marcr1230
Well-known
I went out shooting today, and the last shot was a potential keeper, one of those you just know when you snap the shutter.
Then the downfall began. I couldn't find my trusty film scissors of 20 years or bottle opener. Still stressed from this trauma, I started to load the 2 reels of my Patterson tank. The first one, an inconsequential one, was loaded in a minute or less. The second, from a Nikon S2 had a bad reverse curve on the film, making it near impossible to load (note to self, in the future for the S2 use the other tank/reels which load a lot easier - I think the brand is Rokunar). After much struggling to load the film, I succeed barely, and close the tank. Turning on the lights, I discover I've loaded HP5 along with Delta 400, I never make this mistake, whatever. I look up the times and they are close enough, I develop for the HP5. Spent a while adjusting temperatures, since the tap water is about 3 C. I put the developer in , start the timer, invert the tank, OMG it's not closed fully, some liquid spills out. I securely close it, add a bit of water to top off, and continue.
The whole top reel is fogged, not enough that I can't make out the images, but bad enough. and of course it was the good roll, the HP5.
I need a vacation.
Then the downfall began. I couldn't find my trusty film scissors of 20 years or bottle opener. Still stressed from this trauma, I started to load the 2 reels of my Patterson tank. The first one, an inconsequential one, was loaded in a minute or less. The second, from a Nikon S2 had a bad reverse curve on the film, making it near impossible to load (note to self, in the future for the S2 use the other tank/reels which load a lot easier - I think the brand is Rokunar). After much struggling to load the film, I succeed barely, and close the tank. Turning on the lights, I discover I've loaded HP5 along with Delta 400, I never make this mistake, whatever. I look up the times and they are close enough, I develop for the HP5. Spent a while adjusting temperatures, since the tap water is about 3 C. I put the developer in , start the timer, invert the tank, OMG it's not closed fully, some liquid spills out. I securely close it, add a bit of water to top off, and continue.
The whole top reel is fogged, not enough that I can't make out the images, but bad enough. and of course it was the good roll, the HP5.
I need a vacation.
ellisson
Well-known
Yup, some days the photography gods seem apathetic, and one bad break leads to another... Then I usually put down the tanks and return the bathroom (darkroom) to its intended use. The good news is, lots more good days then bad ones, and lots more film in the fridge! Vacation is good, too!
Cheers,
Gary
Cheers,
Gary
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matt352
Established
The other day, I loaded 5 rolls of TriX from my Christmas trip out west into my big developing tank. When I took the film cartridge remnants out of the dark bag, I noticed the note that told me to push a roll from a special event to EI 3200, and of course had no way of knowing which of the 5 it was. I feel for you.
drewbarb
picnic like it's 1999
Sorry to hear it. My grandfather used to say "Some days you eat the bear; some days the bear eats you." Looks like you got eatten today. Next time you lose your scissors and have film that curls too much, slow down and take a minute before you soldier on. Keep breathing, and I wish you more days of eating the bear- photographically speaking, of course.
sanmich
Veteran
Some days I think Murphy's law has been written for photogrphers (or is it only for me?)
fidget
Lemon magnet
Trying to steamline my developing process and to reuse my ID11 dev, particuarly when doing MF rolls (plenty enough dev to do a few rolls from one 500ml batch at 1:0) I lost the process somewhere and developed the first film in ID11 and the second in Fixer.
Too much haste, I guess.
Dave
Too much haste, I guess.
Dave
hans voralberg
Veteran
Process one roll at a time 
And don't rush, relax over a nice cuppa first, read something, chill in a couch, whatever then develop
And don't rush, relax over a nice cuppa first, read something, chill in a couch, whatever then develop