Photos from horrid negatives

[paulfish4570]

:bang:
Well, my third roll to develop was a nightmare. The film was Kentmere 400. It is thinner than Tri-X, which caused extreme handling difficulties in the changing bag.
It just did not want to stay in the reel, or it would bunch up after I had wound on a few frames.
Then I would have to pull the film out ansd start over, manhandling it again. I was reeling with the film still in the little can. Finally, I reel until I feel a stop in the can, so I cut it off, but it will not finish reeling. Had to start over, and over, and over, creasing the film, and tearing a sprockey hole.
Anyhow, I get it loaded and into the Paterson tank. I messed up the development, too, by setting the tank on its covered top for several seconds, draining the devloper away from the film for that amount of time. Oh no! I turn it back over and continue the drill.
Finally, after washing, I pull the film and it is only 15 negatives. The rest stayed in the cassette! And, the negatives were horrid. I did salvage three prints. I hope the grain clumpiness is a result of the messy development, and not a trait of the film. Anyhow, here are some mightily touched up pics from those terribly maltreated negatives, shot on my FED-2d, and a Frankenstein elderly Industar-50 with an optics module from an as-new I-50-2, the SLR M42 version:

This one required the least spotting of defects:

This one required at least 500 spot fixes (or so it seemed):

This one had sweeping slashes through it:

It is good to have photoshop and its mighty healing brush, but boy it is chore form my nervous mouse hand. 🙂

 

[pschauss]

#2 is fantastic. Don't give up.

You should consider getting a stainless steel tank and a Hewes stainless reel. Once you master the technique of loading this combination will give you much less trouble.

 

[Santafecino]

Were you loading the tank in a changing bag? It's easier in a darkroom. I agree #2 is very beautiful. Why did you switch from Tri-X? It works for me.

 

[paulfish4570]

It's not a switch necessarily, just cheaper film for the learning curve. But really, I like the look produced by the kit. The lillies pic has some 3D to it, wrought by the Frankenstein lens.

And yes, you better believe I will get a stainless reel ASAP for this thin-stock stiff. Tri-X is no trouble at all in the Paterson reel. A very good thing in favor of the Kentmere: it dries flat, as in FLAT ...

 

[jan normandale]

Paul, go to youtube and check some videos on loading film onto reels. I think your method is wrong based on the description of leaving the film in the cannister.

I'm assuming you are using a changing bag for spooling. You must pop the film cannister with an old style bottle cap remover then push the film out of the cannister. Next you thread the film onto the spool and then cut the cannister's spool off the end. Continue winding the film until it's all on the take up spool.

Point 2: if you haven't already done so, wash the reels with detergent and a brush. The tracks can get residue in them which causes the film to stick when loading. Wash the spools and the entire tank each time when finished. Failure brings on loading issues.

 

[paulfish4570]

Thanks, Jan. I tried the reel-from-spool gimmick based on a suggestion here. Sounds a lot better than it worked for me; it was supposed to yield less-touched film. Not from Mr. Neuro Fingers!
I heavily rinse my stuff after developing, but I will go wash my reel and tank right now. The reel, by the way, felt like it was trying to do its job but was not quite grabbing the thin stock ...

 

[rjbuzzclick]

I like #2 a lot. Actually, #1 is suitably odd enough that I keep going back and looking at it.

FWIW, Fomapan 100 in 120 usually gives me a really hard time in the changing bag, even with a Hewes reel.

 

[paulfish4570]

Now that I have done all of two rolls in a changing bag - one successfully, one abysmally - and one in a dark bathroom, I think I prefer the bathroom. Of course, I do not have a whole one of those right now because of renovations. I did finish painting the exterior of the vintage clawfoot tub today, and a new sink is ready for installation with the tub ...

 

[jsrockit]

Yes, #2 is not bad at all...

 

[paulfish4570]

Thank you all for your compliments and your encouragement ...

 

[pakeha]

paulfish, i had same problem with ERA film which is also thinner, solution for me was to fold the first 5-10mm back on itself and run my fingernail along the fold, this seemed to give the leading edge a bit more stiffness and i was able to reel no problem.
Also make sure the reel is absolutely dry. BTW i do the same as you, that is leave the film in the reel and use ring fingers to hold it whilst reeling. Try the fold method, it worked for me
regards
CW

 

[Keith]

I think these complete hash ups are a great learning experience and a good reason to use film. And the process of trying to rescue at least one decent image from the disaster can be rewarding in itself ... the second pic proves this!

Bravo ... seriously! 😀

 

[KenR]

Are you using a changing bag? I always found that the humidity that builds up in a changing bag caused the film film to stick to plastic reels. In a darkened room, this has not been a problem.

 

[paulfish4570]

I used the changing bag twice because I did not want to wait until nightfall - and because my under-renovation bathroom is sinkless and vanity-less ...

The tip about the folded film is a good one. I will be sure to try it.

Thank you, Keith, and others. The spotting on that No. 2 shot about wore out my nerve-wracked mouse hand but it was worth the effort ...

 

[vnukov_pk]

Paul, try trimming the film leader edges round. works for me anytime.

 

[Valkir1987]

Dear Paulfish,

It might not be the fact but; In the Fed 2 and other FSU's, the film curls up in a 'reverse' position. This can cause difficulty when loading the film on the reel. When you wait a few hours after your film has been rewound in the cassette, the loading will be much easier.

With kind regards,

Valkir

 

[Frontman]

Tri-X can't be that much more expensive than Kentmere. Judging by the effort you used to get the film loaded and developed, you certainly didn't realize any net savings.

I know some people prefer metal reels over plastic, but the plastic reels in my Jobo tank have never given me a problem. Loading is fast and simple, and requires no "rounding" of the edges of the film for easy loading. I get my Jobo stuff used on eBay where it is cheap and plentiful. I use a larger 2500 series tank as it holds 2 rolls of film, and carry a larger amount of chemicals (which means the temperatures are more consistent), and I can develop 4x5 negs with it as well.

Your images still came out quite well, number 2 is my favorite. I hope you post more of your work here.

 

[mathomas]

After wrestling with a roll of Efke and plastic reel in the changing bag for roughly 45 minutes, the film started sticking to itself and I knew I was lost. Finally, in a blind rage I ripped my hands out of the bag, ripped the bag open, pulled out the contents, with all my might flung the bag against the wall and the film to the floor (more than once -- when I lose it I really lose it). Meanwhile I was letting the universe know just what I thought of that film, the changing bag, the reel, and photography in general.

After I calmed down a bit, in the daylight I was able to nearly throw the film and reel into the air and have the film load. My solution: never use a freaking changing bag again (can't use this one, anyway, as I put a couple of holes into it in my rage).

Now I load in a dark bathroom. Has worked every time, and many times I'm lights-on in less than two minutes. I'm fortunate that I can make the bathroom sufficiently dark in broad daylight (I used the blasted changing bag as a light block along the bottom of the door).

A forumite on another forum recommended a changing tent, so if you can't use a darkened room, you might consider that.

Best of luck to you...

PS: good saves. I like the shots.

 

[Ljós]

I feel for you. But, as the others said, this is really a threshold only in the beginning, and once you get the hang of it it you will be able to get the films on the reel really quick.

Regarding changing bag vs dark(ened) room: among the wisest things I have ever, ever read is: get a LARGE changing bag, even if it costs twice what the normal sizes cost. I, of course, did not heed that advice, figuring I'd save 20 Euro and make do with a smaller bag. Well, I certainly made do, and I still do, and I can get my films on the reel in a minute flat, but EVERY time I handle the changing bag I think: gee, it would be much nicer and easier with a bigger bag ;-) ;-) (especially now in summer, the humidity in the bag rises quickly and a larger volume would certainly help).

So, if you have a small bag: consider getting a decent, bigger one. Even if it means the changing bag costs more than your lens... You will congratulate yourself on money well spent every time you do the reel dance ;-)

And, yes, the second picture looks mighty nice!

All the best,
Ljós

 

[gb hill]

Keep trying Paul! you'll develop a system that works for you. All we can do is make suggestions! What works for some never works for everybody! Like the rest said #2 was worth the whole roll!