Kodachrome 64: Remembering an Iconic Colour Film

When Paul Simon sang the words above in his 1973 hit song “Kodachrome”, he wasn’t just praising a film—he was capturing a feeling. Kodachrome, Kodak’s iconic colour reversal (slide) film, wasn’t just about rich reds, lush greens, and vibrant blues. It was about preserving everyday moments into lasting memories and the practice of photography in a slower, simpler age.

In this post, I revisit the legacy of Kodachrome 64 through sample photos I shot on this iconic film—developed just weeks before the world’s last processing facility (Dwayne’s Photo) shut down. Whether you’re a longtime film enthusiast or simply curious about a medium that once defined colour photography, this post is for you.

What Was So Special About Kodachrome?

Introduced by Kodak in 1935, Kodachrome was one of the first successful colour films made for consumers, and it quickly became the gold standard in colour photography. Unlike negatives, it produced positive transparencies (slides), which required a specialised development process (K-14), giving it a distinctive look.

What made it exceptional? The colours. Deep saturation, fine grain, and archival longevity gave it an unmatched look. Skin tones were warm, blues and greens luminous: qualities people still admire today. It gave everyday moments a cinematic quality that no Instagram filter can replicate.

It was also the film of choice for National Geographic photographers, photojournalists, and holidaymakers alike. Kodachrome didn’t just record life—it elevated it.

Kodachrome Film Processing: How It Worked

A big part of Kodachrome’s mystique was its processing. You couldn’t simply drop it off at “Boots”—it required the specialised K-14 process, available at only Kodak-certified labs. Thus, the film’s price included this service. When I shot my final rolls of Kodachrome 64 in the UK, I mailed them in a pre-paid envelope to Lausanne, Switzerland. But after that lab closed, they redirected everything to Dwayne’s Photo in Kansas (USA)—the last place on Earth capable of processing Kodachrome film.

You’d wait four to six weeks to get your mounted slides back, ready for projection and/or scanning. And when that small yellow/red box finally arrived, it was like opening a time capsule, each image telling a story you’d almost forgotten taking. In today’s world of instant digital gratification, that wait seems unthinkable—but it enhanced one’s picture-taking experience (especially when you thought you’d captured something special).

Can You Still Develop Kodachrome?

In short: no, not in colour. Kodachrome processing officially ended in December 2010 when Dwayne’s Photo ceased K-14 film development. Today, you can only develop old rolls as black-and-white negatives (with limited results). The chemistry and machinery for Kodachrome film development no longer exist.

Who Was the Last Roll of Kodachrome Saved For?

Renowned photojournalist Steve McCurry shot the last roll of Kodachrome, best known for his “Afghan Girl” portrait. He hand-delivered the roll to Dwayne’s Photo, who developed it in December 2010. The slides now reside in the George Eastman Museum in New York—a fitting resting place for a film that defined generations of photography.

Dwayne’s Photo: Keeping the Legacy Alive

Dwayne’s Photo in Parsons, Kansas, didn’t just process Kodachrome—they kept its spirit alive for as long as possible. They were the last processing facility in the world to develop the iconic film. And that loyalty earned the small lab a special place in photographers’ hearts.

When Was Kodachrome Discontinued?

Kodak discontinued Kodachrome in 2009 due to declining demand and the rising cost of its complex processing, and labs began shutting down soon after. By the end of 2010, all K-14 facilities had closed or ceased processing. It marked the official end of an era.

As the end approached, photographers worldwide—myself included—rushed to send off our final rolls of film. I still remember posting mine with hope and sadness, not knowing exactly what I’d get back, only that it would be the last Kodachrome 64 I’d ever shoot.

Paul Simon’s Tribute

Paul Simon’s song “Kodachrome” perfectly captures the joy this film brought to people’s lives in one line: “Makes you think all the world’s a sunny day.“

Looking at my Kodachrome 64 sample photos—especially from Blackpool and Tenby—I see exactly what he meant. The colours haven’t faded. And neither have the memories. This iconic colour film didn’t just document what things looked like—it preserved how they felt. That’s what made it special.

The Film About the Film: Kodachrome (2017)

The 2017 Netflix film Kodachrome captures the same sense of urgency I felt in 2010. Starring Jason Sudeikis, Ed Harris, and Elizabeth Olsen, it tells the story of a dying photojournalist and his estranged son on a road trip racing across America to process his final rolls at Dwayne’s Photo before the deadline.

While the plot revolves around family tension and reconciliation, the movie is also a heartfelt tribute to film photography. In the final scene, as the son loads his father’s developed slides into a projector and discovers long-forgotten images of his childhood, it perfectly captures the emotional power of analogue film—and the memories it preserves.

My Last Roll of Kodachrome (Tenby, October 2010)

The sample photos below come from my final roll of Kodachrome 64, shot with a Contax G2 in Tenby, Wales. The film was processed by Dwayne’s Photo in November 2010, just weeks before they developed the last roll of Kodachrome.

And yes—I still have the commemorative “Last Roll of Kodachrome” T-shirt to prove it!

Like the film Kodachrome, these photos include images of my son as a child. Looking at them now, they capture not only the final days of an iconic film stock, but also moments from my life long since passed.

Final Thoughts: More Than Just a Colour Film

Kodachrome 64 wasn’t just a colour film stock. It encouraged a slower, more deliberate way of seeing the world. In today’s age of instant results and digital filters, it reminds us of the value of waiting, looking closely, and making every frame count.

If you enjoyed this nostalgic look at Kodachrome 64, please share.

Thanks for reading.

Did you ever shoot with Kodachrome? Or maybe you’ve discovered old family slides in a dusty attic? I’d love to hear your memories. Feel free to share them in the comments below.