What would cause this?

First, I'm concerned with the repeating lines, not the light leaks
Next, this is evident on the negative, not due to any scanner problems.

And I've got this happening to some degree on two rolls of film (both shot in my Holga) to varying degrees. I'm posting the most severe sample...

So, could be the something with the camera, or do you think I'm messing up something during the developing?

I've not had these problems before and I have two more rolls to develop and would love some input before I get started on them.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Bjorn

P.S.: Mods, if this is the wrong place to ask this I apologize, I wasn't sure if this should be under cameras or film.

Double exposure.

Sirius Glass: Thanks but I've got similar marks even on spots of film never exposed, though only on one edge of the film. So I don't think that's the answer of the pattern...

It certainly looks like some kind of double exposure, even if you say it isn't.

You say there is a light leak. Could it be light piping through the edge of the sprocket holes?
How about internal reflections inside the camera?

No sprocket holes on 120 film. You weren't using 35mm in there, were you?

They don't look large enough to have been caused by a light leak as you were winding the film, unless this is a crop?

jeckyll said:

... So, could be the something with the camera, or do you think I'm messing up something during the developing?
Thanks for your thoughts.

Bjorn

.

Click to expand...

Well...it is a Holga, after all!

Why complain?

Well, it doesn't look like a regular Holga-type light leak, and even if this particular image is a double exposure (which might explain the strange vertical banding) that doesn't explain why it is happening on other images. Maybe a leak through the red window at the back? Or something in the way that it's being wound? Do you unload the film in the dark (I find I have to in order to keep light leaks to a minimum due to rolls not being tightly wound enough). How well do you tape up the Holga when you are shooting with it? The strong light at the corners might suggest a problem with the back and how secure it is to the camera. On one of my holgas, even when it is completely taped up to allow no light leaks whatsoever, it still gets them (!).

It would be great if you could try shooting with another Holga to see if the problem lies with the camera or the user. ;-)

At the risk of sending this to the Soapbox, Witchcraft?

Was the film stored on top of a dental X-ray machine?

It really does look like a double exposure of some sort.

Thanks for all the feedback. I'm leaning towards 'witchcraft'.

I'm uploading a different example, you can see it's clearly only at the top of this image. Which is why I'm going with "it's not double exposure"

Also, this phenomenon is present _outside_ of the image, i.e. it looks like the image 'bled over' onto the space between the photos. Very odd.

The film has been exposed to something, that's for sure.
Matt may be right. It could have been an X-ray machine of some sort.

I assume those pictures weren't taken in Chernobyl, were they?

Thanks, I'm going to see if it's present in future rolls through this camera. The odd thing is that the amount of this phenomenon varies greatly from exposure to exposure. I haven't been through any scanners (that I know of) and this definitely wasn't around Chernobyl

I do appreciate the feedback. I'll just write it off as "a Holga thing" unless I see the same type of pattern on shots from my Pentax 645 (lets hope not ).

Bjorn

The only thing I can think to do is use some gaff tape and seal up every crack and crevice on the camera until you find the source.

Are you shooting with the camera mounted on a tripod? If so, it's possible the shutter is not closing all the way before you start winding on the film(I noticed it in the tree shot). If you were using the Holga on a tripod then mount the camera back on the tripod and tighten it down in the same manner as before, open the back and click the shutter. I had a Russian Horizant Pano camera that the shutter would drag on if I tighten it to tight to the tripod. Just a thought, but I've never seen anything like this before. JohnW

This happens sometimes on cameras with light leaks, if the film advance is not done in one continuous motion. Are you advancing the film click by click after each shot? If so, each time the film stops momentarily after a click, a line is exposed. The line appears where your frame meets the edge of the film gate, and as you can see, it extends as far into the frame as the light leak reaches. You don't see the lines beyond the reach of the light leaks. It happened on my Brownie No. 2 all the time before I figured out what it was and started taping over the red window. It takes me a few turns of the key to advance past each 6x9 frame, and for each time I stopped to change my grip on the key, I had a white spot on the edge, and a sharply-defined line across part of the width of the film, not unlike what you posted. I now peel the tape up to advance each shot in subdued light, then stick it back down. Looks like you got a very leaky Holga that will require much tape throughout its life to prevent such problems. Also, make sure you are securing the back door properly, using the sliding cover for the red window, and holding the camera in your own shadow when advancing the film. You can also try some light seal material (A.K.A. felt or yarn) in the grooves if a more elegant solution is up your alley.

I would look carefully at how you wind the film as the stepping would be each turn of the advance until the next frame. Maybe you're pressing on the camera back too hard and flexing it enough to allow leakage ? Try a roll with the camera taped to high hell and see if it makes a diff.

2F/2F and canuhead: Thank you! That sound like a very reasonable explanation. I think that on one of the rolls the film may have been tough to advance. If I put that in 'light' of your comments, perhaps I was even warping the body a bit as I was turning the knobs harder than normal, causing more of a light leak on some frame vs others. This now makes sense.

I did develop film from my Pentax 645 and of course, no problems at all. So it's definitely a body problem and not a problem with the developing or film.

I'll re-tape the Holga and make sure to try and identify any other possible areas of light leaks. Really appreciate your constructive comments!

Bjorn

I second the possibility of the shutter not closing completely. Sometimes the spring needs a little squeeze to get it back in place or re-tensioned a bit. You might also check the area around the lens/shutter assembly where it mounts to the body. There are 4 (i think) screws that hold the assembly to the body. Another place is where the shutter release comes through the 'lens barrel'. Those screws or the shutter release lever could have worked loose over time and caused the leak.

cramej said:

I second the possibility of the shutter not closing completely. Sometimes the spring needs a little squeeze to get it back in place or re-tensioned a bit. You might also check the area around the lens/shutter assembly where it mounts to the body. There are 4 (i think) screws that hold the assembly to the body. Another place is where the shutter release comes through the 'lens barrel'. Those screws or the shutter release lever could have worked loose over time and caused the leak.

Click to expand...

Thank you! I will check to make sure everything is moving smoothly. I'd taken a look at the shutter before, but I hadn't looked at the screws to ensure they are tight.

Bands could be consistent with light leaks hitting different parts of the film as advanced, or striking the film as the camera is moved about in the light, especially since it extends beyond the image area. Doesn't look like X-ray exposure, used to seeing wavy lines all the way across the film with that.

In short:

Looks like a Holga to me.

You have discovered a new Holga effect. The factory will soon be contacting you so they can incorporate this into the new model.

Find out what's wrong, and remember how to recreate it.