Topic: Question about film fogging

[Glen]

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

[Photo_Utopia]

Hi Glen
Glad to see you're having fun. Your images look wonderful I love 2471 the one with the road going up to the harbour.

 The 120 rolls are harder to load, gotta make sure those spirals are dry and be patient.

I would develop the roll, chances are it will be OK. Back in the 1970's I used to load my films in my wardrobe at night 

One night my mother came in and switched on my bedroom light–"don't come in mum I'm in the wardrobe" –she was an understanding woman with a teenage son and left without a further word

I could see inside the wardrobe, not well but some light came in, the film (I still have) had a slight base fog but printed OK.

All will be well
Regards
Mark

[charles binns]

Glen

Don't worry, the film should be fine.  I load my films in the downstairs loo because it has no window.  I sometimes get little cracks of light coming in through the door frame, which I don't tape up, and I never have a problem. B&W film is pretty forgiving, colour less so.

Don't worry too much about fingerprints as those will wash off in development.

Nice pics by the way.

[Francois]

Like said, don't worry about it. It'll most probably be OK since you were casting your own shadow on the film while spooling it.

As for loading 120, it's always a good idea to cut the corners at 45°, it makes loading so much easier!

[calbisu]

Hi Glen,

When loading medium format film I am consistent at always having problems    When I have been living in a very humid place (do not know if yours it is) I put the film in the fridge in advance  (somebody suggested this in FWs, Ed?). It helps.

Nice shots, glad the developing worked! 

[Francois]

Loading 120 is a strange thing. At first, it's really hard. Then, when you get the hang of it, it gets fairly easy. Now, I sometimes find loading 35mm harder than 120.

[astrobeck]

Nice photos on your site!       I must put Newfoundland on my places to go list!!!

Yeah, loading 120 can be a bit tricky, but after about 3 rolls, you;ll be winding it like a pro.

I have always found 35mm more contrary to roll, but it's probably because I have large hands.

Keep up the great work, and I've got your site bookmarked so I can re-visit!

 

[charles binns]

I use Paterson reels and find them very easy to use - you can also get 2 rolls of 120 onto each reel.  The key thing is to make sure the reel is absolutely dry.  I use a hair dryer if I need to reuse a reel when processing a batch of films.

[Ordinal]

120 varies. I find loading older, thinner, curlier film, like the expired FP4+ I've been swearing at recently, an utter pain, whereas new Fomapan slips on like a greased sock.

The only way I've ruined it when loading is when I try to force it, or it doesn't go in properly at the start, and it bends and I get creases in the film which produce lines when developed. (I messed up the first few frames of a roll of Rollei Retro 400S this afternoon doing that, though I'd underexposed it anyway so I've not ruined any great works of photography.) Don't worry about fingerprints when loading, makes no difference.

[Francois]

Just don't wash the reels with soap like some people do. It leaves a gunk in the grooves that jams the film.
For doing the photo-flo, I decided to use one of our fellow filmwaster's trick (I think it's Peter R. who first came with it). I pre-mix the stuff in a spray bottle using some distilled water. I just spray a few drops on the film and squeegee it evenly using my fingers.

[SLVR]

if you need a few drops of photoflo then ive been using FAR too much. I premix in a water bottle then splash a quick dribble in my dev tank and slosh around. The film comes out soapy but squeegeeing with fingers gets all of it off.

[Dave Elden]

Nice shots from NFLD, an nicely scanned.  As others have said the risk of fogging is low, in this situation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reciprocity_failure#Reciprocity_failure is your friend.
As for fingerprints, film does have a protective gelatine supercoat over the light sensitive emulsion to reduce the risk of handling damage so I would definitely process the 120 stuff and see how it looks.
For photoflo I'd recommend starting with the ratio the manufacturer recommends (usually 1:200, check on the bottle); if you see a greasy residue then increase the dilution a bit until that is no longer present.  A couple of posters have mentioned squeegeeing, this risks scratching the emulsion so I'd avoid it myself.  I don't know where the myth that photoflo gums up reels comes from but it doesn't if you rinse the reel after unloading the film (obviously it is very readily water soluble).
+1 for 120 being easier to load on plastic reels than 35, esp 35 in 36exp rolls; +1also for cutting off the corners on the leading edge.
Good luck with the next rolls!

[Glen]

Wow, thank-you so much, everyone, for your many replies, and also for your kind comments regarding my photography; very much appreciated! I'll let you know how I make out with the film. I'm bedridden again at the moment, so have not had an opportunity to develop it yet. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed!

Thanks again,

Glen

[original_ann]

Nothing more satisfying to develop (successfully, albeit!).  I have had leaks what have had no bearing on my negatives.  Even if there is a little fogging, I'm sure it can be fixed up in printing, whether you scan the negatives or have a wet darkroom. 

[Glen]

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

[Francois]

Well Glen, I can say those shots are not too shabby for test shots