arghghghhg!!!!!!!! deliberately exposed roll in fit of rage

Steve Roberts · Apr 7, 2008

Mateo;613210I think the biggest piece of good advice in this thread is to quit using the changing bag. I never even thought of trying that; it's just too simple to go in the dark and do it with breathing room.[/QUOTE said:
My thoughts exactly. I've never used a changing bag and always regarded them as being for emergency use only. Think of a way to load your films in free space - there must be somewhere in the house that can be made dark, even if you have to wait until midnight, stuff a towel under the door and kill the TV set!

I never liked the idea of loading out of the cassette - another pass of the film through the light trap means a third opportunity for tramlines.

Steve

timeUnit · Apr 7, 2008

I've had the exact same problems. I switched to Hewes steel reels, but stick to the Paterson tanks. Since then I've had NO mess-ups with 35mm film, and I even load two films back to back on the same reel. 120-film can be more difficult on steel reels.

Lee L · Apr 7, 2008

Absinthe said:
There was a trick I saw years back, used to do leader retrieval and all the guy used was a short piece or two of exposed film to do it with... Anyone know what I am talking about?

Yes, it requires a short length of film and some double-stick tape. You put the tape on the length of film, slide it through the light trap with the tape facing the core, then spin the core as if winding the film into the cassette. The double stick tape will grab the leader, which will try to pull in the taped film. If you do it right, the leader sticks to the tape and can then be pulled out with the spare bit of film.

You have to get a feel for it, and time the extraction for when the leader is in a position to be pulled out of the light trap.

Lee

Absinthe · Apr 7, 2008

No, that's not it. This was like you had 2 pieces of film, one a little longer than the other. You stuck them in that way, with the longer one on top. Then you wound the film backwards until it clicked or something then you went forwards and somehow the leader came out between the two, or you had to squeeze them and pull them together or something like that.

Shadowplay · May 4, 2008

Absinthe said:
No, that's not it. This was like you had 2 pieces of film, one a little longer than the other. You stuck them in that way, with the longer one on top. Then you wound the film backwards until it clicked or something then you went forwards and somehow the leader came out between the two, or you had to squeeze them and pull them together or something like that.

Yes, you would take two pieces of film (leaders would work well), one about an inch longer than the other one.

You put the longer one on top of the shorter one and insert them into the canister near the top. You then turn the "knob" on the top of the film canister counterclockwise until you hear a click (usually about two turns).

Now push the bottom piece of film in so that the same amount as the top piece is sticking into the canister. Rotate the knob on the top of the canister clockwise 2.5 turns (900 degrees) you should feel resistance. This should push the leader in the canister in between the two pieces of film you've inserted.

Now you pinch the two pieces of film together as best you can and pull them back out of the canister and hopefully the leader you're trying to retrieve is stuck between them.

Didn't mean to drag up a month old topic, but hopefully this is helpful!

Absinthe · May 4, 2008

That's the way it worked!

Shadowplay · May 4, 2008

Absinthe said:
That's the way it worked!

Hey hey, not bad for my first post

Paul Verizzo · May 4, 2008

I frisbeed a laptop into the yard once....

Man, it felt SO good. It was over the hill, so it's not like I was out anything.

I picked up all the parts and put them in a box which I kept for a few years. I was going to glue up a sculpure and call it The Revenge on HAL. (A Space Odyssey, if you didn't catch that."I'm sorry, Dave, I can't let you do that.")

papo · May 9, 2008

There is an "emergency procedure" I was using earlier, but practicable in the darkroom only, no good for the changing bag
Keep a bucket of water (of suitable temperature) handy by your side. If the film starts to be stubborn and won't go further and you start to be desperate, just immerse everything in the bucket, reel and film. You'll be amazed how easily the film will slide into the reel under water. And nothing happens to the film, what you're doing is basically a presoaking.

KenS · May 10, 2008

bessa_L_R3a said:
Hi,

normally i'm a very calm person but tonight i lost it.
Robert.

Robert...

Many years ago, I was hired to photograph a wedding... the mother and bride arrived back at the house (from the hairdresser) about the same time that they were actually due at the church. We had had an agreed (and signed ) schedule of 'required' photographs with bride/groom and relatives before (and after the ceremony, reception etc.). Unfortunately, the bride's mother decided that many more photographs with relatives from 'the old country" were "absolutely more than necessary" before they left for church ceremony... while I was on a film use "budget".

The bride's mother became more than obnoxious... to the stage where I was obliged to have a quiet word with "father" (who was more than apologetic) about the amount of film, plus some 'spare rolls' that I had available ( I have been known to screw up here and there/now and again).

Foul and objectionable language followed my quiet explanation about my 'restrictions' due to contract.. but was also somewhat flexible and was able to deviate if I had enough film available, even though I have been known to deviate a little from the 'contract. The straw eventually broke the back of the camel when my parentage and 'professionalism/abilities' were both criticised and brought into question... at which time I ripped the last roll of exposed film out of the 'blad and handed it to a somewhat surprised mother as i stomped out of the house (followed by an extremely apologetic father). I don't think I have ever been so angry at unsubstantiated verbal abuse.

Those exposures that had been made, were processed, proof-printed and delivered to the family residence (at cost plus) before the bride and groom returned from their honeymoon.

Not too long after, I gave up on photographing weddings... that one ended in separation/divorce proceedings less than two years later... as did four out of the next five weddings that I was 'privileged' to photograph.

I seem to be somewhat of a 'jinx' I am no longer seen with a camera at a wedding.

Ken

bessa_L_R3a · May 27, 2008

rusty71 said:
Buy Hewes reels if you can spare the money.

Are they really that much easier to load than the cheap ones? I tried to learn the cheap ones and can't figure it out at all ... let alone in the dark.

Ever since my changing bag fiasco, I have continued to use my plastic reels in the dark inside my bathtub with a black shower curtain, lights off, the works, letting the rolls unfurl completely, and it's been smooth sailing.

I would like to get good with the steel reels, though. Why can't they make steel reels designed like the plastic ones???

Frank Szabo · May 27, 2008

bessa_L_R3a said:
Are they really that much easier to load than the cheap ones? I tried to learn the cheap ones and can't figure it out at all ... let alone in the dark.

Ever since my changing bag fiasco, I have continued to use my plastic reels in the dark inside my bathtub with a black shower curtain, lights off, the works, letting the rolls unfurl completely, and it's been smooth sailing.

I would like to get good with the steel reels, though. Why can't they make steel reels designed like the plastic ones???

Many years ago, I remember reading a story about a guy who was having absolute hell with inanimate objects - can't remember where I read it but it came to mind while reading about your attempt to spool the film.

At work (I'm a diemaker by trade), when one of these supposed 'inanimate objects' gives me fits on the order you describe, I'll usually show said object who's really boss using a rubber mallet (that is, if the object is stout enough, otherwise another suitable piece of metal).

This does absolute wonders for the sanity and makes a camera all that much more necessary in the attempt to retain said sanity (I also prefer sheet film for this very reason).

David William White · May 27, 2008

As I (and others) suggested in one of your first 'reel' threads, be happy with the kind of reel that is happy with you. Nobody cares what your reels are made of. Further, know that reels were designed to get film neatly into a rather small daylight tank. That is ONE way to develop film. If loading reels is frustrating, then skip it. By the time you've got your reel properly loaded, your film could have been developed.

milkplus-mesto · May 27, 2008

Let's just say that i went one worse - i managed to rip the film, felt it, and then dipped it in the fix by accident - i was not a happy bunny.

fhovie · May 27, 2008

Funny thing about working with rolls - After ten years - I still keep learning new ways to reduce the pain. SS reels of course are all about the centering. Get it exactly started right and it finishes right - but those pattersons and jobos - I found that taking my thumbnail and creasing the first 1/8 inch of the film to flatten it before feeding it into the reel and bingo - it all became easy. There are other tricks I have learned but this is the biggie.

cmo · May 27, 2008

Apart from technical advice, photography is a good way to develop personality. Meditation helps not to mess up everything in critical situations.

Saganich · May 28, 2008

The cheap stainless reels are hell, plastic reels are hell. High quality stainless reels are heaven.

arghghghhg!!!!!!!! deliberately exposed roll in fit of rage

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