How do they do it (carry all that film)?

csaunders

csaunders

f8 and be there.
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I've been planning a photographic project to be shot on film which would require approximately 6 months away in a relatively isolated place.

I always read about photographers who work in war zones, during/after natural disasters, on hikes in jungles, in deserts, etc and they never talk about how they carry all that film.

I've read, for example, that Salgado shoots anywhere between 5-20 rolls a day when he's out. If he's isolated for only 2 weeks that could be potentially 280 rolls of film.

So; does anyone here know, or have direct experience of how these photographers carry all that film? And I would also appreciate any insight into their other working methods, do they process as they go, how do they manage their exposed films etc...?

Maybe they just stuff it all in a big backpack and I'm just being thick?

Thanks in advance!
-Christian
 
I went to Vietnam for 3 months, shot everything on 35, I went in with 80 rolls. Fits perfectly into 2 full-size domke x-ray bags without the canisters and cardboard. They both fit fine into a u.s. military duffel with everything else.
 
Depends on how many rolls a day you shoot. I tried to stretch it to a roll every couple of days or sometimes 4 rolls a day depending on what I saw.
 
Well, I did wonder if you would have to ration your film in that kind of circumstance. It's rarely talked about though. Anyone else care to weigh in on this one?
 
So, it seems as if it's just a case of lugging it all around with you (in a cooler).

Does anyone know anything about the measures that photographers take in this sort of circumstance to protect against theft/damage/seizing by authorities etc...

Carrying around weeks of work with you would be quite nerve-wracking, no?
 
"back in the film days" some people would take bulk film and a limited number of cassettes. Then they'd use a small changing bag and take the exposed film out of the cassettes and put in a light-tight tin. It's the cassettes that take up the most space. But you have to really have your bulk loading technique down pat.
 
Pablito said:
"back in the film days" some people would take bulk film and a limited number of cassettes. Then they'd use a small changing bag and take the exposed film out of the cassettes and put in a light-tight tin. It's the cassettes that take up the most space. But you have to really have your bulk loading technique down pat.
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That sounds like just about the scariest thing I could imagine!
 
I saw on the film War Photographer, James Nachtwey uses what appear to be some kind of metal or hard plastic 'magazines' that hold maybe 10 rolls of film in a row. This would be how he carries around his media on a daily basis. Does anyone know of any such product? Ive been looking for quite a while now to no avail.
 
IF you're serious, carry B&W as 100 foot rolls. It's nowhere near as fragile as the "Artists" will insist it is, so you can take as much as you are physically able to carry. Several 100 foot rolls of Plus-X will have you shooting longer than I care to be bothered to care about... :eek:

Beyond that, you're getting into the areas of the usual idiots. Ignore us. All of us. If your work is worth a damn none of us matter anyway...

Outside of that, why should I give a rat's ass?

William
 
I carry 20 rolls of film with me on a daily basis in a spare compartment in my bag...they don't take up that much space...i could easily triple the amount in that one compartment without any space issues, so carrying around a couple hundred rolls could be accommodated nicely in a simple book bag i'd think.
 
Harry S. said:
I saw on the film War Photographer, James Nachtwey uses what appear to be some kind of metal or hard plastic 'magazines' that hold maybe 10 rolls of film in a row. This would be how he carries around his media on a daily basis. Does anyone know of any such product? Ive been looking for quite a while now to no avail.
Click to expand...

I did see that cool pouch thing he had; my guess is it's probably a custom-made item...

A few hundred rolls wouldn't take up that much space I guess, I just wondered if there was some secret rather than just 'put it in a bag'...

I've never bulk-loaded film before or even know how it's done so I'll have to look into that...

Thanks for all your replies so far!
 
I usually dedicate a separate small shoulder bag for my film. I tend to carry more than I will need so this ends up being a minimum of 60 rolls on any trip of two weeks or more up to 300 rolls if I will be gone quite some time. At that point I am usually processing it during the trip as well so that takes care of some of the weight.

Bottom line is that it is a pain but we don't shoot film because it is easy do we?
 
Harry S. said:
I saw on the film War Photographer, James Nachtwey uses what appear to be some kind of metal or hard plastic 'magazines' that hold maybe 10 rolls of film in a row. This would be how he carries around his media on a daily basis. Does anyone know of any such product? Ive been looking for quite a while now to no avail.
Click to expand...
I use the Peca storage box in the link below. They store six 35mm rolls/box but they may make larger ones too. I have several of these boxes and they are well-made and durable.

http://www.pecaproducts.com/film_storage.htm
 
I've hit the road with about 150 rolls for a 3 week shoot.
Mostly Tri-X, but also Delta3200.

Took the canisters out of the boxes and tossed everything in to a dry bag, as is used for sailing or camping.

The exposed rolls went in to labeled ziplock bags, that were stored in a second dry bag.

For every day shooting I use two film cans that are taped together back to back.
Five of these contraption hold 10 rolls. On most days I will head would head out
with 20 rolls total.

How much film to take along depends on your shooting style, how much you are willing to carry or can fit. I shoot what I need, but try to be a little smart about how much film I'm using on a single day, if my supply is limited.
 
Nachwey was also using retail Tri-X in that movie and not bulk loading. I have a feeling he is important enough to spend many of his nights protected somewhere. However, I bet that backpack was chock full of film.

I was sort of curious what those film boxes were too. Not that I'll ever be doing anything as prolific as him, so I don't know why.
 
luketrash said:
I was sort of curious what those film boxes were too. Not that I'll ever be doing anything as prolific as him, so I don't know why.
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They look like storage boxes for slides. I had some years ago that looked very similar.
 
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I saw something in a tokyo camera shop that looked like something a mexican bandit might consider wearing. It was a bandoleer type strap with loops to stick film canisters in that went all the way around the strap, like it was for shotgun shells or an ammunition belt. Strap 2 of those across your chest and get a sombrero. Add a military load bearing shoulder harness and belt to hold pouches that hold all your extra lenses and you'll be fixed to f$%^ with !
 
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