C41 Colour film at very high temperatures

Hi there,

I am planning a long photography trip over ~ 12 weeks with little access to fridges or even a cool car. I am expecting temperatures of up to 50°C (122 F), and I am unsure how to handle any film I am bringing with me. It will be mostly dry heat. I am planning on shooting both colour negative and slide film in 120 Format (Ektar, Portra, 400H, Provia and Velvia). I have never been in such hot climates, and was wondering how to best handle/store the film? Will I run into problems?

I won't have any opportunities to develop along the way, but only once I return home.

I have been to southern Europe many times during summer, and my film rolls survived this just fine. One thing you may try is a thermobag, and if weight is not an issue, then you can use additional coolpacks. While temperatures around you may rise up to 50°C, these temperatures will likely drop quite a bit during night. If you keep film in such a bag, this should clip off the most nasty temperature peaks and keep your film in better shape.

Dry or humid?
I'd worry about exposed film in high humidity, make sure to store in sealed containers and bags.

kahlheins said:

Hi there,

I am planning a long photography trip over ~ 12 weeks

I won't have any opportunities to develop along the way, but only once I return home.

Click to expand...

If this trip involves air travel, let us know your films' experience with the airport scanners on your return

Thanks

pentaxuser

I'm not expecting high humidity. Sealing the exposed film in zip-lock bags is probably a good idea anyway, thanks! I'll also be travelling by car, so no airport scanners along the way.

The films you are planning on taking are best kept refrigerated, all you can do is keep the rolls dry and hope for the best.

To help keep roll film cool, there are little bags made for soft drinks or kid's school lunches which are aluminum foil silver-lined as well as having a layer of soft foam insulation. These help. Additional plastic sandwich bags are convenient for keeping film rolls protected from dust. And it's important to have your film developed as soon as possible after you return from your trip. Ektar and Portra will likely hold up better than the others. The biggest risk to film getting overheated will be if it sits too long in a dark black camera itself, unshaded. But the film might survive better than you do, if temps really do get that hot. Ironically, the best method I have found to keep film and gear cool inside a pack is to wrap these with my goose down jacket - it's an incredible insulator. Here in California it's entirely possible to be on certain glaciers in the morning, hike back out, drive downhill, and by afternoon be at the hottest location on earth, still in sight of snow on peaks above. But I don't go there in summer! Even the soles of shoes melt at those temps.