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Egypt & Istanbul vacation on 35mm nitrate, 1937 Kodak Panatomic


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I am currently scanning through 10 35mm rolls, altogether containing about 300 photos.

These rolls are Kodak Panatomic on nitrate base, and contain photos from a 1937 trip to Egypt and Istanbul.

The photos were taken by dutch professor v.d Plaats

 

3 of the rolls are in good condition, the others in fair and bad shape. Some have a brown tint, others are turning dark. Perhaps the silver is oxidizing? the pictures are still recognizable, and hopefully with the power for digital enhancements I can get some good results out of the worse rolls.

 

The rolls:

43439414230_3dc91b5d89_z_d.jpg

43460898920_c73c20f116_z_d.jpg

 

Each roll was/is stored in its own aluminum container.

 

Here is the archive, note this is a work-in-progress:

Egypt 1937

 

Some scans so far:

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1963/44337345645_d40210e19d_z_d.jpg

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1968/44337525795_f3a40e0ec9_z_d.jpg

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1937/43438664700_9d80888fe6_z_d.jpg

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1969/45198357802_09f15f5060_z_d.jpg

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1905/45273516631_61e6cebaca_z_d.jpg

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1964/44552784624_7c636d5452_z_d.jpg

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1930/31414809668_f5fdda2486_z_d.jpg

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1954/43480432380_0e3133656c_z_d.jpg

 

Scans done at 4000 DPI with Nikon Super Coolscan 8000 ED and vuescan software.

 

Tell me what you think of the photos and scans!

regards,,

Niels

Edited by William Michael
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Nice work. Anticipating more. One thing, the scratches and smudges may not be all due to aging, but careless processing. I had a few rolls of film sent to a mail order lab, which came back with very similar pattern of scratches and smudges, and those were brand new rolls.

 

Vuescan has some advanced scratch removal options which can help a little, but there seem to be way too many scratches in some of the frames for any software to remove them reliably.

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Nice work. Anticipating more. One thing, the scratches and smudges may not be all due to aging, but careless processing. I had a few rolls of film sent to a mail order lab, which came back with very similar pattern of scratches and smudges, and those were brand new rolls.

 

Vuescan has some advanced scratch removal options which can help a little, but there seem to be way too many scratches in some of the frames for any software to remove them reliably.

I know vuescan supports digital ICE on my coolscan 8000, but that does not work for B/W film due to the inherit nature of ICE :(

 

I was not aware Vuescan had that feature, maybe it doesnt work with my coolscan 8000? I do have an epson V750 but the film trays dont hold the film flat. Can you point me to the feature you are talking about?

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I know vuescan supports digital ICE on my coolscan 8000, but that does not work for B/W film due to the inherit nature of ICE :(

 

I was not aware Vuescan had that feature, maybe it doesnt work with my coolscan 8000? I do have an epson V750 but the film trays dont hold the film flat. Can you point me to the feature you are talking about?

 

You are right. I had the feeling, Vuescan has an alternative scratch removal feature that works without the IR channel, but it seems I was wrong. Photoshop has a dust and scratch removal feature under Menus --> Filter --> Noise. You can try that.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Have sent messages to relevant facebook accounts in an attempt to contact the family, but no response yet.

 

The Nikon Coolscan 8000 scanner has failed, it does not want to pull the film carriers inside. I have read that the rails can be dry, so I bought new lubricant on the advice of a repairer. If this does not work, I will have to look for a replacement, maybe a 9000.

 

We know with the help of someone the name of this boat:

 

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1960/31414691468_a438860fae_z_d.jpg

 

This is the MS Balorean. She was a Dutch ocean liner who regularly traveled between Rotterdam and the Dutch East Indies. The place is probably Port Said because it is located just before the Suez Canal.

 

The film is now stored in an ammo box.

Edited by William Michael
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I have a similar task on the go at present - I've scanned in over 100 prints, mainly B&W, some going back to pre-war Germany, for a friend. The condition of the prints, which have been stored with as much care as possible, is deplorable - white spots, 'fingernail' shaped crescents showing neg damage when being processed, and, yes, thumbprints in the neg emulsion. Apparently my friend's family, from whom these images emanated, were of the 'We have the photos, throw away the negs' school of 'thought'. It is taking almost an hour to resurrect each image! I have suggested to my friend that she does not get film processed by the same company in future.

 

Tony

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  • 3 months later...

Excellent news! I have gotten into contact with a grandchild of the photographer, and have send him some of the photos with people that might have been family of the photographer.

While he said he does not remember them, he will send the photos to aunts and uncles who may remember them.

 

For me the journey would be complete if the latter were to happen.

 

Some more glances at a world lost to time:

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4918/45027615965_33f090df4c_k_d.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4836/45740226044_618bcf9782_k_d.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7850/44646596930_e7cb4540d2_k_d.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4827/45550771415_21b7f3cd77_k_d.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7825/32207380597_bf2ba9708d_k_d.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7918/40184373073_ab4ff8453a_k_d.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7808/32207374417_f231fc3b08_k_d.jpg

Edited by William Michael
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These are really fantastic! Just fascinating. Thanks so much for sharing. Very impressive how the negatives have held up, the mages you've posted are a total trip back in time. Please show us more. Also will the images or finished project be posted to a website or archive where we can view full resolution versions of the photos?

 

Thanks again.

Keep up the excellent work!

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These are really fantastic! Just fascinating. Thanks so much for sharing. Very impressive how the negatives have held up, the mages you've posted are a total trip back in time. Please show us more. Also will the images or finished project be posted to a website or archive where we can view full resolution versions of the photos?

 

Thanks again.

Keep up the excellent work!

Hello Rico,

 

Thanks for your nice words, it means a lot to me my work is getting appreciated by so many people. Its awesome to see how people can't wait to see more.

 

I am a bit behind on uploading recent scans, but a lot can be found here: Egypt 1937

And I have made a separated archive just for stitched panorama's here: Egypt 1937 Panorama's

 

The negs have been scanned in at 4000DPI and full-res tiffs have been uploaded. JPGs can downloaded in full-resolution or lower if desired.

Edited by dutchsteammachine
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  • 2 weeks later...

Huge update!

Work has paid off, and I have uploaded 85 more photos, and several new panorama's.

 

I have made a separated album for just the panorama's, here: Dutchsteammachine-archive’s albums | Flickr

 

Lets look at some new jewels:

 

People:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7923/32318248687_cb51e08513_z_d.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7848/40295371493_7d9d2516c7_z_d.jpg

 

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7832/33384345598_88ec95a1f2_z_d.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7867/32318190997_3145f4e159_z_d.jpg

 

Temple of Hatshepsut:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7875/47260185911_4501a1144e_k_d.jpg

 

Environments:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7852/47260173661_c0f8e02e55_z_d.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7864/40295375053_9092743783_z_d.jpg

 

Sphinx and great pyramids:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7918/32318028397_4d129205f7_k_d.jpg

 

Needless to say the panorama's are fun to make! and the results give you a real sense of scale.

Edited by William Michael
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