LUNACY AT KODAK AND GOOD SENSE AT NASA

On any given day, good things and bad things can happen. Sometimes it seems like an odd stew of both and you have to get through one to get to the other – or you must chew and swallow both.

I am looking forward to the results of the fresh lunar information that we will get from the LCROSS mission to the moon. People with any interest in science always like to see things go “BOOM”. What we will learn from impacting a missile onto the moon's surface is whether there has ever been water in that spot.


From the aspect of cool photography, there will be a couple of hours of live-feed coverage of the missile's flight from a trailing rocket. In earlier days, I would have been at the screen, watching it LIVE.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LCROSS/lunarswingby

Now, I will settle for the replay. My excitement will not be diminished by the delay. There's nothing like almost BEING THERE and watching it on my schedule. Now, if I was a part of Mission Command … but why even ponder that line of thought?

This is the day that Kodak announced that Kodachrome is going out of production. I will grieve and move on. I will also find out for all of us what they intend to do about processing the hundreds of thousands of rolls of KC still in our refrigerators, freezers and camera bags.

Momma, they took my KODACHROME away!

Whenever I think about anything in my life that even approaches loss and suffering and begin to have feelings about “getting and having”, I immediately give thought to Mahatma Gandhi.

Love him or hate him, you can't ignore him. Educated, determined and self-sacrificing, he changed things for millions of people. First, he changed himself.

The photograph at the top of this article shows the collected estate of Gandhi. This was all that he owned. Even if you have seen the movie with Ben Kingsley 3 or 4 times, none of us can get into these sandals or what do you call those other things? They are not flip-flops – there is no thong. Just a peg. Hmmm.

I sometimes haul forth memories of traveling alone on many trips with just enough money, or working for money at odd jobs on the way. I carried a towel, soap, toothpaste and a toothbrush. Simple.

My dear friend, Clyde Bond is a magazine and information content publishing wizard. Not only does he have sound ideas. He works. He refines his own electronic and print creations and the his own selling process. One line that he uses successfully in his presentations is: “Everyone broadcasts and listens to one radio station, WII-FM.” WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME? Offering them a chance to participate in his business plan, he explains the great and lucrative benefits of his program to his clients. What plays on that station? In Clyde's case, for his clients, he brings them SUCCESS.

Without Kodachrome, should our photographic expectations diminish? No. We need to elevate our work, our investment in the process of making good images and move forward. Use the film, work at wearing out our equipment and keep ourselves fresh.

Travel LIGHT; Think LIGHT; Be LIGHT.

Maybe the Agfa 25 needs to be shot next. The Hasselblad and the Pentaxes beckon.

I will respond.                       © Tim www.timjohnsonphoto.com