Survey: In-the-field film loading strategies

[Vaughn]

In six months of sea kayaking I didn't get one scratched negative. I keep exposure information on glassine negative sleeves, then notch the glassines edge to indicate what development that sheet should get. This way all the negatives get fired into one box, and it's easy to seperate them when I get home.

Then again, a kayak isn't quite as bouncy as a bicycle

Murray

My negs did not get scratched -- just random bursts of static discharges (not the streaks one gets in low humidity situations, but dots).

Kayaks are bouncy -- just a different kind of bounce! Sounds like a neat way to store exposed film! It would have increased the bulk, but it would have saved my negs! Six months of kayaking -- way too much fun!

Vaughn

 

[roteague]

I might be off but who invented this crap? It's one for me, one for you, one for me, one for you. I can't stand that stuff.

I've found it valuable here. I've got a couple of boxes of B&W film (Ilford and Efke) where the negatives are all fused together (by humidity?). Since then, I always keep the interleaving paper and use it. However, I've not found this an issue with any Fuji film.

 

[wclavey]

I use a black changing bag to load holders in the field. I was at an ice rink here in Houston last weekend (my son teaches figure skating) waiting for him to finish work and I was sitting in the stands, surrounded by all the parents of the little kids on the ice with what looked like a black nylon jacket draped over my lap while I fiddled around with what was inside... you can imagine the stares and questioning looks... "hey, some old bald guy is sitting in the stands with a jacket on his lap playing with himself..." But in fact, I was loading 8 4x5 holders with FP-4. The dry air conditioned air made it great compared to the hot, humid Texas weather outside.

 

[eddie gunks]

i have had very very good luck with my changing bag. it is a bit tight for my 8x10 but it worked. i now have a harrison room, but that was only cause the price was so good! i am still using my bag as we speak. it is its first trip to SE Asia!

eddie

 

[juan]

1940 Ford sedan at night - photographer in the back seat with 8x10 film holders - pretty model/assistant/wife outside pulling a tarp over the windows. That's the way a real photographer changes film in the field.
juan

 

[Ole]

Changing bag for smaller films - to 5x7", or 18x24cm if in bookform holders. anything else I change either in a hotel bathroom, or in one case outside at night.

 

[John Kasaian]

I have a panavision changing bag from the motion picture industry that works vwery well. Its not a tent but the fabric is so stilffpractically stands up by its self. On the road, most motel 6 and super 8s don't have window in thier bathrooms so thats an easy choice. I've never tried a sleeping bag head first like Ansel Adams, but Juan's scenario with the '40 Ford sounds like fun, only forget about changing film in the back seat with the pretty wife/ photo asstant outside holding the tarp----get that pretty wife/photo assistant in the back seat with the 'tog and stash those filmholders in the trunk! Thats how a real horn-dog does it!

 

[vet173]

Shouldn't the assistant be in the car doing the changing while you are holding the tarp smoking a lucky strike. No issues in this area since I got a JOBO tent.

 

[wclavey]

I have a question for the hotel bathroom changers: Even at night, when my eyes become accustomed to the darkened bathroom (with the room lights off) I can still see the outline of the door... an orange glow (looks orange to me) where the light must be reflecting around the edges of the door. I admit that it is not light enough to see my hand in front of my face unless I move my hand past the outline of the door. Is that dark enough for 400 film?

 

[markbb]

Harisson tent in bathroom (less likely to be dusty). In the field, changing bag (although this can be a bit of a struggle with 10x8 in 'rough' terrain). for 5x4 I use quick/readloads, they may be more expensive but the cost is usually a small % of the overall trip.

 

[Ole]

... I admit that it is not light enough to see my hand in front of my face unless I move my hand past the outline of the door. Is that dark enough for 400 film?

Try with a light meter. if you can't see the light meter to take a reading, it's too dark to expose film.

 

[Sportera]

Ive used the same tent for 5 or six years. it takes some practice not to knock things over in there but it works great once you get the hang of it. I can load holders anywhere now. I use the same tent to load film in my Hp combi tank for development as well.

 

[BradS]

I have a question for the hotel bathroom changers: Even at night, when my eyes become accustomed to the darkened bathroom (with the room lights off) I can still see the outline of the door... an orange glow (looks orange to me) where the light must be reflecting around the edges of the door. I admit that it is not light enough to see my hand in front of my face unless I move my hand past the outline of the door. Is that dark enough for 400 film?

Wait 'till night, turn off all the room lights and close the curtains. Stand as far away from the door as possible with your body between the light leaking around the door and the film.

Just in case, bring along three or four thumb tacks. Use these to hang a blanket over the outside of the door. It works. I do it all the time - even at home.