Developing on the road

abruzzi · Feb 16, 2023

Here is the hypothetical:

You are traveling, flying across an ocean to a place with stunning architecture, and picturesque vistas. You could bring a digital camera, but thats really no fun. However you are worried about returning with undeveloped film due to CT scanners, but you do know flying out you can get hand checks, so you can buy film ahead of time (lets avoid discussion of whether CT scanners will actually damage the film, and assume that you are paranoid enough that a 5% chance of damage is more than you're willing to stomach.)

So being a B&W-only photographer, you think--why not develop on the road? You can probably fly with checmicals, but there is a limitation of 3oz (88ml) containers for liquid. One of your big limitations, is you won't really be able to reliably buy photo specific stuff once you arrive (film, chemicals, tanks & spools, etc.), so it has to be packed.

First off, do you talk yourself out of it and just fedex all your undevelped film home at the end of the trip? Second, if you do think this is a reasonable thing to do, what and how do you do this? Figure 2-3 rolls a 120 film a day, and probably want to develop most evenings to keep up.

Extra bonus points if you've actually done this and can speak from experience.

Sirius Glass · Feb 16, 2023

Flying out from the US is not a problem carrying film. The problem is flying back from Europe. I will be in this situation later this year. I am considering shipping my exposed film back to home before flying back.

Dustin McAmera · Feb 16, 2023

abruzzi said:
but there is a limitation of 3oz (88ml) containers for liquid

So; bags of white powder in your luggage; what's the problem?

abruzzi · Feb 16, 2023

Dustin McAmera said:
So; bags of white powder in your luggage; what's the problem?

Yeah, I was kind of wondering if bags of powder would be an issue if they were in sealed labeled bags? Or if I transfer Rodinal into several unlabeled 3oz bottles?

Dustin McAmera · Feb 16, 2023

Maybe you Fedex yourself a crate of stuff: white powders, tanks, reels and thermometers included. Use it while you're there, then Fedex it all back?
Fedex will have their own restrictions on what they carry; they might be less willing to carry any half-full packets back; and it might be hard to discard those things ethically.
And you need to have somewhere there that will accept the package and hold it until you come for it; maybe the Fedex depot at the airport: Tom Hanks never lets you down.

KitosLAB · Feb 16, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
Flying out from the US is not a problem carrying film. The problem is flying back from Europe. I will be in this situation later this year. I am considering shipping my exposed film back to home before flying back.

Come to Kyiv! I will find you here almost any developer that is only now possible

Sirius Glass · Feb 16, 2023

KitosLAB said:
Come to Kyiv! I will find you here almost any developer that is only now possible

I do not want to carry around uncut negatives in my luggage where they can be creased or damaged.

BAC1967 · Feb 16, 2023

I have done this, not international, but I have done it while I was working in Hawaii for a few months. As far as the 3oz goes, that's for carry on bags. You still don't want to put large quantities of hazardous liquids in your checked bags.

While I was in Hawaii I was shooting, Konica IR 750, various black and white film and color. I shipped the color to a lab in California for development. For the Konica IR 750 I purchased the Ilford Simplicity Pack locally since I know of a store in Honolulu that carried some developing supplies. These kits could easily be packed in your luggage.

For the rest of the black and white film I developed in Beerenol, you could easily do the same with Caffenol. The two most difficult ingredients to get are the ascorbic acid and the fix. The fix from the simplicity kit is what I ended up using but while I was planning the trip I wasn't sure I would be able to get that. There are several choices for powdered and tablet fix, just leave them in the original sealed packaging and put them in your checked bag. Same goes for powdered developers if you don't want to do Beerenol/Caffenol. For the Bbeerenol I purchase ascorbic acid and packed it in my bag in the original sealed container. When I got to Honolulu I purchased beer, washing soda and iodized salt at the grocery store. I heated the washing soda in a pot on a cook top in my hotel room to make it anhydrous. The nice thing about Beerenol is the consistency of the liquid, you don't have to worry about bad local water.

I haven't tried these Tetenal Superfix Tabs yet but they look like they would be the perfect solution for fix.

I also brought a digital camera, a Pentax collapsible copy stand, a sheet of white translucent plastic and a negative holder to scan the film in my hotel room. I used an iPad as a back light. I develop a lot of film in hotel rooms, sometimes I drive there, sometimes I fly. I've even set up a dark room in my hotel bathroom to make contact prints.

Donald Qualls · Feb 16, 2023

I'm pretty sure sodium thiosulfate is used to reduce chlorine in pools and spas everywhere people can afford pools and spas (or have public pools, for that matter). You can mix as little as 60 g/L and use it one-shot. Caffenol can be made without the ascorbic acid, too, it's just slower and produces both overall and imagewise stain (mostly not the case with the vitamin C version).

Michael Howard · Feb 16, 2023

When I go to Vegas with film, I take a small pre-paid USPS Priority Mail box with me, and send the film back in that before I leave. My airport hand checks film without question, the Vegas airport is very spotty about that, so I don't even bother with it anymore. I'll do it other places if they are unknown as well.

Doremus Scudder · Feb 16, 2023

I've done both.

Convincing the Italian airport security guys that they shouldn't open my 4x5 filmholders because they contained unexposed or exposed film was a bit of a challenge, but successful once I got the right vocabulary and clearly labeled all the film boxes that contained exposed but undeveloped film with "Open only in total darkness" in a few languages. That said, I did go ahead and let them scan the holders and film boxes a time or two. With the new scanners, there is more risk of fogging...

I had the good fortune to have access to a place that I could develop film. Since I use sheet film, all I needed was trays and a beaker or two and some way to time. Chemicals are available there.

I'd suggest that you network here and on other forums to see if you can find a lab/darkroom that would be willing to either process your film for you or let you process it yourself there before returning. Kyiv is nice that time of year...

Best,

Doremus

Daniela · Feb 16, 2023

Here's a pain-free alternative: use a film guard bag, take it in the carry on and bring rolls back home to develop. I've used mine (which can hold up to 30 35mm rolls) in the US, Europe and South America. I've only been stopped once, also in Italy, and all they did was open the bag and look inside. Oh, and my bag supposedly protects film up to 400 ASA, but I've traveled with 3200 and never had a problem.

TomR55 · Feb 16, 2023

If I HAD to do this, I might consider a pouch of Cinestill DF 96, which, as you as know, is a one solution developer/fixer preparation. If I recall correctly, it is also fairly tolerant to different temperatures, but I don't recall the details; I'm sure that you can retrieve any information about this product from the web.

npl · Feb 16, 2023

If I'd really had to do this, I guess I'll order a 1L package of Adox XT-3 or fomadon Excel (xtol clones) and a small bag of powder fixer online some days earlier and have them shipped to my hotel. Then I'll fly there only with a paterson tank, a dark bag, a cylinder, a small funnel, empty film sheets and some pegs. On arrival, I'd shop for two 1L bottles of demineralised water, mix the chemicals and reuse the 1L dev and fix solution for each film, with time adjustement. This should work for at least 10 rolls. Then discard the chemicals and fly back.

Agulliver · Feb 16, 2023

I've considered it. I would think that a powder developer and fixer in their original packaging would be OK. Though it might be an idea to allow extra time in case they want to hand inspect or even run tests. The tests for explosives and drugs are *very* rapid and if you also pack some bigger resealable bags, you could keep an opened packet. Though to be honest, I've flown with talcum powder which is not only potentially radioactive but also is actually used to cut illegal drugs and never had any issues. I think they're pretty good at spotting drugs compared to lawful powders. People fly with things like flour, semolina, and other packaged powdered food. Photo chemicals in branded, labelled original packaging ought to be OK. They're certainly not banned/prohibited as far as I am aware.

If you're staying for more than a couple of weeks you could mail order chemicals from a supplier based in the state/country you're travelling to....assuming it's not unavailable in that location. Or, as we know, you can develop film in beer, coffee, even sea water if you really want. Just thinking of being a bit cautious regarding delivery times, order on the day you fly and hopefully it'll arrive before you leave.

If I do this in the future, what I'd probably do is pack a changing bag, Jobo tank + 2 reels, small scissors, Ilford ID-11 powder and Adox Adofix powder in their original packaging all in my checked baggage. Film would be in my cabin bag, of course. I'd take a regular clothes hanger and some clothes pegs to dry the film.

You might even be able to email your chosen airline beforehand regarding transport of photo chemicals....but as long as it's nothing on the prohibited list it ought to be OK.

It might be worth checking if you're permitted to dispose of your used chemicals in the local drain/sewer system. In most developed areas this is no problem as commercially available B&W chemicals are designed to be washed down the drain but I've heard of some countries/areas where this isn't permitted.....either due to over-zealous authorities or inadequate water treatment facilities.

To be honest the reason I haven't done this is the wife is very much NOT keen on me developing film in our hotel room/relatives house. I've even considered doing it while tent camping but....

cliveh · Feb 16, 2023

You are paranoid about scanners. They will not harm your film, so process all on return.

Sirius Glass · Feb 16, 2023

cliveh said:
You are paranoid about scanners. They will not harm your film, so process all on return.

CT scanners can and do damage film. Evidently you have never flown outside North America.

abruzzi · Feb 16, 2023

TomR55 said:
If I HAD to do this, I might consider a pouch of Cinestill DF 96, which, as you as know, is a one solution developer/fixer preparation. If I recall correctly, it is also fairly tolerant to different temperatures, but I don't recall the details; I'm sure that you can retrieve any information about this product from the web.

I considered DF96 because it would simplify both what I had to bring with me and the amount of time spent developing. Also a 1 L DF96 kit is available powdered, and 3 or 4 could easily packed in my luggage. However I bought a pack to try out and so far I haven't been able to turn out a roll that I like--even the best rolls are very thin. Maybe it just requires tweaking or making changes, but so far it hasn't impressed.

Also to those that have brought it up--I honestly don't want to discuss whether the carry on scanners will or will not destroy my film. This discussion seems to infect lots of other threads, and indeed, poisioned another thread I posted on traveling to europe, even though I never broached the question. So, sorry, I don't care whether you think it will or will not affect my film. I've spent $2k on plane tickets, will spend more than that on apartments, and transportation, and will spend way more than that on vacation time to take off of work. If I'm out $12k, and expect that I will never return to this place ever again, do you really think I should take that chance? Thats just not how I work.

MattKing · Feb 16, 2023

Daniela said:
Here's a pain-free alternative: use a film guard bag, take it in the carry on and bring rolls back home to develop. I've used mine (which can hold up to 30 35mm rolls) in the US, Europe and South America. I've only been stopped once, also in Italy, and all they did was open the bag and look inside. Oh, and my bag supposedly protects film up to 400 ASA, but I've traveled with 3200 and never had a problem.

The new CT scanners will either go right through these, or you will be pulled into the "slow" line because the scanners won't work, and you will be looked at with heightened suspicion.
And the scanners used for checked packages are much more powerful than these bags can handle.
All those bags really do now is protect your film with radiation from sources other than scanners.

Craig · Feb 16, 2023

I'd be more concerned with finding photographic grade dark to load a developing tank than transporting chemicals. Finding a reasonably dust free place to hang negatives to dry might be a problem too.

That being said, my grandfather told me stories of developing film in Italy when he was there with the Canadian Army in 1944. He did it at night in the back of a covered truck and rounded up a few helmets to use as containers for the chemicals and did a see-saw agitation through the chemicals while holding the film. I expect the world was much darker at night then and film was a lot slower.

BAC1967 · Feb 17, 2023

Craig said:
I'd be more concerned with finding photographic grade dark to load a developing tank than transporting chemicals. Finding a reasonably dust free place to hang negatives to dry might be a problem too.

That being said, my grandfather told me stories of developing film in Italy when he was there with the Canadian Army in 1944. He did it at night in the back of a covered truck and rounded up a few helmets to use as containers for the chemicals and did a see-saw agitation through the chemicals while holding the film. I expect the world was much darker at night then and film was a lot slower.

I bring a film changing bag and often the pant hangars with clips in hotel rooms work great for hanging film. I’ve done it in the bathroom and the closet If I can’t find a good way to do it in the bathroom. Most hotel bathrooms are easy to make darkif you don’t have a changing bag.

Thats a great story about your grandfather, I’ve heard similar accounts.

Daniela · Feb 17, 2023

MattKing said:
The new CT scanners will either go right through these, or you will be pulled into the "slow" line because the scanners won't work, and you will be looked at with heightened suspicion.
And the scanners used for checked packages are much more powerful than these bags can handle.
All those bags really do now is protect your film with radiation from sources other than scanners.

It's good to know about the new CT scanners. I guess I've only encountered x-ray ones (according to the explanation here about whether you're made to take things out of the carry on or not) and I've had no issues. And I just remembered that coming back from Argentina in July, I even had an unfinished roll in the camera and there's nothing unusual in it. Oh, I've never sent the film in the checked luggage, btw.
As for heightening suspicion or getting pulled, which rarely happens and takes 30 extra seconds, I don't care LOL

Sirius Glass · Feb 17, 2023

Daniela said:
It's good to know about the new CT scanners. I guess I've only encountered x-ray ones (according to the explanation here about whether you're made to take things out of the carry on or not) and I've had no issues. And I just remembered that coming back from Argentina in July, I even had an unfinished roll in the camera and there's nothing unusual in it. Oh, I've never sent the film in the checked luggage, btw.
As for heightening suspicion or getting pulled, which rarely happens and takes 30 extra seconds, I don't care LOL

For a long time, sending film through checked baggage has been hazardous. However carrying a changing bag, a tank, reels, and chemicals is just not going to happen, because that means I get to waste time with checked baggage and possibly pay baggage fees. I will just mail my film, well labeled back home.

eli griggs · Feb 17, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
I do not want to carry around uncut negatives in my luggage where they can be creased or damaged.

Buy some Photofile, transparent, continuous single sleeve 35mm and 120 or 70mm rolls.

Pull off enough for the trip plus and when processed, just do single sleeves and carry home in 35mm and 120 plastic cases.

You'll get to develope your film and carry it safely.

eli griggs · Feb 17, 2023

Caffenol, Parrodinal, ascorbic acid, white vinegar materials from Apothecaries, Wine & Beer hobby shops (in Europa), pool supplies, Arm & Hammer products, including clothes washing soda, all should be available as well as pitchers, scales, measuring cups and spoons, thermometers from Walmart type stores.

Camera Clubs & Stores, U.S. Base's PXs, are also possible locations and you might even luckout with quality film scanning services or equipment.

Take a tank or two, with reels and stop worrying about undeveloped exposures being ruined by radiation machines.

Developing on the road

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