Once upon a time there were slide films and their tray - C’era una volta la vecchia e cara diapositiva
Sunday afternoons with the family watching slides were one of the most beautiful memories, moments made of images, slides, but also emotions. Many don't even know what these slides are, or they only know the name. They were like old normal analogue films but instead of being negative, they were positive as used in our old cameras. Colored or b/w and after being developed was mounted on square frames, usually made of plastic or cardboard to be projected onto a screen with a projector. They were called "slide films" or "reversal films" produced and sold by Kodak from 1939, under the "Kodachrome" brand, until they were abandoned in 2009. But those born in the 70s and early 80s had the opportunity to get to know them and touch them firsthand. So imagine the scene: in a darkened room, a white wall or a huge sheet spread out as best as possible as a screen… almost HD technology while the whole family in a semicircle to relive the highlights of holidays or events. Projectors in the right position, focus done and OK! The show can begin. The operator in charge, usually was the “Dad photographer” who had the responsibility of making the slides slide, with a regular rhythm and also commenting on them, with a short memory. Even poorly made and out-of-focus slides could be useful; with a marker was possible to write on the scene the titles, the date and some comments... a sort of manual editing using a superfine tip permanent marker. During the show there were many exclamations, the “Wahoo …” for nice photos or raspberries, and also inevitable snorts for some possible offstage… In my opinion, today that we are in the digital age, these dear old slides, now anachronistic, despite all their limitations and imperfections, offered great warmth and conviviality... while our cold and very perfect digital platforms will never be able to offer us. Sorry if I'm nostalgic!
Once upon a time there were slide films and their tray - C’era una volta la vecchia e cara diapositiva
Sunday afternoons with the family watching slides were one of the most beautiful memories, moments made of images, slides, but also emotions. Many don't even know what these slides are, or they only know the name. They were like old normal analogue films but instead of being negative, they were positive as used in our old cameras. Colored or b/w and after being developed was mounted on square frames, usually made of plastic or cardboard to be projected onto a screen with a projector. They were called "slide films" or "reversal films" produced and sold by Kodak from 1939, under the "Kodachrome" brand, until they were abandoned in 2009. But those born in the 70s and early 80s had the opportunity to get to know them and touch them firsthand. So imagine the scene: in a darkened room, a white wall or a huge sheet spread out as best as possible as a screen… almost HD technology while the whole family in a semicircle to relive the highlights of holidays or events. Projectors in the right position, focus done and OK! The show can begin. The operator in charge, usually was the “Dad photographer” who had the responsibility of making the slides slide, with a regular rhythm and also commenting on them, with a short memory. Even poorly made and out-of-focus slides could be useful; with a marker was possible to write on the scene the titles, the date and some comments... a sort of manual editing using a superfine tip permanent marker. During the show there were many exclamations, the “Wahoo …” for nice photos or raspberries, and also inevitable snorts for some possible offstage… In my opinion, today that we are in the digital age, these dear old slides, now anachronistic, despite all their limitations and imperfections, offered great warmth and conviviality... while our cold and very perfect digital platforms will never be able to offer us. Sorry if I'm nostalgic!