Developing film in pure water

[cambolt]

Was in a photo supplies shop the other day and overheard one of the staff telling a customer that "if you put film in water for long enough, eventually it will develop." I am more than a little skeptical. I have seen photographs developed in the photographer's own urine, and I have developed film in both tea and coffee, but I highly doubt water alone would work. Any ideas anyone?

 

[kbg32]

Depends what minerals/ph are in the water. By the time anything could happen, the emulsion would be so water logged, it might float off!

 

[cambolt]

That's similar to what I was thinking. I don't know much about the technicalities of film, but wouldn't the emulsion just dissolve or come off?

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Yes, but you must place it inside a pyramid, too...

Chris

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Pure water would have no chance of containing any minerals at all, so I doubt it.

Unless the conversation was on an existentialist level...

If you toast enough bread you're bound to get an image too!

 

[kbg32]

"Mother Mary comes to me........"

 

[haempe]

Homeopathy!
If the water stands long enough beside a bottle of Rodinal....

 

[KenR]

If you dip it in the cup of coffee that you're sitting with ....

 

[cambolt]

If one of us tries it we should also try to fix it in seawater... you know, kill two birds with one stone...

Oh wait, that bird's already dead.

 

[Nikonsnapper]

Why would anyone want to waste a perfectly good film trying it?

 

[cambolt]

Why would anyone want to waste a perfectly good film trying it?

WASTE!!!
I was under the impression that this worked!

 

[nemo2]

If one of us tries it we should also try to fix it in seawater... you know, kill two birds with one stone...

Oh wait, that bird's already dead.

If you mix fresh and sea water, you get developer and fixe "two in one"

 

[cambolt]

And if you pour water and seawater into your camera you end up with a polaroid!