Air Travel

I only shoot film-- 400 Agfa apx. I am fussy about how many times it goes through x-ray, perhaps for no good reason as per so many people's experience above with fog-free film. But I can say this after many years: domestically, the most film friendly airport is LAX, followed by JFK. Europe--forget it, they have decided their x-rays are so low dose you could sleep in the chamber for a week and nothing bad would happen to you. I agree the deck is stacked against film unless you are in a place where they have an understanding of film, like Hollywood.
 
"Oh, wow!"

"Oh, wow!"

Last year at a local small airport a security agent grabbed my Billingham bag containing my M6 TTL and four M lenses (which, of course, I was, as always, going to carry onto the plane by hand) and instructed me to follow her. About 50 feet away, she placed the bag on a table and took out the equipment, took off the lens caps and looked through the lenses, and put the equipment back in the bag. As she was doing this, a male passenger walking by noticed my M equipment and subtly said to me, "My, oh, my--what wonderful camera equipment you have!".

Last year also, an inspector at a small Northern California airport told me he merely wanted to open and glance at the contents of my Billingham bag (which contained my R8 and probably four lenses). Upon doing so he looked up at me and said, "Oh, wow! I bet that equipment takes gorgeous pictures!" I said, "Yes, the quality of the images it captures is out of this world!" He then said, "I wish I could afford it!"

It seems that some people can "smell" the presence of Leica equipment in an environment around them just like dogs in France can smell truffles in the ground below them😀!
 
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tbm said:
Last year at a local small airport a security agent grabbed my Billingham bag containing my M6 TTL and four M lenses (which, of course, I was, as always, going to carry onto the plane by hand) and instructed me to follow her. About 50 feet away, she placed the bag on a table and took out the equipment, took off the lens caps and looked through the lenses, and put the equipment back in the bag. As she was doing this, a male passenger walking by noticed my M equipment and subtly said to me, "My, oh, my--what wonderful camera equipment you have!".

Last year also, an inspector at a small Northern California airport told me he merely wanted to open and glance at the contents of my Billingham bag (which contained my R8 and probably four lenses). Upon doing so he looked up at me and said, "Oh, wow! I bet that equipment takes gorgeous pictures!" I said, "Yes, the quality of the images it captures is out of this world!" He then said, "I wish I could afford it!"

It seems that some people can "smell" the presence of Leica equipment in an environment around them just like dogs in France can smell truffles in the ground below them😀!
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haha...something similar happened to me in Ft. Myers airport. Sent my stuff through the scanner and the x-ray TSA tech lady peered over her screen and said "...I bet those are leicas aren't they..."
kind of made me smirk a bit.
 
I travel light, so all camera gear goes in my carry on. I would never put any gear in the hold. I've heard far too many horror stories to risk that.

I can easily fit all of my camera gear in a small Domke F6/J803 (2 x M, 35/50, maybe a Nikon w/ 50, meter etc) with room to spare.

And believe it or not that bag also holds:
One clean pair of under-roos and a T-shirt
Small pouch with the most basic toiletries.

I'm just waiting for the day, when some clown looses my luggage on the way to where I am going. ;-)

Believe it or not on at least two occasions I had problems, because the cameras were analog. The TSA guy demanded that I power the camera on to prove it wasn't a dummy concealing who knows what. I had a hard time trying to explain to him that a M4 runs on gears and springs. In both cases I was rescued by their superior.

The big problem of course is FILM.

I take all the film out of the cans and put it in a clear ziplock bag, along with one unfolded box that it came in. Sometimes I'll put the empty cans in my big suitcase and repack everything once I arrive.

In my experience trying to get anything more than two dozen rolls of film hand checked is tricky, although they did check 65 rolls for me when I flew back from New Orleans post Katrina. But then again I was almost the only person at the airport that day. It's your right, but it's not always easy to win that argument with TSA (USA). Maybe it helps if you can flash a press pass, but as a civilian I wouldn't know.

Here in Europe they x-ray everything and swear up and down that it will not harm highspeed films like Delta3200. At Heathrow it wasn't even up for debate. They zapped it and that was that. I didn't notice any problems when I developed the film, but I can't imagine that it is a good thing if it is done several times.

I'm not too worried about my Tri-X getting zapped a few times in a calibrated x-ray machine for carry on. My highest count was around 8 or 10 times and all was well.

I haven't had my film zapped in anything but developed countries, but I'm a little worried about getting it x-rayed in a developing country that may not have the funds to maintain their gear and everything gets fried. Maybe that's just paranoia, but I don't think it's too far out there.

The big x-ray machines that are used in customs also worry me. They seem to be similar to what is used for cargo and that's bad news.

In light of all of this I take along a developing tank, but transporting chemicals is a problem. How do you explain the purpose of two or three cans of white powder to security officials in a foreign language? Keep in mind that some countries have the death penalty for drug smuggling (Malaysia?) and mistakes can be made. That may sound a little overly dramatic, but seriously, would you take the risk of even landing in jail for a few days, until everything is cleared up?

I have bought developer and fixer abroad and developed my film in the hotel bathroom. Works like a charm. Every time I do that it reminds me of a story I read some where. This shooter claimed that they would rinse the film by flushing it in the toilet of their hotel room. Two flushes for AP, three for UPI etc., depending on the treatment they were getting from them that week. I have no idea if this was meant seriously, but it did make for a good story. ;-)

I've also taken to using FedEx to have film sent to the hotel I am staying at. I also ship exposed film home like this. Scary as hell, but so far so good. (knocks on wood).

The obvious solution to a lot of these problems is buying your film at the location you are traveling to. But it is one thing to find a place that stocks your standard Kodak color negative film that tourists shoot (shot?) and something like Tri-X or god forbid 120 roll film.

Anyhoo, I still want to shoot film, but unfortunately the ugly truth is that security measures are making it either very difficult or sometimes impossible to pull off. So, I keep eyeing that new Nikon D700. At least I could put some manual focus lenses on it... If Leica doesn't get their act together soon, I may end up with one of those, instead of a digital M....

I know that some big time photographers like Antonin Kratochvil (VII) still shoot film, while abroad on assignment (Tri-X / TMY3200). I would be very interested to hear how they deal with this problem...


HL
 
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Cameras, lenses, and film (and usually a laptop that I carry for non-photographic purposes) go with me as carry ons; tripod, empty filmholders, and such are checked. I haven't had any problems carrying my 8x10" Gowland Pocket View, 4x5" Technika, or 2x3" Technika this way. I try to purchase film at the destination when I can, to cut down on X-ray exposure. I don't process on the road for short trips, but I think I'm going to start doing that next time I'm traveling for more than a month.

Since we had a baby about a year and a half ago and are generally traveling with more stuff, I've been more likely to travel with the 2x3" Technika. It lets me go with a smaller tripod that fits in a regular suitcase, instead of a tripod case, and I can fit the camera with a rollfilm back, groundglass back, five lenses, and the usual small accessories, in a Kata W-94 waist pack. Tripod aside, the bag is about half the bulk of my 4x5" kit.
 
I'm off to Boston tomorrow for a cousin's wedding, so this discussion is of immediate interest to me. I think I'll be taking two Leica bodies - an M3 with Canon 50/1.2 and early 90/2.8 Elmarit for the ceremony, and an M4 with either a J-12 or a Voigtlander 35/2.5 (haven't decided yet) for walking around with. That and a dozen rolls of HP5 should fit neatly in my carry-on luggage along with a toothbrush and a couple of books.
 
Shac said:
Film out of cans & into clear ziplocs to request hand inspection.
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I've learned to pack light and carry on.

I've had inspectors balk, but never refuse to hand-inspect cameras and film. I did have to ask for a supervisor once.

I agree that you'll get a better response by having the film out and in a baggie, ready for them to look over and swab off with the Nasty Stuff Detect-O-Matic.

I had one kind of unusual incident. Back in 2004 or 2005 I accidentally left a mostly-exposed roll of Fuji 1600 in the Pentax, which I rolled up in the dirty laundry bag and put in my check-in. This was flying out of MDW in Chicago. When I got home I was SICK when I realized what I had done, since I know that the X-Ray used on check-ins will fog film very badly. 🙁

However, when I got it processed, it was very normal. No fog even on the edges or unexposed leader! For some reason the X-Ray did not hit it! I don't know why. Maybe they were not X-Raying 100% of the bags that day.
 
Why Customs is Suspicious of Film

Why Customs is Suspicious of Film

Ninth Circuit Court Decides that US Customs and Border Patrol Agents Can Search & Seize Electronic Equipment Without Cause

By Judith Blakley, published Nov 11, 2006

Most people would blame September 11th for this shocking news, but it has very little to do with Homeland Security and everything to do with child pornography and almost nobody knows about it.

On July 24, 2006, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit decided that US Customs and Border Patrol Officers had the right to search and seize a person’s laptop computer, computer discs and other electronic media.

Nowhere has this information been broadcast. Millions of travelers know nothing about this ruling. Yet the word has begun to find its way out into public view. During the last week of October, 2006, an international conference of travel executives issued a warning, informing their members of this ruling and its implications. It was not until The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) warned their members that under a new law, US Customs and Border Patrol Officers may search and seize a person’s laptop computer, computer discs and other electronic media when that person arrives in the US from abroad or departs from the US for a foreign country, that word finally got out.

Business travelers are advised to be cautious when carrying proprietary information in and out of the United States. According to ACTE, 86 percent of those surveyed said that the court’s decision to allow Officers to examine, download and/or seize the contents of their laptops would limit the kind of proprietary information they would normally store in their laptops.

On February 1, 2004, a man named Stuart Romm was caught with child pornography on his laptop computer. Stuart Romm flew from Las Vegas to British Columbia. Once in Canada, Border Services questioned Romm and learned he had a criminal background. An agent searched his laptop and found child porn sites in Romm’s internet history list. Canadian officials sent Romm to Seattle to be questioned by US Customs agents.






 
I have had film fogged, according to my processor, and while no one seems to want to destroy your film, somehow the level of expertise seems to vary among TSA personnel.

And, while, they tell you the film can pass through the scanner a number of times, as of late they are hedging about the number of passes that are now safe.

Used to be when I spent the summer in Prague, I bought most of my film there, it was available and reasonable. Other places, Paris, it is available, but very expensive.

The only rude people I have met in France all worked at the airports, and evidently some enjoy the power. Great duty free nylon bags though, somehow, duty free bags get you more of a free pass, I understand Rossy CDG makes more on duty free than the flights.

I have had my luggage broken in to a number of times, and when my luggage arrived in Prague several years ago, it had not even been re-closed. No TSA notes inside, and at that time TSA was resealing the luggage with special tape to indicate it had been opened, but the tape was ripped off. If you have trouble, ask for Stepanka, and ask how the twins are.

Air Canada delayed my luggage, and lost a Leica P&S, and while admitting that someone had opened my luggage, they had no clue or record as to who it was or where it occurred.

Further, when I requested compensation for my lost camera, I got a form letter telling me that only clothes are to be carried in luggage and only clothes will be compensated for.

There may be supplimental insurance, but at $25 or more per bag, they should at least give you your money back if you bag is delayed. I had very good luck with luggage for a long time, now I have some sort of problem, mostly delays, at least 25% of the time.

And, though most TSA people do not know it, photographers are now allowed one extra carry on, I have the site somewhere and a print out to put in my bag.

I try to arrive early, they rarely open my cameras, but I always ask for a hand check for film, ironically, you are more likely to get it now as so few people carry film. You can always pack it with a Cepap, they always hand check them.

They once put 25 rolls of film I had in a ziploc on top of the Pizzas being wheeled in to the restaurant, and gave me grief when I ran after them. Bit steamed and garlic flavored.

I always warn the operator that there are cameras, so they know what they are looking at, and sometimes I ask if they can count them, often they are quite accurate.

There are some new Xrays that are much more powerful for carry on's, and they warn not to allow film to pass through.

Part of the adventure, travel is derived from the French --- for work.

Regards and good luck, John
 
I try not to fly - train, boat or motorcycle for me. When I do fly, usually required for business, I only carry on a bare minimum. Every thing else, most clothes, laptop, view camera, etc goes 2 day fedex to the hotel. It's nice not having to deal with all the airline hassles. Used to be a bit more pricey but now that the airlines are charging extra for every bag packed it's a wash.
 
Beemermark said:
I try not to fly - train, boat or motorcycle for me. When I do fly, usually required for business, I only carry on a bare minimum. Every thing else, most clothes, laptop, view camera, etc goes 2 day fedex to the hotel. It's nice not having to deal with all the airline hassles. Used to be a bit more pricey but now that the airlines are charging extra for every bag packed it's a wash.
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I agree, but also like to travel to countries not close, and I made a choice a few years back to mainly use lighter equipment when traveling, which means RF, both MF and 35mm. I am much more likely to have a RF on me than an SLR. In the US, if I Fedex, I have to find a place to ship it home, but have considered it. I used to have slides processed in Europe by mailer and they posted them home for me. Turned out I was staying 400m from the Kodak processing office in Paris.

I used to bring back an extra suitcase for interesting cameras I found in Prague, but no more, the Czechs hassled for years about weight in carry on and charged me more than the price for a second ticket to Paris because I spent more than one day changing planes. (overseas used to have a higher limit on baggage, have no idea if it has recently changed)

The extra carry on bag rule for photographers might save me, but with a Cepap machine, a few cameras, Valium, and perhaps a laptop for a one month plus trip, it is a lot to handle just in carry on. I leave a tripod in Prague, along with a few other things, but have not progressed to leaving cameras in too many places. ;-)

Last trip to Prague, the connecting flight had lower weight allowance, and charged to get to NYC to catch the Czech Air Flight, but they called ahead to see if they could charge for each leg of the trip.

Wonder why people do not enjoy flying?

Regards, John
 
I just got back from Europe two days ago and had my film in X-Ray bags and they went through 7 carry on x-ray machines and developed just fine.

I always bring my camera equipment and film with me as carry on. And having the x-ray bags helps make it less of a hassle. Because I don't have to ask for a hand check. Although 2 out of 3 times they will set me aside and ask me to inspect my bag afterward. So whatev.
 
Going to Kashmir on Sunday..two Nikon d's and 4 lenses in a Billingham Hadley and a Leica M and two lenses in my 'bumbag' with travel docs... all carry ons. Never had any trouble although I do have a Brit Presscard and that helps a lot.
 
I remember departing from the City of Derry Airport (N Ireland) a couple of years ago, and the security guy opened my bag and found my M6 and a lot of Tri-X. "Oh, that's lovely - it's great to see people still using cameras like these" (or something to that effect) was his response.

My experience with carrying film through airport XRay machines has always been positive. I've taken ISO 400 film through multiple cabin-baggage XRay machines with no problem (Earlier this year I carried some rolls of Tri-X from the UK to Thailand, on two domestic flights in Thailand, Thailand to Singapore and back, and finally back to the UK, and they were fine). I've also risked low-ISO film in check-in baggage (when my cabin baggage has been full), and similarly had no problems.

But I've never let a camera or lens travel in check-in baggage.
 
Bill Pierce said:
This is a long way from the days when a well tipped Skycap got you carefully handled luggage promptly delivered at your destination.
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Customer Service is now a footnote in the history of American Business. Well...looks like the obit is in the works.

Yeah, the streamlining of everything except executive pay has streamlined our choices to: crappy service or no service? Very quick decision made with those.

Bill Pierce said:
I wondered what you folks are doing, especially those traveling with film?
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The last time I flew across the ocean, I put all my cameras and lenses in a carry-on. I was able to fit gear inside camera bags (provided extra padding!) That was with me *all* the time. My backpack was my virtual "purse". That's where I kept my film.
 
I use an Eagle Creek backpack, which can accommodate a Bessa R + 2 lenses and a flash, plus enough clothes for 2-3 days easily. I put my film in a cordura nylon safe pouch.

I travel with a CPAP machine, so I put the blower unit in the baskets along with my Bessa and lenses in zip-lock bags. The pack and equipment used to get wiped down a lot, but don't seem to have much problem with that (bomb residue or nitrates, I guess?) any longer. By getting all that stuff out of the pack, there seems to be little if anything else to 'flag' the thing.

I do not remove the film pouch from the pack, which theoretically is opaque to the x-rays, but I cannot remember any time it was taken out and inspected individually. I find that odd, who knows what dastardly item could be lurking inside, or they are simply able to look into it anyway.

I also have evolved a routine in that I carry nothing with me except boarding pass and ID, everything else is in the backpack and goes through the scanner: Watch, wallet, etc. I figure the less reason they have to look more closely at you, the better. It also helps to prevent something like a watch from getting left behind at a checkpoint in Detroit, in the rush to get out of the check area. Not that that has EVER happened!
 
rogerchristian said:
I use an Eagle Creek backpack, which can accommodate a Bessa R + 2 lenses and a flash, plus enough clothes for 2-3 days easily. I put my film in a cordura nylon safe pouch.

I travel with a CPAP machine, so I put the blower unit in the baskets along with my Bessa and lenses in zip-lock bags. The pack and equipment used to get wiped down a lot, but don't seem to have much problem with that (bomb residue or nitrates, I guess?) any longer. By getting all that stuff out of the pack, there seems to be little if anything else to 'flag' the thing.

I do not remove the film pouch from the pack, which theoretically is opaque to the x-rays, but I cannot remember any time it was taken out and inspected individually. I find that odd, who knows what dastardly item could be lurking inside, or they are simply able to look into it anyway.

I also have evolved a routine in that I carry nothing with me except boarding pass and ID, everything else is in the backpack and goes through the scanner: Watch, wallet, etc. I figure the less reason they have to look more closely at you, the better. It also helps to prevent something like a watch from getting left behind at a checkpoint in Detroit, in the rush to get out of the check area. Not that that has EVER happened!
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I have left my tickets, glasses, Swiss Army Knife, at security, and even a pair of glasses can be a costly error. Hard to complain about the cost of Leica when a pair of prescription sunglasses are marked up to $500. I have seen Zeiss sunglasses.

I have the lead bags, and I understand from fellow photographer and MD/ PhD photographer pal who worked for Picker and in Radiology, that they are not effective, but who really knows. Am looking for a Tibetan charm to protect my stuff from evil effects of travel. I am also told the vibrations from the plane loosens screws on cameras. I know a few loose nuts work in transportation.
I am thinking of including an old nail clipper in the bag to see if they find it, then I will know.

My routine is to try and put as many personal items in a fanny pack, or roller carry on, and for the same reasons as you, I try to limit the debris field to cut down on losing things while I am trying to re-dress myself. Why they can see through lead bags and not Cpap machines, I have no idea.

I understand the density of books is close to explosives, so if you have a square book, expect them to want to look at it, in suitcase or carry on.

It is hard to adjust when there are so many different interpretations, I suppose there will be a "TSA Guidelines for Dummies" soon, or should be.

I do not know if the photographer's exemption to allow an extra carry on is international or just US.

I once passed through security in a wheel chair, and was pulled out of the chair and just about violated. Finally, standing on one leg, they searched that leg, because they could not search the other due to the aluminum brace and locked knee joint on the left.

Someone had to help me get my shoes, belt, sports coat back on. When I got to Foreign soil, they took one look at my situation and kindly passed me through with escort.

I got the same treatment when I returned just to leave the airport as here, we have two security gates on international arrival, even though someone had to push me to the exit, not much of a logical situation in the best of times.

Come early, bring ID and Money for the bar by the gate, Valium in a film can, am sure their bar business is up due to all of this. Try to travel for at least three weeks so you can forget and forgive.

And, as they blocked the aisle every time one of the crew had to use the toilet, I got to stand up each time as the cart and my foot were competing for the same location. After being hit the fourth time by the passing cart, I told the Flight Attendant, next time, she would have to go out with me. No problem after that. ;-)

Hope Jorge appreciates the M2 I was bringing him. ;-)

Hello Mudder, Hello Father, here I am at Camp---

Regards, John
 
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swoop said:
I just got back from Europe two days ago and had my film in X-Ray bags and they went through 7 carry on x-ray machines and developed just fine.

I always bring my camera equipment and film with me as carry on. And having the x-ray bags helps make it less of a hassle. Because I don't have to ask for a hand check. Although 2 out of 3 times they will set me aside and ask me to inspect my bag afterward. So whatev.
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Interesting, of all the lead bags I used to use, no one ever asked to look inside one, and my XRay savvy friend told me the Xrays penetrated the bags, I think the nail clipper test would be interesting?

John
 
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