Catherine Leutenneger's series 'Kodak City' tells the tale of a former powerhouse.
Once upon a time, Rochester, New York -- the birthplace of photographic film and home to the Kodak empire -- was a prosperous city in full swing. Today, it's a modern-day ghost town, characterized by abandoned factories and unpopulated streets. In our Instagrammed day and age, photographic film has been rendered all but obsolete.
Leutenegger’s series documents the remnants of a former industrial hub that has been overwhelmed by the digital age. She explains, “It’s like pickling moments in formaldehyde. It’s a sensory object, a conveyor of messages and emotions in an environment that is dominated by the virtual.” Ultimately, Kodak City documents the vestiges of the past, while simultaneously commenting on the constant, unrelenting digital evolution of the future.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Ghost-town Tourism
- Tourism focused on abandoned or decaying urban areas.
- Analog Resurgence
- The unexpected return of analog technology, such as photographic film.
- Virtual Nostalgia
- The use of digital technology to recreate a sense of nostalgia for the past.
Where This Applies
- Photography
- Expanding opportunities for photographers to capture and showcase images of abandoned urban spaces.
- Film
- Emerging market opportunities for companies producing photographic film and related products.
- Virtual Reality
- Development of virtual reality experiences and products that capture and preserve disappearing urban spaces for future generations.
