Question about film fogging

[camperbc]

Well, yesterday was the big day! I developed my first two rolls of film; the first in 35 years! I had so much fun, and I must say the results pleasantly surprised me, particularly when you consider that my two old Soviet rangefinders (Zorki-4 and FED 2) are over a half century old! I had used the "Sunny 16" rule, and it worked just like a charm for every last frame, I kid you not! I've got a couple sample images posted on my Flickr Photostream already, and a few more on my website, under the "Film" heading if you care to see what I did; I'd love to hear your opinion regarding my first film captures in many years, and my first developing since I was in high school!

I used Ilford Delta 100 Professional film, developed in Ilfosol 3, then scanned to my computer using my new Epson V600 scanner. I was a bit worried about loading the reels, and I struggled just a little at first, but it wasn't nearly so bad as I had been expecting. The actual developing went splendidly, and it was in fact a very enjoyable afternoon for me, particularly for a fellow who spends most of his time flat on his back in bed. (permanent spinal issues) I can hardly wait to do some more!

I was completely blown off my feet when I saw my first results. With zero experience at this, and having shot the two test films using decades-old cameras of questionable quality, I was thrilled to see what I ended up with. Now, you may look at them and think they're adequate, and I'm sure I will continue to grow and improve with more experience, but I really like what I see. I didn't even go out that day with the idea of getting some seriously "artsy" captures; rather I just wanted to take a few quick test shots to see if the cameras were even capable of taking pictures!

Now, to the reason I am posting this thread... I've got some questions for anyone who can offer some answers. I'm STILL waiting for a changing bag to arrive in the mail, so in the meantime we taped up a spare room as best we could until I can start using the bag for loading my reels. Anyhow, just a few minutes ago, I decided to load up one of my 120 rolls, so that if my spine allows, I can develop it later on. Well, I struggled a little with this wider film, and ended up handling it much more than I would have liked; ie there is bound to be some fingerprints all over this one. But I eventually got it correctly wound onto the reel, but not before I realized that some tape around a window has loosened off, and it was letting in a line of light! Not much, (barely noticeable) mind you, but light nonetheless. The film is Ilford Delta 100 Professional. So my question is, will this roll be definitely ruined? Is there any chance at all that a tiny bit of light is not enough to fog this film? (I kept my back to the light source) I was devastated... and angry with myself, that I didn't notice it until I was in the middle of spooling. I was sorely tempted to just throw it out and try the next one once I got the window resealed. But then I got to wondering just how sensitive this ISO 100 film is, and whether the rather brief exposure would actually noticeably damage it. I'm sure, for those with experience, you can offer some thoughts on this? And about those %$#@'ing fingerprints, any chance that the actual developing/washing process may eliminate, or at least reduce them, to an "acceptable" level?

If you think the film is damaged, I won't even bother wasting any chemistry on it, but I will wait to read some replies here first. I'm thinking the fingerprints may not amount to much, but sheesh, if only that changing bag had arrived on schedule, I would not be losing sleep about my possibly fogged film!

Here is the link to my Flickr Photostream with a couple of pics from yesterday's developing/scanning adventure:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fogoislanders/

And I have six test images from those first two rolls on my website here:

http://www.focusonnewfoundland.com/gallery_456243.html

Looking forward to hearing any thoughts/suggestions you may have!

Thanks,
Glen

 

[jonasv]

I wouldn't worry about it. Low ISO, extremely low light if I understand it correctly, and standing with your back to the window? Should be OK. No way to really tell in advance though... First shots look good!

 

[pobe]

Go ahead and develop it! Even if it has been a bit fogged you can certainly get usable pictures from it. Great tones in the ones on your website!

 

[jonasv]

(That said, I would not shoot anything REALLY important on that roll. But I wouldn't mind using it for snaps around the house, of friends, family etc.)

 

[nikon_sam]

Develop it...it's worth the chance of getting something rather than nothing...plus it's good practice...

 

[Dana B.]

Fire away. Experience is the best teacher. In time, you may find 120 easier than 135, as I have. Chemicals are cheap, developing worth every minute of trial and error. For the time it takes to follow this thread, you could be mixing up a new batch. That said, I advise you keep all variables to a minimum. That may mean using the same camera, film and developer for a few months.

You may also find that changing bags are a pain, the spooling action hot and clumsy in such a confined space. I find it easier to set my alarm, awaken before dawn, turn out the lights, and develop in a half-bathroom (no windows), with a towel under the door if you need security. Of course, this is harder to do in summer. If that isn't possible, use blue 3M-type painter's tape for easy on-and-off masking that won't harm dried paint on door jams, etc. Good luck.

 

[camperbc]

Thanks everyone; I'm bedridden again at the moment, so have not had an opportunity to develop it yet. I'll let you know what I come up with!

Thanks again,
Glen

 

[camperbc]

Hi again, my friends!

Well, as I've been bedridden almost entirely for the past two weeks, (thanks to my ongoing spinal issues) I finally yesterday got around to developing the roll of 120 that you may recall I had struggled with getting spooled onto the reel. You may also remember that I had experienced a "darkroom malfunction", in that the duct tape I had used to seal my window, decided at that precise moment to let go, and in the midst of my struggling to get the film onto the reel, I suddenly discovered that light was streaming into the room. And let's not forget about the tons of inevitable fingerprints and creasing after several minutes of panicky fumbling!

Well, the results are in, and I'm pleasantly surprised! I see absolutely no sign of any fogging, no fingerprints, and no creases/scratches are visible at all! And here I thought that I'd ruined this film!

Anyhow, here are a couple of my test photos from this first roll through my beloved 1958 Yashica 635 TLR. Nothing too earth-shatteringly artsy here; was simply testing to determine if my lovely old camera was functioning correctly, and to see if I could get the hang of film developing again, after my 35 year hiatus.

These two photos were taken just steps from our oceanfront home on Fogo Island, located off the northeast coast of Newfoundland. The light was poor for the first one, and by time I took the second one, the sun had long since set, so I'm quite surprised how well they turned out. I used Ilford Delta 100 Professional, developed with Ilfosol 3, and scanned to my computer using my new Epson V600 flatbed scanner.

I'm extremely pleased with my Yashica 635. Its images are sharp and contrasty, and it's a real pleasure to shoot with.

Thanks to all, for your kind well-wishes, encouragement and support; very much appreciated!

Glen

 

[Ljós]

They turned out very nice! Very happy for you, and nice that you took the time for this detailed followup.
I was also gonna chime in and say, develop the film nonetheless! Well, you beat me to it, and with great results.

About the general resilience of film to "darkroom malfunctions":

When I began bulkrolling film with IXMOO, I made a crucial mistake once, which I hope taught me the lesson for all eternity:

I had a brandnew 100foot-roll of HP5, and had just loaded two or so canisters... must check something, need to see immediately, flick light switch...ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! Killed the light as quickly as I could. Felt devastated, surely the entire 100-foot-roll was wasted, yes?

Oh well. I discarded the outer layers of the mother-roll. Proofloaded an IXMOO. Turns out: I had killed the light quickly enough. The fogging affected the upper part of the entire roll, but not deeply enough to go past the sprocket holes. Since the roll was still wound tightly, it was like a "block" of film and only affected at the outer edges. Used the rest of the 100foot roll, with no ill effect on my pictures. What a relief! 🙂

Greetings, Ljós

 

[zuiko85]

Looks great Glen. I had the initial problems with loading 120, side to side curl of the leader. I cut a small square from a plastic milk jug and trimmed to same width as 120 film. I pulled the plastic over the edge of a desk to give it a curve the same radius as my ancient plastic Yankee brand reel. I then slip the plastic sq. into the start of the reel and then push in the film a couple of inches using the plastic as a guide to keep the film flat. Then I reach under the film, remove my homemade guide, and load the film normally. Works great for plastic developing reels.

For loading I use my interior bathroom, it has no windows but light can get around the door. I just wait for nightfall, turn out the house lights and load up a tank. I put a stripe of blue masking tape on the tank as a reminder, 'hey dummy, this tank has undeveloped film in it!' (I am a very absent minded person) I just load the tank and set it aside to develop the next day.

My only concern now is the inexorable rise in prices of 120 film. Just ordered 15 rolls of Fuji Acros from B&H and the total, with shipping is a little over $50, ouch! I'm an old fart and remember getting house brand 120 for 65cents a roll! But, of course, that was when gas was still .33 cents a gallon.

Now I'm really feeling old.