Most extensive travel you've ever done on one trip with film? Tips?

[FoidPoosening]

Any format.

I've been shooting film for years, but only recently starting to travel with it (would previously bring my digital camera instead for convenience). I recently took a trip to Vienna and it was my first time traveling internationally with film. The airport and hand checks were irritating, but beyond that it was fantastic.

In short, what's the furthest you've traveled on one singular trip with film? Any kinks along the way? What gear did you actually bring? I plan on doing a very, very long trip in a few years and am torn on what to bring.

Any triumphs, horror stories and especially tips on how best to travel with film for extended periods of time and to remote places are greatly appreciated!

 

[munz6869]

Australia (home) to Iceland, then The Netherlands & Switzerland... with a 4x5" Field Camera, Rolleiflex & Fuji 645zi in 2011. Actually I've been doing this sort of thing for the last 9 years - always have a lot of fun trying to pack so all the film's in carry on, and spend a lot of time in hotel rooms with my hands in a pup tent. So much fun when I get home. These days I entirely shoot B&W for simplicity, and only take two systems (one for urban stomping and one for landscapes).

Marc!

 

[guangong]

In 1973 I had the opportunity to visit a totalitarian country that was off limits to most people. Took leica m4 and leica m5 with 90，50，35，and 28mm lenses along with long cable release to run from hand through jacket sleeve to m4 release in order to shoot “unorthorized“ or “undesireable“ pictures. Try to take an unheard to the authorites shot with a nikon！Also，a supply of batteries for M5（I would do the same visiting anywhere nowadays including any large modern city because photo batteries are no longer ubiquitous）and more film than you think you will ever use because film has also become a specialty item. A few years ago had to search all over for batteries in Egypt（before obama installed the muslem brotherhood）and even then could only find unsuitable alkyline batteries.

 

[Frank53]

Long ago, Early 70's, I made a few overland trips from Europe to India/Nepal. Stayed away for around 6 months.
Took my OM 1 with about 50 slide films and a Rolleiflex 3.5F with around 100 b/w films. Never cared about keeping the film cool and it all came out fine and still is.
Nowadays I regularly fly with film and as far as I know, airport x-ray is never a problem upto iso 400, so it's safe, not to worry about hand inspection as long as you keep the films in your hand luggage.
Frank

 

[CropDusterMan]

New York to England, then to Doha, on to Nepal, then India, then back to Nepal, then to Doha, back to U.K and then NY. Have a translation in each language for "Can you please not Xray my film".

 

[mooseontheloose]

I did a 6-week trip through Europe last summer, mostly shooting my Mamiya 6 and Nikon FE (and sometimes Holga and SX-70). I took about 100 rolls of film, plus 6 packs of instant film, but it wasn't enough. I overestimated on the 135 and underestimated on the 120. Luckily I was visiting major cities so I was able to stock up on the 120 (in the end I was probably carrying around 150 rolls of film). I shot just over 100 rolls of the 120 and about 20 rolls of 135. This was the largest amount of film I've ever taken for a trip, mostly because I was limited to 12 shots per roll on 120, as opposed to 36 on 135. I didn't have problems with xrays and whatnot, however, the biggest issue was having enough space in my carry-on luggage for all my film and cameras. Many times I really pushed the limits as to what was acceptable, taking extra bags and such, but I got lucky as I was never forced to comply with one-bag regulations. As such, it's made me reconsider what I'll shoot on longer trips (more 135, less 120) so I can reduce the amount of film I need to take with me. I've also considered only shooting MF or only 135 to cut down on redundancy for film stock and sizes, but the reality is some films can only be shot on my Nikon (like the few rolls of HIE I have left), while other types of images I prefer to do on 120. Plus, I like having a back-up camera in case one decides to stop working for whatever reason (has happened to me twice on my travels). Anyway, I have a 3-week trip coming up this August to Finland and Russia, I'll see if I can come up with a better system than what I've been doing over the past couple of years.

 

[removed account4]

mainly from eastern usa to central, south and eastern france.
with side trips, layovers &c in germany ( frankfurt, freiberg )
switzerland (basel and other areas i can't remember LOL )
london (sorry only the airport where i almost won a mazarati )
handful of different trips. some with 8mm bolex and
pentax me super, and pentaxauto 100, others with m3 and
3x4 graflex slr/120 roll back, still others with
a graflex series d (4x5 )slr, sheet film and a 120 rollback penFT and graflex 3a.
usually have never had issues, pre and post 9/11.
aeroport technology for carryon have never bothered my film,
and luckily when i spaced out and put all my exposed film in my luggage in the hold,
nothing happened to that either. ive brought and brought back cyanotype
chemistry back and forth, vit c and sodium carbonate all sorts of exposed or unexposed film.
the only issue i ever really had was at a us airport where they didnt know what was in my camerabag,
because the aeroport carry on viewing apparatus showed some sort of weird coiled metal stuff. when i
opened and demomstrated the camera it worked out fine.
no real horror stories, no real kinks, no worries, but 3 weeks really wasn't that long.
i was fortunate enough to be someplace where i was able to mix up some
caffenol and find ilford fixer so i could process film if needed to ( and i tray shuffled 4x5 ).
the next trip i go on, i will only bring a 35mm camera, and 50mm lens ( or maybe a 1/2 frame ).
or who knows maybe the other thing again ( last 2 trips i brought that thingy have plants on making
paper internegatives and cyanotypes ).
while it is nice to be able to use and expose a variety of cool formats and lenses and films ...
35mm is probably all i need. it is versatile, film is compact and easy to use, pack, load&c.
bringing otherstuff might be fun, but in the end more of a pain. short exposure rolls ( or sheets ),
more materials ( film ) to mule in and out / cart around / deal with ... fun, yes but fun has its price
if needed one can process on the fly with a jobo 35mm daylight tank you stick the whole film cassette in it.
no fuss ezpz.

have fun on your trip !

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I think the Argentina trip with the 5x7 was the most challenging, just because of the logistics of the 5x7. I had a lot of fun on that trip, and got some great images, but I would not take a view camera with me on a major trip like that again if it were my first visit to that place. It becomes the sole and total focus of the trip.

I've been to Spain with a Hasselblad, a second trip to Spain with a Contax G2, more recently France, Canada, Italy and Michigan with a Rolleiflex, and the mother of all film-based trips was Singapore and Cambodia with the Contax SLRs and a Hasselblad XPan. In all that running around I've never lost a roll or sheet to X-rays or inspections, although I had a close call in Argentina on my way home. They were doing hand screening of carry-on bags at the gate for some reason. A gate attendant saw the boxes of 5x7 sheet film and was curious enough to try and open one. Fortunately I had double-bagged the film in the box - she didn't get that far because I about lunged across the table screaming "PELICULA!!!" at her (film in Spanish) as she started to open the box. She got the message and put it back immediately!

 

[Peter Rockstroh01]

I've travelled to SE Asia, Africa, Amazonia, carrying MF and 35 mm (2 cameras per formar, at least one fully mechanical of each, and usually 100 rolls of film). B& W I normally develop during the night, wherever I go, using HC-110. If I'm happy with the negatives, I decide if I'll move on - usually I do. If not, I list what I would like to photograph again, to correct the mistakes, and normally I can get better results. I use aluminium foil to wrap the rolls of film in canisters and put a large, printed instruction in the case where I carry the film, so authorities can and will read it. My main comcern is B&W, which is why I develop film on the road.

 

[wiltw]

Literally around the world on a single trip in the late 1980's on business lasting 5 weeks, with my Olympus OM-4...starting in SFO, across the pond to Europe, then to SE Asia, Tokyo, then Dallas before return to SFO.

 

[Truzi]

Mine isn't too exciting - I've never used digital on a trip, always film. My longest was when I was 14-15 years old (my birthday was during the trip), with my grandparent's, aunt, and brother. We traveled from Ohio to Colorado and back over about a month, camping along the way. I had a 110 camera. No photography related problems, though I almost stepped on a rattlesnake in some desert campground area. I got a picture of it, though.

 

[MattKing]

1979 - 5 weeks split mostly between Spain and Italy, with a small amount of time in southern France and London England.

OM-1 with 3 lenses, plus lots of Kodachrome 64 (I cannot remember how many rolls).

In 1979, Spain was still coming out of the Franco era, so it was very interesting.

 

[wiltw]

Any triumphs, horror stories and especially tips on how best to travel with film for extended periods of time and to remote places are greatly appreciated!

Never expect London Heathrow security to hand inspect film even after being asked, they ALWAYS throw it all back on the belt to go thru Security X-ray machine (I guess they don't speak English, so do not understand such requests!)
Never ever put film in checked baggage, as there is widespread use of CT scanners to look at checked luggage, and that DOES FOG FILM!
Expect to run acrossed younger security staffers who don't know what the heck rollfilm is, and will ask you to UNROLL one!
You can even expect to run acrossed young security staffers who want you to remove the lens and 'open up' the camera for inspection

 

[Sirius Glass]

I have made a number of four weeks trips to Europe with a 35mm camera and collections of lenses shooting 36 rolls of 135-36 sides.

 

[Fixcinater]

Rode a motorcycle solo/unsupported from San Diego, CA to Alaska with a Spotmatic, lots of Tri-x, few rolls of color and three lenses. Could have done with just the 35/2 and 150/4 (I also brought a 17mm). Some sample shots in my gallery.

Couple weeks in Spain last year with a Pentax 67 with just the 105mm, Canon 7 with three lenses. Ended up using the 7+50mm or the 67 for most day excursions. Glad I brought the 100mm for the Canon, wish I had left the 35 at home and brought something wider. Also have some sample shots in my gallery here.

 

[guangong]

Even nuttier is insisting on turning on my leica m3 and IIIs. Had to call tsa management to inspect. Forget about a spring powered movie camera！

 

[mooseontheloose]

...I plan on doing a very, very long trip in a few years and am torn on what to bring.

Any triumphs, horror stories and especially tips on how best to travel with film for extended periods of time and to remote places are greatly appreciated!

How long is the trip? How remote is remote? For really long trips where bringing all the film you might need is not really feasible, or where you'll need to consider developing options, you have a few choices:

1. Find out in advance where you might be able to source film from local shops, and make sure they have what you want. Alternatively, have a stash of film at home that could be shipped out to you, or order online (providing, of course, you'll be somewhere long enough to have it delivered to you).
2. Other than pro shops, I would be reluctant to use smaller, unknown shops for film developing (assuming colour) in a new location unless vouched for by someone I knew personally or online. For black and white, I would bring a small set of chemicals, tanks and reels (or again, source chemicals locally), maybe a changing bag, and develop as needed (make sure you have Printfile or other types of storage sheets for your negs). I did this a few years ago when I was in Japan temporarily for 2 months in the same location, and it worked really well for me.
3. For cameras, bring the lightest and/or smallest set up you can, with some redundancy (a second body).

 

[Ai Print]

I did 10 months around the world in 2001-02 shooting all 35mm slide film. I scheduled shipments and processing while abroad around assignments and even shipped an F5, 400mm 2.8 and a scanner from Australia to my brother's house in London while in S.E. Asia for three months. It arrived in London two days after I did.

Now I am typically gone at least 2-4 weeks if out of the U.S. and do two road trips a year in a truck camper that is solar powered that last 3-5 weeks.

In regards to flights, I do my best to get to check in early, have TSA pre-check and mitigate how many scans the film gets as much as I can. Some places are easier than others.

 

[Ian Grant]

With a lot of film, UK to Turkey, then Turkey to Switerland, Switerland to Brazil. Brazil to Chile, Chile to Peru, then the reverse and no prob;ems

Ian

 

[DREW WILEY]

I have my own rules about this. Have to walk, have to carry large format, and it has to be steep terrain. Otherwise, it doesn't count. When I return home hopelessly filthy and unshaven, looking like a porcupine, but with a lifetime of memories, I consider the trip worthwhile.

 

[FoidPoosening]

Even nuttier is insisting on turning on my leica m3 and IIIs. Had to call tsa management to inspect. Forget about a spring powered movie camera！

I can image it now: "Could you please turn on your camera?"

Lol.

 

[DREW WILEY]

Even nuttier still: having to go through a gauntlet of British Electronics Customs forms to get a Sinar Norma view camera purchase shipped to me.
Yeah, I guess it could be considered an electronic device if it got hit with a lightning bolt atop a mountain. Second, it was made in the 60's. Third,
I live not far from Silicon Valley, so the idea that somebody here would be trying to sneak out Britain's comparatively primitive techie secrets is rather laughable.

 

[FoidPoosening]

How long is the trip? How remote is remote? For really long trips where bringing all the film you might need is not really feasible, or where you'll need to consider developing options, you have a few choices:

1. Find out in advance where you might be able to source film from local shops, and make sure they have what you want. Alternatively, have a stash of film at home that could be shipped out to you, or order online (providing, of course, you'll be somewhere long enough to have it delivered to you).
2. Other than pro shops, I would be reluctant to use smaller, unknown shops for film developing (assuming colour) in a new location unless vouched for by someone I knew personally or online. For black and white, I would bring a small set of chemicals, tanks and reels (or again, source chemicals locally), maybe a changing bag, and develop as needed (make sure you have Printfile or other types of storage sheets for your negs). I did this a few years ago when I was in Japan temporarily for 2 months in the same location, and it worked really well for me.
3. For cameras, bring the lightest and/or smallest set up you can, with some redundancy (a second body).

As far as how long the trip will be, I don't exactly know. Ideally it'll be for an extended period of time though (year or two). Sourcing locally is an interesting idea.

In terms of redundancy, do you always bring 2x of the exact same body or rather bodies that run off the same system? Currently I'd probably want to bring my Canon FD 50mm f1.2L + Canon FD 20-35mm f3.5L and Canon F1N + Canon T90.

 

[Paul Howell]

In the 70 and 80 I was a working PJ, before that an Air Force Photographer, when working for the wires I covered Africa. My first kit was a Nikon F, with motor drive for lens 28 2.8, 50 1.4, 105 2.8 and 200 3.5 and either a Leica IIIG or Canon 7 with 50mm 2.0, 28 3.5 and 90 3.5. I upgraded to a F2, then F3 and had my lens converted by Nikon, I also had a FG with motor drive, not the winder as a second light weight body. My preference was to keep a wide on the rangefinder and the 105 on my Nikon, other lens as needed. Seems like of gear, but fits into one bag. I did a lot of work were film was hard to come by so I always traveled with 20 to 50 rolls. My last long trip was to Iceland, I carried a Sigma SD 14, SA 9 and Canon GL 1.7 for film, 20 rolls of TMAX 400. For the Sigmas, 50mm 2.8 macor, 28 to 105 and 100 to 300 with flash seemed to work well.

 

[mooseontheloose]

As far as how long the trip will be, I don't exactly know. Ideally it'll be for an extended period of time though (year or two). Sourcing locally is an interesting idea.

In terms of redundancy, do you always bring 2x of the exact same body or rather bodies that run off the same system? Currently I'd probably want to bring my Canon FD 50mm f1.2L + Canon FD 20-35mm f3.5L and Canon F1N + Canon T90.

It depends on the trip, but usually not two of the same body. I used to travel quite a bit with my Nikon FE and F100, but now that I shoot more MF, whatever MF camera I am using (currently the Mamiya 6) is my normal day-to-day camera, with the FE doing other duties, such as shooting colour or infrared, while acting as a backup if something happens to my primary camera.