I transferred some home 8mm movie film recently and unearthed a huge treasure (for my family). We lost my dad, Rod Guidry, in 1996. We miss him terribly. We are so lucky to have this. My oldest is now the about the age I was in this home movie. I am grateful that my children get to learn about their grandfather from our archive. I plan on showing clips from this last transfer at our next big family gathering. People will be moved.
Most family’s have some home movie film in their collection. My recommendation is simple: Put your movie film, slides, letters, prints, negatives and mementos in a box and bring them to Lakeside Camera Photoworks. We’ll evaluate your materials and recommend a solution to help you archive, protect and share your family legacy.
The clip shown above originated from the original movie film captured by my mom. The small reels usually come in a box like this one. The small reels normally contain 50 ft of movie film.
Box for 50 ft Reel of Kodachrome 8mm movie film
Before VHS, Beta and mini DV, most family movies were recorded on Regular 8 mm or Super 8 mm movie film. Some folks even used the higher quality 16 mm format. Lakeside Camera Photoworks can transfer your home movie film to DVD which can then be duplicated and shared with the entire family.
Image quality from these films is partly dependent on how well the original film was exposed and if Grandpa properly focused the camera! Nonetheless, we are often amazed at the quality reproductions we get from these forgotten reels. Kodachrome stock in particular can look like it was taken yesterday. Don’t delay in transferring movie film. Like any other recording media, movie film deteriorates over time. If yours is in the attic, please get it out. The worst place to store photographic materials of any kind is a hot, humid South Louisiana attic.
Your collection likely contains other brands and may have been spliced into longer reels like these:
Movie film reels
Whatever your treasures, we’d like the opportunity to help you save and enjoy them now and for future generations. Move video services from Lakeside Camera Photoworks here.
On Thanksgiving Day, I gathered up my krewe in hopes of getting a good family portrait . My favorite image from that day is an outtake. I suspect most people who have tried to photograph children can relate. My Dad went through it too! Right after the Evel Knievel interview with your’s truly, an attempt to interview my brother failed. I love the exasperation my dad shows when it becomes clear that his subject is not going to cooperate. I can relate.
Why can't they just cooperate?
Creating a beautiful wall frame display can be easy.
Just give us your images, pick out a collection, and we’ll handle the rest! No more hunting for the perfect frames or wondering which arrangements will look best. Lakeside Camera Photoworks has made it easier than ever to create the perfect wall frame display. We have assembled a “Mix and Match” collection, which includes assorted sizes and formats for you to choose from. You can order our frame collections as shown, or mix and match to create your own! The possibilities are endless.
Choose a black, white or brown frame molding and choose a black, white, or cream matt. We selected these moldings because they work wonderfully with photographs - the frame and matt will not compete with your image, the photo is the star! These are simple, classic, universally attractive, affordable, well made frames that will mix well in nearly any decor.
Here’s what’s included:
- Prints optimized by real human technicians. We get the most from your files.
- Includes Frame Grade optical glass and Photo safe, acid free, custom cut matt.
- Hand joined, sturdy frame molding
- Includes all assembly and backing materials.
How to:
- Select one to 16 of your favorite related digital photos (we can scan yours if you have prints)
- Create your framed work here
- Pick up your finished piece or have us ship it to the destination of your choice
White Frame-White Matt
Mix & Match frames can be ordered by the piece, by the collection, or you can make your own collection. Choose 3-5 frames and save 5%, choose 6 or more frames and save 10%!
You can order our collections in store and online. Need some help pulling it all together? Bring us your collection of favorite images and items and we’ll do the rest.
Our experienced staff will evaluate and optimize every image before printing, unless you ask us not to.
Brown Frame-Cream Matt
Black Frame-Black Matt
Lakeside Camera is hosting a New Orleans themed photography contest. Make sure to submit your photo online by the 12th of March. Each contestant will receive a free 12″x16.5″ print of their image, and a free New Orleans aerial print – $20 value. All submissions will be on display from March 15th until March 19th at the Metairie location, stop in to vote for your favorite image.
Winner will get to create a free 20″x30″ canvas wrap – $203 value.
For more information, please click here.
New Orleans, Louisiana – December 9, 2010…
In early December 2010, I got a call from a friend and customer inquiring about a panoramic of New Orleans. The image was intended to be used as a decoration for her husband’s office. As we talked, we agreed that an aerial of New Orleans, as it is today, would be the coolest. My friend was quick to say “no blue tarps”. I hadn’t thought about it but if you google “New Orleans” many of the images you’ll find are Katrina related. I contacted a couple of stock photography agencies about “modern” New Orleans aerials but I got no response. I asked a few photographers who might know where to look. Richard Vallon, Jr., the guy that teaches most of the photo classes at Lakeside Camera Photoworks, cut right to the chase. He called a flight school out at Lakefront Airport. Richard has experience taking pictures from a plane so we decided to go get our own image.
Here is what the image looked like right out of the camera. In this case, Richard Vallon, Jr. used a Canon 5D mkII with a Tamron 28-70 f2.8 lens. This is a great example of how an image is never as good as it can be right out of the camera. This was true in the days of film (Ansel Adams once said that the negative was the score and the printer the conductor) and it is true of digital images. Of the hundreds of images Richard shot, I chose this one because:
- This one has (to me) appealing geometry
- This one is representative of New Orleans as it exists today (consolidated and no blue tarps)
- This one shows our precarious situation relative to the massive amount of water surrounding the place we live
- This one shows the awesome looking gold siding on the updated Louisiana Super Dome
- This one has the fortunate timing that many great images have. Notice the boat in the curve of the river?
As mentioned previously, I’ve never seen an image right out of camera that couldn’t be improved by a skilled technician. Of course, I have also seen promising captures ruined by novices (me included). My personal “workflow” usually involves preparing RAW files in Adobe Lightroom and then fine tuning the final version in Adobe Photoshop (CS5 at this point). I do rely heavily on the full suite of NIK filters too. To me, those are indispensable. The thing that keeps working with images fresh is that I’ve come to view each image as a unique puzzle to solve. Some people play Soduko, I tweek images. In this case, the image out of the camera lacked punch (contrast and color) and was just too flat. Before you go thinking that the auto enhance function of your favorite photo software could do what we do with one click, I have to stop you. One critical element of this image is the roof of the Dome. The Dome is the dominant element in this image and two things had to happen to make this a great image:
- The roof of the Dome had to be “white” or else the way people perceive the overall color of the image would not be as I want it to be.
- Auto correction programs often destroy the highlight sections of an image. To me, it was critical that the roof of the Dome retain some texture.
While I cannot give a step by step account of the steps I took to the “final” image (can you recall the step by step moves in your last game of checkers?), I can say that the above were criteria from the start – for this image. Again, each image is different and should be approached in a unique way. Of course, as in all matters involving taste, there is no one right answer. There are, however, images that work or fail based on the steps taken in post-camera processing.
Almost there...
I always save a “multi-purpose” version of the images that are important to me. The reason is that the finishing touches that make an image sparkle need to be taken with the image’s “destination” in mind. For example, the best way to sharpen an image depends on if the image is intended to be viewed on a screen, as a print and more specifically, the distance from which the viewer will likely view the work. 8 x 10 photo prints should ideally be sharpened differently than a 30 x 40 canvas. This intermediary image could be viewed as an optimized “negative”.
Those of you that have had the opportunity to visit Lakeside Camera Photoworks know that we are constantly coming up with new ways to showcase pictures and art of all types. For my clients office, we came up with a design for a four piece canvas arrangement that would ultimately end up 5 feet tall by 8 feet wide! Here’s what it looks like:
