| A long long time ago ...... |
| I can still remember |
| How some images used to make me smile, |
| And I knew that if I had my chance |
| that I could make some photons dance |
| and maybe, I'd be happy for a while |
| But February made me shiver |
| frosted optics, don't deliver |
| loose screws on the guidescope, |
| guiding based only on hope |
| I can't remember if I cried |
| 'cause my light pollution spectrum's wide |
| But something touched me deep inside |
| the day that Tech Pan Died |
| So why, why did film imaging die ? |
| Priced some CCD equipment but the cost was too high |
| All them digital boys are drinking whiskey and rye |
| singin' this'll be the day film will die, |
| this'll be the day film will die. |
| Did you read from books of Lore |
| published oh so long ago |
| Wallis, Provin told us so. |
| Can hypering save your mortal soul |
| and is your reciprocity real low ? |
| Well I know that you're in love with pain |
| 'cause I saw you setting up in the rain |
| weather forcast ? is for Clearing |
| all of us are cheering. |
| I was a lonely, middle aged Astro Geek |
| with an APO and mount too weak |
| yet another film we're want to seek |
| the day, that Tech Pan died |
| I started singing ..... |
| So why, why did film imaging die ? |
| Priced some CCD equipment but the cost was too high |
| All them digital boys are drinking whiskey and rye |
| singin' this'll be the day film will die, |
| this'll be the day film will die. |
| Now for ten years we've been on our own |
| Developing, then scanning all alone. |
| But that's not how it used to be. |
| When the Magazine arrived, in back was lurking, |
| the work of Germano, Hallas, and Perkins |
| with a proud voice that came from you and me |
| Oh and while our eyes were looking down, |
| manually guiding without a frown |
| SBIG's guys were scheming |
| of Autoguiders - they were dreaming |
| Now our guiders are quietly ticking, |
| while our pockets they are picking, |
| romance is gone, and wounds we're licking |
| the day, that Tech Pan died. |
| We were singing ...... |
| So why, why did film imaging die ? |
| Priced some CCD equipment but the cost was too high |
| All them digital boys are drinking whiskey and rye |
| singin' this'll be the day film will die, |
| this'll be the day film will die. |
| Mosquitos, Chiggars in a summer swelter |
| best get out of the sun ! bring a little shelter |
| Night time temps of eighty-eight! |
| Racoon, Possums - an occasional Loon |
| Pitch black nights, calm - and of course no Moon |
| Six, one hour exposures! It's dawn, way too soon |
| Now the night time air is sweet perfume |
| Camera shutters play a lovely tune |
| Film advance levers dance |
| Thank God we even got the chance! |
| 'cause when digital tried to take the field |
| like die-hard Bums we refused to yield |
| Do you recall what was revealed |
| the day that Tech Pan died |
| We still are singing ...... |
| So why, why did film imaging die ? |
| Priced some CCD equipment but the cost was too high |
| All them digital boys are drinking whiskey and rye |
| singin' this'll be the day film will die, |
| this'll be the day film will die. |
| High Vacuum Pump and a Hypering Tank |
| Forming Gas, some heat, a densitometers rank |
| D19, distilled water and Fixer you know |
| get the timing just right.. add some Photoflow |
| made for images you were proud to show |
| before our Tech Pan died |
| Now No Ones Singing ..... |
| So why, why did film imaging die ? |
| Priced some CCD equipment but the cost was too high |
| All them digital boys are drinking whiskey and rye |
| singin' this'll be the day film will die, |
| this'll be the day film will die. |
| Oh, and there we were all in one place, |
| A generation lost in space |
| with no time left to start again. |
| So come on: Kodak be nimble, please be quick! |
| manufacture Tech Pan... don't make us sick! |
| 'cause digital is the devils only friend. |
| Oh and as I watched him on the stage |
| Film boxes clenched in fists of rage |
| No angel born in hell |
| Could break that satan's spell |
| Exposure time so long, we couldn't wait |
| Laptop screens! what a dreadful state |
| I saw satan typing "Track and Accumulate" |
| the day, that Tech Pan died |
| He was singing ...... |
| So why, why did film imaging die ? |
| Priced some CCD equipment but the cost was too high |
| All them digital boys are drinking whiskey and rye |
| singin' this'll be the day film will die, |
| this'll be the day film will die. |
| I met a film reportedly good in blue |
| tried it, hoped for some happy news |
| but it just failed. I threw it away. |
| I then went down to the Camera Store |
| where I'd smelled emulsion years before |
| But the man there said the new films wouldn't play |
| And at TSP: the disk drives screamed, |
| monitors cried, while us film guys dreamed, |
| but from Kodak: no word was spoken |
| Cable releases all were broken |
| And the three men I admire most |
| Newton, Hallas, Middleton don't boast |
| they all bought cameras from the coast |
| the day, that Tech Pan died |
| They were singing ...... |
| So why, why did film imaging die ? |
| Priced some CCD equipment but the cost was too high |
| All them digital boys are drinking whiskey and rye |
| singin' this'll be the day film will die, |
| this'll be the day film will die. |
| Tech Pan Sileo In Pacis - 2005 |