Dreamy Beach Photos from 14-Years-Expired Ektachrome Slide Film

I took a chance on a roll of Kodak Ektachrome Elite II 100 film which expired in 1998. It wasn’t well-stored so I had the lowest expectations of the $3 discontinued slide film. But after using it on my trip to Boracay, I ended up loving the photos and now want to buy the rest of the deadstock! Find out why here.

When I went to Quiapo to get some cameras repaired, I saw a few boxes of old film sitting on the shelves and inquired about them. One of the shopkeepers told me it was expired Ektachrome slide film, the kind Kodak recently discontinued, which they were selling for P150 (around $3.50).

I usually shoot with expired negative films but have never tried expired color reversal/slides. I checked the box and was a bit worried that its expiration was 1998. Results might be too grainy or muddy or just plain blank. The Ektachrome rolls were also placed on a storefront shelf of the non-airconditioned shop so I thought that its exposure to heat and light might have made it worse for wear. But at that price, I thought I’d try my luck and give it a go.

And I’m so glad I did!

I went to the beautiful island of Boracay and used the roll there. It was my best friend’s first time at the beach destination and I’m so glad we have these lovely “Best Friends Forever!” shots from that trip. :-)

I got the roll cross-processed at Digiprint and was really pleased with the results (except for a chemical splotch in the third photo above). I don’t usually like saturated colors but it worked with the sun, sky, sea and sand as backdrops.

Some shots turned out a little blurry or unfocused because 1) I was using a cheap Polaroid point-and-shoot with no settings whatsoever and 2) we went island-hopping which maybe disoriented my camera and I little. I still love sailing though.

The thing I noticed though is that the film really picks up from the colors of its subjects. The photos we took in the forest-y area of Crystal Cove island turned out to be really green which I’m not a fan of so I’m glad I used it more at the shore. They were also a tinge darker and greener for indoor shots, even with flash.

Likewise, too much light will overexpose them. Boracay is brimming with powdery white sand which acts as a reflector in most pics, so if you do use Ektachrome at the beach, don’t forget to account for that. Take photos when the sun is less harsh or find a slightly shadier spot to shoot.

Overall, I recommend this film for those who want to try slide film and not pay too much for it. Considering production has stopped for Ektachrome and Elitechrome slide films, this is a steal for its price. Plus, it’s harder to source than most films. If you’re not too fussy about grain or colors, this is a good option. Otherwise, you might want to try fresh Ektachrome film for more vibrancy and sharpness.

Hopefully, when I go back to the shop to pick up my cameras, there will still be some stocks available! I’d like to try shooting with it in different settings and be surprised by the results again. :-)

See all photos from this roll in BORACAY ☀.

Kodak Ektachrome E 100G 35mm is one hi-tech transparency player. High-efficiency T-Grain emulsion crystals mean that when blown up you can barely detect any grain. Kodak’s amplifying system controls and enhances colour rendition and its advanced emulsion sensitization ensures perky whites and sharper shots. See the whole range of colour slides in our Shop.

written by denisesanjose on 2012-07-19 #gear #review #boracay #reviews #beach #film-reviews #color-reversal #35mm-films #color-slides #one-with-nature #kodak-ektachrome-elite-ii-100 #instantfun #instantbeach #instantnature