Film-based website + Ilford interview
 

Via the wonder that is Twitter ( I know...!) I came across this website - Emulsive - and an interview with the new team at Ilford.
As an example:-

I know there are Ilford critics here but thought this may be of interest to at least a couple of people and the website is worth a look around.

That's great news. Well worth a visit. Some interesting courses and definitely more engaging.
Thanks Tony.

This "has" to be positive

The answers to the questions asked looked to be fairly honest and to the point which is encouraging. It was clear to me that Facebook/Twitter is seen by Pemberstone as the way forward rather than forums such as ours or even APUG although there has been some presence there but not as it was in Simon Galley's day.

Mike

With forums like us they are preaching to the converted. Facebook and twitter are a broad church where they can pick up new followers.

I think Ilford should be supporting websites like ours ,there are not that many that specialise in film and darkroom like fadu ,lets face it Ilford need to sell its chemicals and its paper as well as its film to make it a viable company ,and also taking the film, developing it and scanning it is only half the fun ,but printing them in the darkroom makes a perfect hobby for me.



www.essexcockney.com

I'm hoping to see more on their site for large format stuff which is nearly non-existent now - for this is "why I shoot film."

I'd love to see PanF 50 available in 4x5.

Thanks for reading the Ilford interview, folks.

Ilford may not be the same company they were before the Pemberton investment or indeed the MBO but the impression I got speaking to their team as a part of putting this interview together was that many of their older, more senior staff were still around and involved with their day-to-day operations.

Whilst Ilford may not have been hit as hard from a sheer volume aspect, as Kodak / Fuji and others were, the decline in the volume of film sales had an understandably large impact on them. As a much smaller company than those mentioned above, these kinds of hits are harder to take but the fact they're still here AND that they've increased their social media engagement is something to look to as a sign of their commitment to staying around and helping keep film alive.

That's my take, but I'm an unashamed optimist, so take from that what you will.

One very interesting note I took away from their responses was an overall feeling of, "If there's demand, we'll make it". Read into that what you will.

Granted that these days, companies such as Ilford may be paying more attention to social media than forums such as this, but as a commercial entity under increased external pressures, they have to spend their efforts where they can generate the most impact and (visible) return.

My advice would be to keep working here as you all have been doing and if you can, take a peek on social media - Twitter especially has a THRIVING and engaged film photography and darkroom community. I'd love to see you all there.

~ EMULSIVE

Thanks for reading the Ilford interview, folks.

Ilford may not be the same company they were before the Pemberton investment or indeed the MBO but the impression I got speaking to their team as a part of putting this interview together was that many of their older, more senior staff were still around and involved with their day-to-day operations.

Whilst Ilford may not have been hit as hard from a sheer volume aspect as say, Kodak, Fuji and others were, the decline in the volume of film sales still had repercussions. As a much smaller company than those mentioned above, these kinds of hits are harder to take but the fact they're still here AND that they've increased their social engagement is something to look to as a sign of their commitment to staying around and helping keep film alive.

That's my take, but I'm an unashamed optimist, so take from that what you will.

One very interesting point of note that I took away from their responses was an overall feeling of, "If there's demand, we'll make it". Read into that what you will but it's pure supply and demand. I'm sure that if sales for FP4+ fell off a cliff it wouldn't be long before it went the way of Kodachrome (the discontinuation of which was warranted purely based on the sheer lack of numbers they were shifting).

In short, keep shooting, keep buying and keep shouting for more - everywhere you can.

To address a point above: these days, companies such as Ilford are paying more attention to social media than forums such as this because as commercial entities under increased financial pressures, they have to spend their efforts where they can generate the most impact and (visible) return. If you don't feel these organisations are paying attention to you here, then find an outlet where they're present and beat down their door.

My advice would be to keep working here as you all have been doing and if you can, take a peek now and again on social media - Twitter especially has a THRIVING and engaged film photography and darkroom community. I'd love to see you all there and converse in <140 characters. Trust me, it's a lot more fun that it might sound!

EM

~ EMULSIVE