I made my first mistake.

[f/16]

Well, I've been developing film for 6 weeks and have done 12 rolls so far. Friday night I gathered everything I needed to put the film on the reel in my darkened bathroom. After I got the reel in the tank, I felt around for the tank lid...and it was not there. I sat for a minute wondering what to do. Then I thought about putting the tank in one of the cabinets and closing the cabinet door. Did that, slipped out the bathroom door, got the lid and went back in. Fortunately the mistake didn't ruin the film. I'm just not looking forward to the day when I get the developer and fixer reversed

 

[Sirius Glass]

Well it could have been worse. You will not make that one again. In the future you may find new and innovative ways to make mistakes. We have all been there and done that.

 

[gzinsel]

well you should count yourself lucky!!! leaving your cap outside the door? have you!! you searched the room in the dark for 10-15 minutes in sheer frustration ah . . . . .
ba da ba da da "i'm lovin it" no seriously, i grin only because i've done the same.

 

[Peltigera]

I have been developing film for over 40years and today I was struggling to get the film into the spiral. I took the spiral and film out of the changing bag and loaded the film the easy way - in daylight. As I was fitting the light-proof lid to the developing tank I got this nagging feeling that something was not quite right ...

 

[GarageBoy]

Forgot the center spool once... The thing that makes Paterson systems work...

 

[Xmas]

Number 2 is just around the corner...

 

[Gerald C Koch]

There is a French expression mise en place. It is often used in culinary terms but also in general. It means getting everything in place before one starts. When beginning it is helpful to make a list. Later visualizing the setup may be all that is needed. With practice it will become second nature.

 

[bobwysiwyg]

I'm just not looking forward to the day when I get the developer and fixer reversed

Hmm, done this and I've been at it longer, lots longer, than six weeks.

 

[MattKing]

There is a French expression mise en place. It is often used in culinary terms but also in general. It means getting everything in place before one starts. When beginning it is helpful to make a list. Later visualizing the setup may be all that is needed. With practice it will become second nature.

Ramekins for the darkroom, anyone?

When I teach people how to develop film, I make a point of starting them out with a visualization exercise. In the light, I get them to practice visualizing each step, and I make sure that placement of all the items (reels, tanks, chemicals, beakers, thermometers, etc.) is part of that process.

 

[RobC]

Join the club. I doubt it'll be your last mistake.

 

[Xmas]

There is a French expression mise en place. It is often used in culinary terms but also in general. It means getting everything in place before one starts. When beginning it is helpful to make a list. Later visualizing the setup may be all that is needed. With practice it will become second nature.

I understood it meant focus (as well) even if only argot?

 

[Gerald C Koch]

A number of French expressions initially applying to food have become generalized in nature. Another, I don't remember the exact French, but it is something like "an excess is always the fault." Originally it meant if there were something wrong with a dish then the balance was off because something was in excess.

 

[naaldvoerder]

Rest asure. It wan't be the last. Over time, I have frutelessly been searching for virtually every part of my developing tank in my changing back.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

A number of French expressions initially applying to food have become generalized in nature. Another l'exces en tout nuit can be translated to the English "an excess is always the fault." Originally it meant if there were something wrong with a dish then the balance was off because something was in excess.

 

[Rich Ullsmith]

Loaded and developed a roll of 120 paper backing once. Got it all on the reel, not kidding. I always thought complete darkness was a great equalizer when one is drunk. Not so.

 

[gzinsel]

Rich, your post just made my day!! thats very funny.

 

[mr rusty]

We've all dropped clangers. My best was to seriously take several shots at a particular event, get home to develop the film, open the camera and find it empty. Ever since, I have got in the habit of checking the rewind to make sure the camera has film in!!

 

[RobC]

decided to develop 12 sheets of 5x4 in a combiplan tank by loading two sheets back to back in each slot. BIG mistake. They developed nicely BUT they stuck together and the backing dyes didn't wash out. Not recommended.

 

[studiocarter]

I showed my son the inside of my 6x7 P while film was in it. Oops. 3 shots were flashed.
And, D-76 was used instead of Dektol with prints. Normal prints came out but n+1&2 way too much contrast

 

[KenS]

Back in 1952... and about twice a year for the next five (or so), my mentor (on hearing the occasional 'gentle curse' from his stance outside the darkroom door) was known to repeat one of his favourites...."The photographer who says he never makes mistakes is either a liar... or actually does nothing."

Ken

 

[Chrismat]

Scotland 1990: I was taking my first trip overseas and I had brought a couple of Pentax K1000s and a Pentax 6X7 with me. I would alternate formats every day for the variety and when I was in Glencoe on a 35mm day I shot a few rolls of bulk Tri-X. I got back to the Glencoe Youth Hostel and washed some clothes. As I was pulling out my jacket from the washer to put in the drier I heard clanging noise from within the clothes washer: It was an exposed roll of film that went through the wash! I wrapped the roll with the canister with a few bags of plastic sandwich bags to prevent it from drying and when I got back to the States I carefully removed it from the film cartridge and placed it in a film tank filled with water without a reel. A few hours later I loaded the wet roll on a metal spool and processed it in Rodinal. Most of the roll is reticulated, but there are a couple of frames that didn't come out too badly. This is one:

 

[RobC]

I like the look of it. Which washing powder and what washing machine program did you use?

 

[Chrismat]

If memory serves, it was the hot water mode. No idea what brand of soap. Maybe Rodinclean?

 

[RobC]

 

[Arklatexian]

Scotland 1990: I was taking my first trip overseas and I had brought a couple of Pentax K1000s and a Pentax 6X7 with me. I would alternate formats every day for the variety and when I was in Glencoe on a 35mm day I shot a few rolls of bulk Tri-X. I got back to the Glencoe Youth Hostel and washed some clothes. As I was pulling out my jacket from the washer to put in the drier I heard clanging noise from within the clothes washer: It was an exposed roll of film that went through the wash! I wrapped the roll with the canister with a few bags of plastic sandwich bags to prevent it from drying and when I got back to the States I carefully removed it from the film cartridge and placed it in a film tank filled with water without a reel. A few hours later I loaded the wet roll on a metal spool and processed it in Rodinal. Most of the roll is reticulated, but there are a couple of frames that didn't come out too badly. This is one:

By any chance did you notice the brand of washer at the Glencoe Youth Hostel? After looking at your print, I might want to install one in my darkroom. Looks like a superior film processor to me......Regards!