The first rule of photography...

[ChristopherCoy]

Make sure you have a LOADED reel before you start the development process. Yes I did. Developer, stop bath, fixer, and everything.

 

[MattKing]

Check the floor under where you thought you loaded the reel.
Or alternatively, your other tanks, that you thought were empty.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

For me, it's putting the film in my camera before going out on a days shoot so you're way ahead of me.

 

[ChristopherCoy]

Check the floor under where you thought you loaded the reel.
Or alternatively, your other tanks, that you thought were empty.

Well I thought I loaded the 35mm roll the other day when I loaded the tmax and TriX in the same tank. I’m just getting around to developing them today and it’s been in the same place on the table so I thought it was loaded. But nope... there the 35mm roll sits, right where it was when is WASNT loaded.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Things happen sometimes... I met Buena Vista Social Club band members in Barcelona 20 years ago, and we had a great time two hours before a concert, and they allowed me to photograph them freely: relaxed people... I did nearly a whole 36 frames roll, all Musicians smiling and playing their instruments, getting ready for the show... Unforgettable. I had seen them live recently, a few days before, so I just went home to develop while they were about to start... In front of my door, looking for the keys, I found my roll was yet in my coat pocket: I never put it inside my camera.

 

[cmacd123]

as soon as a load a tank, the masking tape goes across the opening (Only made that mistake of opening a loaded roll in the light once) and my notes on what roll it is are also taped to the tank, until the moment of developing. (Film always has a twin check - with one half on the note to let me match up the date - subject and which camera from my note)

 

[Cholentpot]

I developed B&W in C-41 a little bit ago. Still got images but ya know...Stupid is as stupid be.

 

[BrianShaw]

If anything can go wrong...

 

[Donald Qualls]

I developed B&W in C-41 a little bit ago. Still got images but ya know...Stupid is as stupid be.

Don't compound that one -- check your bleach/blix. If you got images, that step didn't work (at least not completely).

 

[Sirius Glass]

Also line up the chemicals in order before starting.

 

[Horatio]

You're too young to be having memory issues like me. Now, what was the topic?

 

[Donald Qualls]

Also line up the chemicals in order before starting.

I pulled a version of this recently. No, didn't mess up my film -- but wound up pouring 300 ml of Flexicolor color developer tank solution into my Flexicolor Fixer working solution bottle.

 

[Helge]

Loading backing paper and only discovering the mistake when you feel something off with the tail of the roll.
That’s when you dropped the film on the floor, thinking you would pick up the spool and paper, when the tank was safely loaded.

Now you have to use (what feels like) half an hour finding the roll in the dark.
Trying to not put too many fingers on the film and taking prewash to a whole new level.

 

[ChristopherCoy]

You're too young to be having memory issues like me. Now, what was the topic?

Just too excited today I guess and wasn’t thinking clearly. I’ve got 5 days to myself since the spouse is away on business. I’ve shot two rolls today, developed 4, and I’m about to sit down to re-edit the first pics from the RB. I haven’t turned the TV on once today. I opted instead for light jazz music, nature, and the smell of fixer.

 

[BrianShaw]

Also line up the chemicals in order before starting.

This is my favorite method. Seems quite obsessive but is quite necessary.

 

[MattKing]

I don't measure out the next chemical until the film is in the current chemical.
But I do line up the bottles before starting.

 

[Horatio]

Since we're fessing up, last year I shot a whole roll of 36 exposures... with no film in the camera. Doh!

 

[Helge]

I don't measure out the next chemical until the film is in the current chemical.
But I do line up the bottles before starting.

That sounds like a lot of plates that needs spinning. Unless you’re talking stand.

 

[MattKing]

That sounds like a lot of plates that needs spinning. Unless you’re talking stand.

Nah - I use continuous rotary agitation for all but the developing stage, so for all other stages I just pour in the chemical, set the timer and put the tank on to the agitator, which handles the rest of that stage, leaving me with time to pour the next solution into the 650ml graduate dedicated to that stage.

 

[Valerie]

Loaded up several reels, put them in the tank. In the meantime, was letting my distilled water for the developer sit in a water bath to get to temp.
Develop, stop ,fix.... WTF??? Blank!
.........forgot to add the stock developer to the water.....

 

[Cholentpot]

Don't compound that one -- check your bleach/blix. If you got images, that step didn't work (at least not completely).

I ran a few rolls through after and they looked fine for a kit nearing 40 rolls through. I have enough trash film that it's no big if the blix goes. At least the bleach part. I'm running two more rolls though it today to see if the dev is shot. If the colors are bonkers I'll just post it to B&W on the scan. I'm trying to break the 40 roll mark. For an 8 roll kit.

Also, ORWO might just be weird stuff.

 

[Wallendo]

I was about ready to mail a Minolta Spotmeyer back to Japan. As I was getting ready to start the eBay return, after trying multiple batteries and pushing all the buttons ... I realized I was looking through it from the wrong side.

 

[ChristopherCoy]

I was about ready to mail a Minolta Spotmeyer back to Japan. As I was getting ready to start the eBay return, after trying multiple batteries and pushing all the buttons ... I realized I was looking through it from the wrong side.

that’s totally something I would do.

 

[Jonno85uk]

A couple of times i've forgotten to put the multi-exposure lever back to normal on my Bronica. I think i've shot the equivalent of a whole roll on 1 frame before I realised once.

 

[Donald Qualls]

A couple of times i've forgotten to put the multi-exposure lever back to normal on my Bronica. I think i've shot the equivalent of a whole roll on 1 frame before I realised once.

I haven't had that problem with my RB67 -- but when I'm shooting square in it, the Graflex 22 roll film holder doesn't provide the interlocks the RB67 backs do; I recently shot a third of a roll of NH400 on the dark slide. The rest came out well, though.