Developing while traveling

[De_Corday]

Hey all-
So this could very easily turn into another "what should I bring" thread, and I wouldn't mind if it did. But I also have a specific question...

I am traveling with my graduate journalism-school class to Israel/Occupied Territories in March. We'll be keeping a website with our daily stories, and I'll be acting as photo editor. For the real work, I'm bringing my digital setup, my laptop, etc. But for the past few months I've been heading out the door exclusively with a film camera when I'm not shooting on assignment. The initial plan was to stock up on HP5 and shoot film in the off hours for development when I get back home.

And then I started thinking... how could I develop while there? I could easily "scan" the negs against my laptop screen (which I already do with a Panasonic Lumix to decent effect) and might be able to incorporate some of the film into my actual "real work" workflow. Which would just be fun and awesome.

Here's the thing though: I'm already freaking out about getting film through security without ruining it, and I'm already carrying a lot of equipment throwing in a film body or two and however many rolls of HP5.

Is there an easy and straightforward way to develop from the road? Anyone know where in Tel Aviv I could pick up some dev and fix on the cheap? Id this a dumb idea and I should just keep it simple and focus on making pictures, not worrying about pixels vs silver?

Also as a total P.S.--can anyone recommend a dirt-cheap, quiet film camera in 135? My F3's bark a little too loud for some holy sites, IMHO

 

[nongfuspring]

A small film developing kit shouldn't take up much space or weight, esp powder form, and any film under 800 is supposed to be fine for hand carry luggage (supposedly check in uses more radiation). I was at the airport the other day and saw a sign saying film was fine up to ASA 1600, so YMMV, but 800 or below is safe for sure. I think there are also radiation resistant canisters you can buy. Also I'm sure Tel Aviv has places for development and film supplies.

Any 70's fixed lens leaf shutter rangefinder would be cheap and choice for stealth, e.g. Konica C35.

I also have a project oriented trip coming up in a couple of months and I'm also wondering what to take. At this stage I've more or less decided to not shoot 135, I feel like there's too much overlap with my Fuji APSC gear, I am taking a film 6x6 TLR for landscape though (or a 6x9 folder if I can find one for a decent price), since medium format offers something my Fuji doesn't and vice versa.

 

[De_Corday]

Should I travel with the chemicals or plan to buy them abroad?
I was thinking of keeping to liquid concentrates, since we'll rarely be staying in the same place for more than two nights... I'd rather carry one 750ml bottle than a gallon of working solution.

in terms of the stealth rangefinder, thats exactly the direction I was thinking, but I'd want something that I can use in manual mode. Any recommendations?

 

[julio1fer]

Do you really need to develop on the trip? Think hard about it. I have never had problems when travelling with film, it goes through the X-ray machines in the handbag (never in checked bagagge, it will fog there, I've seen it). Probably it will get more radiation when flying on the plane than going through those inspecting machines. This is my experience of about 100 rolls total on short trips with a lot of inspecting machines (minimum 4 passes on each trip, often a lot more).

If you insist in developing during the trip, buy chemicals in Israel after you arrive (ideally a liquid concentrate). Look for them in the Web. Airport security is very tight, no need to complicate it further. For vessels, use empty water bottles, measure concentrate with an ad-hoc measure, made from a small bottle (of yogurt, for instance).

Just carry a small developing tank with your favorite type of reel, and a changing bag. You will have to find time and a dustless place (maybe hotel bathroom) to hang your negs to dry. Use copper wire and a couple of clothes drying pegs to hold the film while drying. Don't forget negative sleeves and scissors. More than a couple of rolls a day would be madness, I suspect.

I did very well in Israel (one-week trip) with an Olympus 35 SP, including stealth shots. An XA would have done as well, maybe better. I used 400 ISO color film and B&W; the film went through several x-ray machines in my handbag, no problem at all. Heat and dust will be harder problems.

Do pack light, and enjoy your trip. I'd also carry a good P&S digital, such as a Canon G12 or equivalent. But this is the RFF forum, right?

 

[nongfuspring]

in terms of the stealth rangefinder, thats exactly the direction I was thinking, but I'd want something that I can use in manual mode. Any recommendations?

Cheapest and most cheerful would probably be the Canon ql17 and Ricoh 500g. The QL can be had for less than 100, the 500G for less than 40, both have metered manual. But bear in mind these are 40-ish year old cameras, they'll need servicing if you want to rely on them for serious work, which will add to the cost.

TBH if it weren't for the real time blogging I'd suggest just bulk developing when you get back to your home country since it could take up a lot of time that could be better allocated. I'd also recommend taking chems and film with you since you can easily waste a day or more of your trip trying to find a specialist store in a foreign country. If you have contacts in Tel Aviv then perhaps you can get them to either buy the stuff for you or buy it via an Israeli online store and have it delivered to them before you arrive.

Hmm, thinking about it a little more, considering this is even a question signals to me your project might not be very clearly defined. If you're really set on using HP5 I'd really seriously consider what it is about shooting BW 135 which will add to this body of work conceptually - in the context of photojournalism BW 135 is an outmoded medium that references a particular historical time period and genre of documentary practice. If you can find a strong reason why using a historical medium would be the best voice to tell your project through then do it, otherwise you may end up wasting time, money, and opportunities.

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

A friend and I went to Israel, forty five years ago. We took an Agfa Rondinax tank and some clothespegs, buying the chemistry in Tel Aviv. We developed four films before realising:

1. We couldn't control the temperatures properly.
2. There was nowhere we could hang the film where it didn't get filthy
3. We couldn't find a darkroom hire that we could afford.
4. The time we wasted with this "clever idea" would have been better spent enjoying ourselves.

What can I say? we were young. <SHRUG>

One of the few usable shots I got out of it...

 

[sanmich]

I live near Tel Aviv, and process BW.
If you want, you can come to my place and develop.
just send me an email or PM, and I'll help you with planning...
anyway, enjoy!

 

[Ronald M]

There is no way to properly control dirt and contamination while traveling. Bring it home so you do not spend forever spotting when you print.

Digital is the way to go.

 

[NY_Dan]

There are some humorous (to me) photographs of Trent Parke hanging his film to dry from tree limbs by a lake in the Australian Outback. If you're traveling with a class, and serving as photo editor, and bringing a laptop etc... to me it seems unrealistic to add more obligations/ambitions. One could always bring a small point and shoot 35mm film camera and 8 rolls of 36 exp film -- that's doable. I have a 1965 Kodak Instamatic and lots of outdated film that wouldn't be any worse for an xray or two -- I'd bring that. With your advanced degrees it makes me wonder why you'd need to ask 🙂 Shouldn't we be asking you? Take all the photo gear you want to bring and carry it a few miles and see how it goes.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Consider Ilford XP 2 Super, trade processed. I've done it in the past, when driving across the USA.

Cheers,

R.

 

[De_Corday]

You are all making some really solid points. I think I'm crossing my wires, and need to have a solid division of labor between my "work" cameras, i.e. the DSLR(s) and the fun of shooting film "for fun" through something that handles like the F3.

I think living in Brooklyn I've gotten used to not worrying about water quality, temperature control, dust control, etc., and if I keep my shooting well organized in my head between work/play (or more accurately, work-that-needs-to-be-viewed-now/work-that-can-wait-a-few-weeks) I'll be happier overall and shoot better.

That said, sanmich, as the time arrives I may drop you a line. If it looks like I'll have some free time in Tel Aviv, I may well take you up on your generous offer.

Sejanus, I really like that shot, and also appreciate your advice. (what was the film/chemistry there, if you remember?)

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

what was the film/chemistry there, if you remember?

The film was FP3, which had just been superseeded by FP4, so we managed to get about twenty rolls for some silly price (less than half retail, I think). I can't remember the developer, though the likeliest guess is D76, because I have a vague memory of making it up in a very large glass lemonade bottle. 🙂

 

[sanmich]

Four years ago I took a workshop in Texas with David Alan Harvey.
I decided not to switch to digital just for the workshop, so I shlept paterson tanks, chemicals, a scanner+computer in a cheap motel room.
Morning meeting, then shooting for 3-4 hrs, then rush to the hotel, process, dry and scan up to five rolls.
wasn't as easy as digital obviously, but it was ok. perfectly doable (certainly if you aren't under half days deadlines like I was)

 

[Vics]

Consider Ilford XP 2 Super, trade processed. I've done it in the past, when driving across the USA.

Cheers,

R.

Might be a problem nowadays, as so many drugstore labs have shut down. In my town of 170,000 souls, we only have one 1-hour lab left. Don't know about Israel, though.

 

[stompyq]

Diafine for developer. No need to worry about temperature. It's a powder and you can just chuck it in your regular luggage.

 

[kxl]

Powder... Chemicals... through TLV? You're kidding right?

TLV security is one of, if not the tightest airport security in the world. Went through there a few years ago and they scrutinized everything.

Not complaining about their security, just fyi.

 

[De_Corday]

Powder... Chemicals... through TLV? You're kidding right?

TLV security is one of, if not the tightest airport security in the world. Went through there a few years ago and they scrutinized everything.

Not complaining about their security, just fyi.

Appreciate the heads-up. Any chance of getting a hand-inspection on the film?

 

[B-9]

Possibly send a parcel of goodies ahead of you to the hotel? Have it waiting when you arrived!?
Shipping charges might be worth the time you save in security checks.

I've never traveled abroad, nor have ever had a deadline for developing films.
Just an idea, maybe a silly one at that.

Do you already have a developing tank?
If your prssed for time, Paterson sells some pretty nifty multi-reel tanks.
I own 3-2reel tanks and 6 reels, I also own a large 5 reel Paterson tank for when I'm developing the same.film, expecting similiar results.

The dust problem can be alleviated by running a hot shower before you start, dampen some towels and lay them on the floor, door cracks, or anywhere out of the way.
When painting dust is a big problem in a shop that works with steel plastic and wood regularly. A well dampened floor makes a unreal difference.

My 2 cents!

Hope your trip goes well, and please do stay safe!
Be sure to follow up with some photos when you return!

 

[kxl]

Appreciate the heads-up. Any chance of getting a hand-inspection on the film?

The security may be tight but the soldiers are very courteous. Ask them nicely and they oblige (at least they did for me). If not, then no big deal, since fogging is typically not an issue for 400 ISO film going once or twice through airport xrays. It is the cumulative effect of several exposures that will fog your film.

The only times my film have ever fogged: 1) Delta 3200 - roundtrip, so two exposures and 2) ISO 400 film through at least 6 xray exposures on a multi-destination, multi-week trip, but even then, not all of the film in the same plastic bag actually fogged. (For some reason, my request to hand check was denied at almost every single leg of that trip.)

 

[randyloo2]

I have traveled multiple times to Israel. Firstly, at the US airport you can ask for hand inspection for film. On the way back just put your film in hand luggage.
If I were you, I'd give the films for development at a lab. There are a couple of reliable ones in Tel Aviv. It'll give you more time to really enjoy the trip 🙂