)]

A friend forwarded me a newesletter he receives from John Sexton. In the 
newsletter, John Sexton comments on Kodak's recent decision to discontinue 
black and white paper.



> Subject:  Kodak Discontinues All Black and White Papers
>
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>
> A SAD DAY FOR PHOTOGRAPHY...
>
> EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY DISCONTINUES
> ALL BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHIC PAPER
>
> Many readers of my email newsletter will already be aware of the  
> news I am including below. However, I wanted to make sure that any  
> and all photographers on my email list had heard the sad news about  
> Kodak's recent decision concerning traditional black and white  
> silver halide imaging.
>
> On Wednesday, June 15, in Rochester, New York, Eastman Kodak  
> Company, announced it would discontinue the production of all black  
> and white photographic papers. Kodak cited significant declines in  
> market usage of papers designed for Black-and-White printing as the  
> reason for the decision. As you might imagine, this was a day of  
> great sadness that I, along with many other photographers, will  
> never forget.
>
> As many of you know, I have used Kodak photographic films and  
> papers for many years. Over the past few years, my primary printing  
> paper preference has been Kodak Polymax Fine Art paper. I mourn its  
> discontinuance, along with the rest of Kodak's black and white  
> papers, and realize it will mean inevitable changes in my own  
> photographic printmaking. I did want to assure those who have  
> prints on order with me that I have a sufficient supply of paper to  
> complete all existing print orders with the paper on which they  
> were initially printed. While there are still a few other  
> photographic papers of excellent quality available from some  
> manufacturers, for my own personal needs I found Polymax Fine Art  
> to be the best choice for much of my imagery. As you might imagine,  
> I have already begun to anticipate possible alternatives.
>
> Here are some links to news stories about Kodaks recent announcement:
> http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/050615/kodak_paper.html?.v=4
>
> http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8AO836O1.htm? 
> campaign_id=apn_home_down
>
> http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8231657/
>
>
> In addition, I have attached a document that was emailed by Kodak  
> on Wednesday.
>
> I wish I could say that an outpouring of letters, emails, and phone  
> calls to Eastman Kodak might change their decision, but according  
> to friends who work at Kodak, this is a virtual impossibility. That  
> being said, I want to encourage all readers of this email  
> newsletter, along with anyone with whom you might share this  
> information, to write a letter to Daniel Carp, the Chairman of  
> Eastman Kodak Company. I am told that letters will be far more  
> effective than phone calls or emails in communicating your  
> reactions about Kodak's decision.
>
> Here is Mr. Carp's mailing address:
>
> Daniel A. Carp
> Chairman
> Eastman Kodak Company
> 343 State Street
> Rochester, NY 14650-0228
>
> As I noted, I suspect there is little chance for Kodak to change  
> direction on this decision. However, Kodak still manufactures  
> silver halide films, as well as photographic chemicals. I believe  
> it is imperative for the management of Kodak to realize that much  
> greater advance warning is necessary for professional photographers  
> and photographic enthusiasts, such as us, to plan and adjust our  
> working methods. By choice, I have used Kodak Professional black  
> and white films exclusively for many years. The reason for this is  
> its impeccable quality control. To date, I have seen absolutely no  
> deterioration in their film quality. However, I am concerned that  
> changes could be made which might compromise the quality and  
> consistency of their products, and I would not want to be put in a  
> situation to have such limited lead time, if and when Kodak decides  
> to discontinue essential products or entire product lines in the  
> future.
>
> I do hope that photographic manufacturers, such as Agfa, Forte,  
> Ilford, Kentmere, and Oriental, will continue to produce fiber-base  
> papers of high quality well into the future. To date I have never  
> seen a black and white print from the digital domain that rivals  
> the sensuous and tactile qualities of a well-crafted black and  
> white silver print. Perhaps there is a company on the horizon that  
> will see the need for an on-going truly archival photographic  
> medium, and rise to the occasion to manufacture high quality black  
> and white silver papers for decades to come. Let's hope so!  
> Moreover, let's support any company that undertakes such a noble  
> endeavor.
>
> I hope that my next email newsletter will contain more positive  
> news and information. I still love working in the traditional  
> silver halide darkroom. I find there to be a therapeutic aspect to  
> making prints by hand in the darkroom - gently "massaging" the  
> light onto the paper, and handling those prints through the  
> photographic chemistry. I've said many times in workshops and  
> lectures that two or three minutes in the developer goes by much  
> more quickly for me than fifteen or twenty seconds watching the  
> icon of a wristwatch spin on my computer monitor. Long live silver!!!
>
> John
>
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> John Sexton
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> Carmel Valley, CA 93924
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