Film Volume / Velocity

[Poisson Du Jour]

I still shoot Velvia 50 in 120 and scan it. But my pro lab in NYC just stopped E6 developing. There are others still developing however, but it's not very encouraging.

That's a commonly-found scenario: photographers still keen to shoot E6, but in nowhere near the sustainable medium- to long-term quantities to remotely guarantee some sort of future. And by the time they feverishly stockpile E6 and "trickle-trigger" use it (e.g. one roll each month...), the labs have shut down and pensioned off the machinery. A "Kodachrome moment"! Certainly, that has happened often enough here in Australia and we're going to see more of it in the near future. A couple of labs now only schedule E6 processing once a week.

 

[AgX]

A couple of labs now only schedule E6 processing once a week.

That is still better than cancelling the offer at all. (Yes, I am aware of problems with low throughput in processing.)
People using film today hardly need 1-hour service any longer.

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

So what are you doing about it, Gary?

 

[gone]

We're not quite THAT illiterate Matt.

I suspect that slightly dead may not be an option PE. Sort of like being slightly preggers (translation: slightly pregnant).

Slide film was always a niche market anyway. I would not be surprised if it were phased out in today's market.

 

[Ektagraphic]

Thank you for sharing! Very interesting indeed! Have these numbers been going up or down in last year or two? Do you see your volume fairly steady or is there still room for your clients to shoot less film and more di@#+@l?

 

[Trask]

They never make it into the rubbish. they are all recycled. I have such a demand for the 120 paper and end rolls and undamaged 35mm cassettes and film containers I can hardly keep up with demand.

This exchange between Stephen and PE went right over my head. Who needs 120 paper, and why? I've heard of people cutting down 120 to 127 and then needing to resize paper, but that's not this topic. I can understand wanting undamaged cassettes if you can remove the end cap and reload, as you could with some older cassettes, but most commercial ones these days are crimped. Again, I'm missing some context here, obviously. Thanks.

 

[Stephen Frizza]

Thank you for sharing! Very interesting indeed! Have these numbers been going up or down in last year or two? Do you see your volume fairly steady or is there still room for your clients to shoot less film and more di@#+@l?

My volume now has leveled off. As one man I simply can not cope with doing any more work. As it is I normally work a minimum non stop 13 hours a day 6 days a week to do what I'm currently doing. If I took on more work I would need help. In 2003 I worked in a facility which did the same volume of film each fortnight in a single day but they had 80 full time technicians to work with that volume. I don't even know if the amount of film I handle is a lot? I'm suspecting in a commercial level it isn't.

 

[Stephen Frizza]

This exchange between Stephen and PE went right over my head. Who needs 120 paper, and why? I've heard of people cutting down 120 to 127 and then needing to resize paper, but that's not this topic. I can understand wanting undamaged cassettes if you can remove the end cap and reload, as you could with some older cassettes, but most commercial ones these days are crimped. Again, I'm missing some context here, obviously. Thanks.

These waste products have value and are in big demand. I have more requests for them than I can supply. There are many uses for these items.

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

The colorful 135 format cassettes make great Christmas tree ornaments... or would look great as hour markers on a wall clock... or one could pile them high and have fun jumping into them.

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

This exchange between Stephen and PE went right over my head. Who needs 120 paper, and why? I've heard of people cutting down 120 to 127 and then needing to resize paper, but that's not this topic. I can understand wanting undamaged cassettes if you can remove the end cap and reload, as you could with some older cassettes, but most commercial ones these days are crimped. Again, I'm missing some context here, obviously. Thanks.

Most likely the machines Stephen uses for processing 135 format film cuts the film with enough at the end so one could tape bulk film to that little piece and reuse the canisters indefinitely... or until the light baffle wears out.

People might need 120 paper if they're coating their own film, I suppose.

 

[Stephen Frizza]

Most likely the machines Stephen uses for processing 135 format film cuts the film with enough at the end so one could tape bulk film to that little piece and reuse the canisters indefinitely... or until the light baffle wears out.

People might need 120 paper if they're coating their own film, I suppose.

I do have people ask me to cut the film in this way so they can do this. But this has nothing to do with the type of film processor I have. I dip and dunk film process.

 

[Stephen Frizza]

The colorful 135 format cassettes make great Christmas tree ornaments... or would look great as hour markers on a wall clock... or one could pile them high and have fun jumping into them.

This is so close to the mark LOL lots of the people who want the canisters are not using them for photographic purposes.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

This is so close to the mark LOL lots of the people who want the canisters are not using them for photographic purposes.

Lots of 35mm canisters in March were spotted here in Geelong at the Steampacket Waterfront market on Saturdays. Recycled as Christmas tree baubles ... but as pencil sharpeners (!) for $5.00 each.

 

[AgX]

As it is I normally work a minimum non stop 13 hours a day 6 days a week to do what I'm currently doing.

Thus no time left for your own photography.

 

[Cropline]

......... As one man I simply can not cope with doing any more work. As it is I normally work a minimum non stop 13 hours a day 6 days a week to do what I'm currently doing.......

I certainly respect that everything about this is your business-not mine- but lets consider some basic math you are assuredly aware of doing the workload you presently are.
24x7=168 hrs. a week. IF you allow yourself 8 hrs. rest per day, that =56 hr.'s sleep per wk. Add the "minimum" work you do and you have 78 hr.'s. That's 78+56=134 hrs. 168-134=34 hrs. left for yourself. 1 day of rest with all other life needs, don't leave you much time. (Rhetorical ?s)

How long do you intend to keep this schedule?
What is your end goal?
What could you pay help to lessen your workload and increase your volume to pay their wages?

I understand the commitment that comes w/private business. I've also heard statements such as, "I've never heard a person on their deathbed say they wished they had worked more hours".
Again, it your business, none of mine. Just a realization. I wish you well regardless of if or how you respond. Would be nice to hear your thoughts though. You're certainly putting your effort into it!

 

[Photo Engineer]

Often if your hobby becomes your work, it becomes work. It is difficult to continue at home or after hours. It is also difficult when your work becomes your hobby. Same result.

BTDT.

PE

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

Often if your hobby becomes your work, it becomes work. [...]

BTDT.

PE

Exactly how it turned out for me a long, long time ago and I more or less put a stop to the nonsense in 2010 (the demise of Ilfochrome Classic was a good time, I thought, to step back and take stock). I have a very happy and equal balance of work/play: I still get out with the cameras and travel, despite having a senior research position in medicine that requires me to "drop everything" at any time during the week. It is unfortunately very, very common but there is no way I would ever, ever work 6 days a week, much more unlikely 7 days, as many people in service industries do (baristas are one where a 7 day stint on, one day off is very common). There must be "me" time away from work, and not just one day. If not, what seems to be getting in the way? If one is not taking control, quality of life will suffer.

 

[Stephen Frizza]

I certainly respect that everything about this is your business-not mine- but lets consider some basic math you are assuredly aware of doing the workload you presently are.
24x7=168 hrs. a week. IF you allow yourself 8 hrs. rest per day, that =56 hr.'s sleep per wk. Add the "minimum" work you do and you have 78 hr.'s. That's 78+56=134 hrs. 168-134=34 hrs. left for yourself. 1 day of rest with all other life needs, don't leave you much time. (Rhetorical ?s)

How long do you intend to keep this schedule?
What is your end goal?
What could you pay help to lessen your workload and increase your volume to pay their wages?

My obsession has enslaved me. I used to do 7 days a week but I have slowed down and as for sleep I do about 3 hours of that a day giving me extra time (I used to sleep less) the working time as expressed above includes my research and development time which I fit in while waiting for clients film to process etc..

So I still do my own photography. The work I do for others funds the experiments I do for myself. I'm 33yrs old I've done it this way for over a decade and yet there is still sooo much for me to learn. Leonardo da Vinci said on his death bed, “I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have.” by the time I die I want to be one of the best darkroom technicians to have walked the earth.

Would I hire anyone to assist me? In Australia absolutely not!

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

Often if your hobby becomes your work, it becomes work. It is difficult to continue at home or after hours. It is also difficult when your work becomes your hobby. Same result.

BTDT.

PE

Precisely... and hence the difference between play and work. We always love play but when play becomes work, especially long-hour work doing only for others and nothing for self, we learn to hate what we once loved.

BTDT

 

[TheRook]

I wonder how much of the E6 film is submitted for cross-processing.

 

[Stephen Frizza]

I wonder how much of the E6 film is submitted for cross-processing.

The films which were cross processed were included in misc and out dated film bags.

 

[Bob Carnie]

I work a 7 day a week schedule much like Stephen , at 63 I have reduced my hours per day and I do get a good night sleep. What I am doing is picking significant projects that I can leave a legacy of
prints behind.
I have turned my WORK into my PLAY , I cannot wait to open the lab each day. Actually I just walked in with my cappuccino - looking at Large Format then APUG to see what is interesting in the photo world at large, and I think I will make some negatives for PT PD today and Tri Colour Gum.

 

[Derek Lofgreen]

Very interesting info Stephen. Thanks for sharing. I am wondering how many e6 shooters are doing their own lab work, seeing that more and more labs are not doing it? I know that I don't have many options except for mail order, so I soup my own e6.

 

[ericdan]

E6 is very much alive here in Tokyo. Most labs have a one day turn around and there are plenty that even do same day developing of E6.

 

[John51]

When browsing (UK) ebay, I came across a guy that does E6 and B&W processing but not C41.