EP9 - PHOTOGRAPHIC SCIENTIST - Jack Holmes

Are You Creative?

Photos for the first manned Moon mission. Photo finishes for horses. The first televised Queen's speech. Jack's done a lot! Making photographic film to send to the Moon. Being lead scientist of Ilford special projects. High speed cheese. Yellow light. Radiation. Seeing if it was safe for humans to land on the Moon. High speed film image quality trade off. Silver halide science! Testing film with all the bad radiation. Getting film back from the Moon without disturbing the results. Why isn’t the Moon photo on Jack’s wall? Was Jack’s photo the most important photo of that year? Did John F Kennedy look at the photo? Sending a tandoori lamb chop into the stratosphere - shut up Nick, it’s not as impressive as Jack’s photo! Making the film for Queen Elizabeth II’s first ever television broadcast. What went wrong with the first take of that film - and who had an awkward conversation with Liz? How did Jack get into chemistry? Moving to Essex and buying an expensive house for £2250 - WOW! Creating the first photo finish negative process for horse racing. Horse selfies! A quick turnaround process to see who won a race - the bookies nervously waiting. Why is Jack so humble? It was just a job for him! Photographic processes for finding blocked arteries. Using a green radioactive dye. Were any superheroes made from this process? Maybe Hulk! Is Jack part of the Incredible Hulk origin story? Artery blockage techniques are still used today using a digital version. How does Jack feel about being on a podcast? Not bothered obvs - he’s too cool.
Recorded at Jack's house by Nick
Edited by Nick
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

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Thanks to NGDA, City Sound and Essex County Council for their support
Recorded in Chelmsford, Essex, UK