Most photographers today know Foma from their black and white film but there was a time when the Czech company produced colour as well. The exact information about it is scant but one thing that’s certain is that these colour Foma stocks didn’t survive into the 1990s since they were using the old tech, cold development process. While you can sometimes find more modern Fomacolor and Fomachrom for C41 and E6, it’s repackaged and not Foma’s own production. But what I have here is the genuine thing, with a twist – this roll was packaged in Poland. We had our own film manufacturer called Foton, and in addition to making their own films they bought master rolls from other Eastern Bloc producers and used some spare converting capacities to package those for the domestic market. There was no rebranding or other trickery, the boxes clearly stated the film name and its original country of manufacture but I suppose it gave the company a wider variety of offerings.
Some purists do their best to recreate the original development recipes for these old cold process films but I’m not one of them. With the assumption that after a few decades the quality will be far from perfect anyway, my method is to develop in room temperature C41 and take whatever results I can get. It’s not like I use decades old film with technical perfection in mind. Talking about age, this roll’s box says to develop before December 1990. Using film expired before I was even born somehow always feels more special.
I have to admit, I didn’t expect much from this roll. Maybe no one was talking about this film because there’s not much to get anything out of it in modern day? With the camera set to 12 ISO I looked for simple subjects and compositions, which is my usual tactic for film I don’t have high hopes for. I suppose I can sell it as a bit of a tip for other expired film maniacs out there – if you suspect the roll isn’t in the best shape, don’t count on scenes where details are crucial.
The results were, as often is the case with these experiments, a mixed bag. Some frames are completely unusable but the selection you see here made me wish I had more of this stuff than just this single roll. Those warm nostalgic tones are pretty much what always I look for and made the experience worth it.
Thank you for reading! If you’re interested in more results from weird old films you can find some on my flickr.
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Gary Smith on 5 frames with Fomachrom D II 20
Comment posted: 30/04/2024
Loris Viotto on 5 frames with Fomachrom D II 20
Comment posted: 30/04/2024
Geoff Chaplin on 5 frames with Fomachrom D II 20
Comment posted: 30/04/2024
Julian Tanase on 5 frames with Fomachrom D II 20
Comment posted: 01/05/2024
Thank you for the writing and photographs, it is obvious you like what you're doing!
Prabhat Chandra on 5 frames with Fomachrom D II 20
Comment posted: 01/05/2024
murray leshner on 5 frames with Fomachrom D II 20
Comment posted: 02/05/2024
I saw Warsawa on your film box, and that was the first airport for us in Poland.
OK, it IS party a film story...I brought a 1960's Kodak Instamatic 500 and 126 cartridges of expired Kodachrome, intending to develop it as b&w, with all the potential headache and failure.
I had successfully used up all the 'normal' b&w and color negative film so I knew the camera worked. The one cartridge of color print film was not yet expired and from an 'Eastern' country.
In the Warsaw airport, the lens unscrewed from the camera because the grub screws had loosened. I somehow got it back together using a fingernail for a screwdriver but never knew if the focus would be correct.
We met a friend who was living in Krakow for a school year and stayed up all night. I got lost between our apartment and whatever works bar the rest of the family was at. I could not read the street signs, but knew they had letters!
I eventually found them, and was later told the animals above some buildings were landmarks at street intersections hundreds of years ago for peasants like me who could not read the signs.
10 years later, I am still afraid to develop the film but will some year, with some special developer recipe.
The biggest mystery was the ingredients in the Chupa Chips wodka drink at a bar. I figured out two ingredients but not the rest :@(. cytrynówka & black pepper.
It would be nice to visit again with a working camera!
The meals, beverages and chocolate were all excellent but my favorite memories were the 24-hour pierogi and doner kebab vendors.
No idea where the digital photos are, multiple PC's & hard drives into the future.
Comment posted: 02/05/2024