Hand Inspection of Film at Charles De gaulle Airport?

[hdeyong]

They haven't forgotten, either.
These flags fly year-round about 2 kms from where we live in France.

 

[Dan Henderson]

In regards to your last paragraph, I couldn't have said it better myself!

I used to look forward to flying. Now it is a necessary evil when all other transportation modes are impractical. I have to fly to Miami in 2 weeks and I am already worrying about my gear not getting there when I do, and that the sequester will have the security and traffic control systems slowed way down by then.

 

[tron_]

I recent went to Tokyo and was flying out of Detroit Metro (DTW). The security there is very tight so I emailed the airport ahead of time and asked them if they could hand search my film. They put me into contact with TSA who replied saying yes, I would be able to get a hand search. I then brought the email with me to the airport and showed it to the security people.

Maybe you should try doing something similar like that. It makes it more "official" and prevents security from feeling like they are doing something wrong by hand searching a passengers film instead of demanding it to be x-rayed.

 

[Vaughn]

I just gave a carbon printing workshop in Philadelphia. Upon opening my suitcase at home I discovered a note saying my suitcase was opened and inspected. I am not surprised, considering the odds and ends I had in there for the workshop. They opened up my box of prints -- I hope they enjoyed them! I had a full box of 14x17 X-ray copy film in there -- totally toast, of course, but I am planning on fixing it out and using it as a support material for carbon tissues, so no problem. I carried a box of 11x14 film in my hand baggage, though!

This is because ferry companies treat their passengers as customers. Airports treat passengers as criminals.

Actually on the SF to Philly flight and back again, I felt more like a part of a load of cattle...

Vaughn

 

[David Lyga]

Soviet help for the French and French help for the United States

Diapositivo: Thank you for saying what amounts to a minefield of political rhetoric (at least in the USA where we are spokepersons for 'God'). It both needed to be said and it happens to be the truth. - David Lyga

 

[DREW WILEY]

So far I only know about TSA equip. I just returned from a trip using TMY400 sheets and rolls which got
X-rayed three times, and after dev, absolutely no base fog or other issues. I don't know about X-rays
in truly backwards third world countries like Texas, however - the bullet holes from everyone standing in line would probably fog the film in the holders anyway.

 

[Vilk]

Yes, I asked for a hand inspection and they filed a police report on me. They did do the hand inspection, though.

Interesting--same story a couple of weeks ago; a lot of head-scratching, calling supervisors and a general je ne sais pas what the heck to do with this now... Must be some new internal memo or something and no one's too comfortable with it yet. CDG used to be so much nicer than Schiphol for this; I am saddened it's no longer true.

 

[clayne]

I just gave a carbon printing workshop in Philadelphia. Upon opening my suitcase at home I discovered a note saying my suitcase was opened and inspected. I am not surprised, considering the odds and ends I had in there for the workshop. They opened up my box of prints -- I hope they enjoyed them! I had a full box of 14x17 X-ray copy film in there -- totally toast, of course, but I am planning on fixing it out and using it as a support material for carbon tissues, so no problem. I carried a box of 11x14 film in my hand baggage, though!

You might want to test develop one of those X-ray films just for the hell of it. It would be interesting to see if anything shows up.

As far as CDG goes, I have zero interest in France, personally.

 

[Vilk]

...I have zero interest in France, personally.

uh-oh, just as i opened this amazing pauillac... come, have a glass, forgive the frenchies

 

[lxdude]

I guess the best thing is to empty the cams on not have a partial roll in it.

Yep. Rewind, leave the leader out (35mm) and write the number of exposed frames on it, put it in a film can. When reloading, put on the the lens cap, (and for maximum safety, set the camera at the fastest shutter speed and the lens at smallest aperture). Advance to the number of frames recorded, plus one. Or plus two, if you're really concerned. Before reloading, check the film leader for any crud on it, to avoid scratches.

 

[DBP]

I thought it was just my fatigue after an a long flight. They said the film had to be high speed, which would have been easy to answer if the high speed film had not been home loaded Tri-X. After I convinced them it was they hand inspected, then wrote a report.

 

[RattyMouse]

You might want to test develop one of those X-ray films just for the hell of it. It would be interesting to see if anything shows up.

As far as CDG goes, I have zero interest in France, personally.

Funny that this thread is still going on. I ended up not taking a film camera to France cry: ) but instead a digital. Regardless, I had the time of my life there. Absolutely AMAZING place. I would go back there again in a heart beat. Truly a wonderful country, with wonderful people. I never cared much for France before but that was all theoretical. On the ground there in Paris, I got to experience the reality and wow was it great.

 

[wiltw]

Fascinating reading here. Any other countries that give film photographers a problem? Just to repeat, I had no issues at all in Japan and Hong Kong. They were very friendly.

In all of my trips through London Heathrow over the period of 30 years, NEVER have they complied with hand inspection requests, even in spite of rolls of film in clear plastic bags handed to the security staff, nor in spite of statements of 'high speed film'...the bag gets thrown back onto the conveyor thru the Xray machine.

 

[Allen Friday]

I missed this thread when it first started.

I went through CDG last month, asked for a hand inspection of 120 film, 3200 speed, and had no problems.

 

[TheForestMan]

Seems it really depends on the time and officer. I had my 120's hand inspected in CDG a couple of times. They have no idea what it is in the beginning but if u smile and explain they seem not to be too difficult. As a side advice, if u travel to China, they scan your luggage very often, even when u travel by train (example: from Hong Kong to Guangzhou ) so avoid high ISO or pushed films. In all case, never get mad. It never helps (especially in China, you don't want to argue in mandarin :0). Most the time they are quite nice either way although they may not understand you ( that's where my wife is very helpful - she speakers mandarin). In the end, don't panic and keep your smile.


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[Bob Carnie]

I just went through this Airport in Paris with film with no issues on the film it was scanned... I carried it onto the plane, do not put film in your luggage to be checked as the level of inspection maybe more than you wish for.

 

[Chris Lange]

If it's in carry on, the film receives more radiation from being up in the sky than it gets from going through the relatively low power carry on scanner. I would insist only on having Delta 3200 or P3200 hand inspected.

And airport employees are required to be familiar with sensitized materials.

I last went through CDG in 2011, and they hand inspected the couple rolls of D3200 I had, and I sent the rest through the carryon scanner without a hitch.

 

[Fixcinater]

I took 45-50 rolls of 120 and 35mm with me, through CdG earlier this summer (July 2013). I had all the 35mm in a plastic bag so that was an easy visual only inspection. Every step of the way hand-checked all of the film, but CdG pulled me aside and made me open a couple of the sealed pro packs of 120. They did the swab test on my Pentax 6x7, made me pull off the lens and the prism as it was plainly obvious that they separated. Being courteous, light-hearted and understanding that they had a job to do instead of expecting royal treatment made it all go smoothly. On the way out of France, I flew from Lyon to CdG and they did a very quick visual inspection on it all and did nothing more than a quick look at the 6x7.

Would I be so lucky next time? I don't know, but you can guarantee I'll be smiling and ready to charm rather than dreading some terrible outcome.

 

[StoneNYC]

Do those shooting LF sheets ever have issues where they won't hand inspect the boxes and insist on opening them? Not understanding when you explain they can't open them because the film is inside without protection from light?


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[Chris Lange]

Not usually. film boxes inform the person holding them not to open outside of a suitable darkroom. If you have the camera to back up your possession of such a thing, they don't care.

 

[removed account4]

Do those shooting LF sheets ever have issues where they won't hand inspect the boxes and insist on opening them? Not understanding when you explain they can't open them because the film is inside without protection from light?


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never had that problem stone/ been back and forth a handful of times with sheets b-w + color
including post 9-11 and post LSB where every 20 feet was another security checkpoint
at heathrow airport.

 

[StoneNYC]

never had that problem stone/ been back and forth a handful of times with sheets b-w + color
including post 9-11 and post LSB where every 20 feet was another security checkpoint
at heathrow airport.

Good


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[Curt]

I flew from Seattle to Las Vegas in 09 and on the return trip I had a bottle of water I bought in the terminal and was drinking it while in line. As I got closer I did what I usually do when out. I put it in my coat pocket. I put my carry on including my coat in the tubs that go through the X-ray machine. They stopped the machine and fished out the bottle and handed it to me. "Do you want to drink it or put it in the garbage?" Pointing to a garbage can. Then they ran my camera bag back in and out then in then out then they stopped and asked me "Where's the flux capacitor?" They broke out laughing! I said I was going to a workshop and they smiled and nodded. It was pretty strange.

Another time in Seattle eveything ran through ok except my boots. The boots didn't make it through the machine. They insisted they didn't have them. I said they're what I wore to the airport. After a supervisor was called they shut the line down and opened the covers of the machine. Sure enough there were my boots. I still don't understand how boots in a tub on a conveyer can end up inside the machine. I keep a note of everything I put through.

As as for inspection of film I just put it through. My last trip was from Seattle to Amsterdam to Venice, the train to Milan, then to Rome and from Rome to Atlanta and Atlanta to Seattle. All my rollfilm was fine with no fog.

 

[StoneNYC]

I flew from Seattle to Las Vegas in 09 and on the return trip I had a bottle of water I bought in the terminal and was drinking it while in line. As I got closer I did what I usually do when out. I put it in my coat pocket. I put my carry on including my coat in the tubs that go through the X-ray machine. They stopped the machine and fished out the bottle and handed it to me. "Do you want to drink it or put it in the garbage?" Pointing to a garbage can. Then they ran my camera bag back in and out then in then out then they stopped and asked me "Where's the flux capacitor?" They broke out laughing! I said I was going to a workshop and they smiled and nodded. It was pretty strange.

Another time in Seattle eveything ran through ok except my boots. The boots didn't make it through the machine. They insisted they didn't have them. I said they're what I wore to the airport. After a supervisor was called they shut the line down and opened the covers of the machine. Sure enough there were my boots. I still don't understand how boots in a tub on a conveyer can end up inside the machine. I keep a note of everything I put through.

As as for inspection of film I just put it through. My last trip was from Seattle to Amsterdam to Venice, the train to Milan, then to Rome and from Rome to Atlanta and Atlanta to Seattle. All my rollfilm was fine with no fog.

I guess I just don't trust you guys, and what I mean is, I like my blacks to be BLACK and I notice even new 3200 isn't fully black, so I worry about that kind of stuff, like "flashing film" maybe I don't want my film flashed... Lol


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[removed account4]

stone

read the first line of this post..
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)