Re: [pinhole-discussion] United States airline screening and film
bwphoto4...@aol.com wrote: Alternatively, they do sell what are being billed as x-ray proof film bags - I've seen them at my local camera shop, but haven't tried one yet. There are two problems with the lead foil x-ray proof bags. The first is that some of them don't work, at least not for higher speed films. The second is that if they DO work the x-ray operator can't clearly see what is inside the bag. There have been reports in some of the US photography magazines of security people being unwilling to allow the x-ray proof bags to be used. (That is, after showing up as an indistinct mass of cylindrical objects on the x-ray the bag had to be opened and each roll of film hand inspected -- this added more time to the security delay.) So if you do use one of these bags you should definitely tell the security people about it before your bag is x-rayed. I haven't flown in the last year, but I have had filn go through the scanners in the past and never had porblems with it (up to 400 speed, I would put any 800 I had in my jacket pocket and land it to the guard at the metal dectector, I never even had to explain why). Mike Vande Bunt
RE: [pinhole-discussion] United States airline screening and film
Did you put the leadlined bags in your checked baggage? I've been told that they just zap it more if they can't penetrate.
RE: [pinhole-discussion] United States airline screening and film
I haven't read every post on this so sorry if you've already covered it: Doesn't the xray only affect unexposed film?
Re: [pinhole-discussion] United States airline screening and film
Listmembers, On a recent flight to Orlando, I made the decision not to bring the photo equipment. This turned out to be a good thing, as my wife and I were subjects of a two-hour wait for the security check. It did pain me not to bring my equipment, but it did offer me an opportuinity I did not consider before. Pinhole photography is not about specifics or accurate imaging. If it were so, this would be a Leica users list. I would say most of us could cobble together any apparatus which will take a picture in about ten minutes with a box, tape, and needle - ala MacGuyver. For this reason I did not bring my camera with me. The creative process blooms when faced with a problem, and travelling without a camera is a problem. So, I was able to create a pinhole on-site and by using cn400 (bought at the local walgreens) bring it to the one hour lab. Let me tell you, x-rays do not affect developed film. Sure you might lose a few images by not knowing the exact settings - but it's pinhole, this is why we do what we do - we're unconventional. I suggest for all of you who are travelling soon to try a new angle with pinhole. Create images with vessels you find once you get there - a discarded box, a hotel match-box, a toilet paper tube - anything you can make light tight is potentially a camera. This was a very exciting and invigorating re-exposure to the nature and communication of pinhole photography for me. Take care, Don - Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Shopping - Mother's Day is May 12th!
Re: [pinhole-discussion] United States airline screening and film
I had a flight last September (shortly after 9-11), and found it easiest to run the (unloaded) cameras in their bag through the x-ray, but to ask them to hand-check the film. They weren't happy about it - they tried to tell me that their x-ray machines were safe for any film speeds up to greater than 400, but I insisted (very politely, I might add), so they went ahead and complied. They might tell you that the machines are safe, but you just never know. It's better not to take the chance. You may want to take all of your film out of the boxes and out of the plastic canisters - you can put the rolls into a clear plastic zip-lock bag. It won't hurt your film (you probably aren't travelling with infrared, now, are you?) and the guys at the security checkpoint may be more inclined to hand-check if they don't have to take too much time to do it. Alternatively, they do sell what are being billed as x-ray proof film bags - I've seen them at my local camera shop, but haven't tried one yet. M Billingslea
Re: [pinhole-discussion] United States airline screening and film
I'm surprised that no one has mentioned using the lead shielded film bags for airline travel. I went to France in Nov. and carried 4x5" HP5+ and TMax 100 120mm film. No hassle whatever and no ill effects to the film either way. Sally, if you're in France in July see the following http://www.rencontres-arles.com/ The Recontres is one of the biggest photographic events in Europe. Perhaps some of our French listers can recommend more. 'Z' _ Join the worlds largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com
Re: [pinhole-discussion] United States airline screening and film
Hello all, I'm going to France in a couple weeks and taking lots of film. What I've read to do is unwrap each roll of film as much as possible - ie, take it out of the little cardboard box or plastic canister - and put the film a clear plastic baggie. Then take it out of your carry-on (carry-on is all I'm taking) and ask that it be hand-checked. My color film is 400 speed, but my black and white is 100. From what I've read here, I think I'll mix up the color and black and white so it will be easier for them to decide to hand-check it all. Good idea? It will be trickier on the return trip as the b/w film will be used in a Holga, which doesn't wind the film very tightly, so I need to put it in a light-tight bag as soon as I unload it from the camera. Thus it won't be visable for airport scrutiny. Also -- if anyone knows of any good photo shows and galleries in Paris or Avignon or Aix-en-Provence, please let me know. Thanks, Sally Bowker
Re: [pinhole-discussion] United States airline screening and film
I agree that it would easier to buy the film there and have it processed there. In March I flew to Baton Rouge, La from Orlando, Fl. I had my film separate in a small leather pouch, and asked that it be hand inspected. The line of about 100 people had to wait while I was pulled over, my backpack thoroughly searched, and even had to remove my shoes for them to be run through the x-ray. So even though the sign at security says they will be happy to hand inspect if requested; I don't think so. Joe Rollins Irish-German Ancestors - Original Message - From: "Jeff Dilcher" To: Sent: Thursday, May 09, 2002 9:22 AM Subject: [pinhole-discussion] United States airline screening and film > Hi folks, > > I will be taking vacation to Utah in June, and will > be shooting some pinhole while out there. > > Can anyone tell me whether xray or other screening equitment > will adversly affect color or black and white film? I > primarily shoot TMAX 100, but may bring some color film as > well... > > Maybe someone has had some recent experiences, and can > shed some light on this (no pun intended). > > Thanks, > Jeff > > > ___ > Post to the list as PLAIN TEXT only - no HTML > Pinhole-Discussion mailing list > Pinhole-Discussion@p at ??? > unsubscribe or change your account at > http://www.???/discussion/
Re: [pinhole-discussion] United States airline screening and film
For my job as a computer consultant I travel about 100,000 miles a year give or take a few. I always bring a camera either my Canon F-1 with a pinhole cap for a slim-line approach or I bring my Speed Graphic with a lensboard aluminum foil pinhole to take pictures as I travel. I really like the vibe of airports, although my pictures haven't quite captured it and the vibe is much more serious now. Anyway, my experiences have been pretty similar in the following airports: LAX, Boston, SF, O'Hare, San Jose, BWI, Reagan National, Norfolk, La Guardia, JFK, New Orleans, KC, Minn-St.Paul, NY-Islip, Providence, Houston-Bush and Houston-Hobby, Las Vegas. I have traveled through security at all of these are since 9/11. First of all allow plenty of time to get through security. Two hours is probably accurate and even more if it's an early morning flight. In New York recently I bought film for WWPD and hand-carried it home vs. shipping it so I would have it for Sunday, the security checkpoint added about 30 minutes to the process to literally chemically swipe every single brand-new box of film. This was time spent in my socks standing beside the swipe table. Now at most airports if you set off the metal detector you have to take off your shoes, this also holds true if they have to hand-inspect your baggage. Secondly no matter your format make sure you have some high speed 1000 speed or higher (I always have some 35 or 120 Delta 3200) or even some Polaroid Type 57 (3000 ASA) film. This makes it much easier to get a hand check because they are not required to hand-check slower speed film and sometimes they won't. So I now put all film into clear 1 gallon Ziploc bags unless it's 4x5 then I leave it in the box. Some places will actually do a swipe on each and every box and roll of film others will do a cursory look and feel of the contents. With 4x5 or larger sized film you might be able to get slower speed film hand-checked by saying it's scientific. This is allowed although some guards will still say it's fine to go through the x-ray and will tell your to put it in the machine. Third, try to empty your camera if possible. Odd-sized packages and shapes get x-rayed more intensely then normal ones. My camera without a lens causes many security people to stop and re x-ray it. If possible leave a simple 50mm on your camera so the shape looks normal. I won't even go into some of the pintoids and other homebrew solutions. Duct-tape, wires and other things make Security personnel very nervous, justifiably. Make sure to scrub your camera bag and put all tools, tripods, screwdrivers, etc. into your checked luggage. They have never commented on my cable release which I bring so it seems fine. (for now). As an aside I've put TmaxCN through multiple times and it hasn't suffered, but I avoid it if I can. Fourth, be patient, relax and remain calm. Security people are doing the best job they can, getting uptight will only make things worse for you and for others behind you. A smile will get you through much faster and happier. Lastly, you can pack film in your luggage but it can get x-rayed and screened. Sometimes you'll be present and be allowed to remove your film but the one time it happened to me and they sent my checked bag directly into luggage so I had to cram 3 boxes of Polaroid 4x5 into my carry on. Also they really do enforce the two bags only carry-on rule. This also includes shopping bags although each airport may be a little different here. Enjoy Utah, there should be plenty of great light in June, bring sunscreen and a good alarm clock because morning light comes very early in June. Good luck, Thom - Original Message - From: "Jeff Dilcher" To: Sent: Thursday, May 09, 2002 10:22 Subject: [pinhole-discussion] United States airline screening and film > Hi folks, > > I will be taking vacation to Utah in June, and will > be shooting some pinhole while out there. > > Can anyone tell me whether xray or other screening equitment > will adversly affect color or black and white film? I > primarily shoot TMAX 100, but may bring some color film as > well... > > Maybe someone has had some recent experiences, and can > shed some light on this (no pun intended). > > Thanks, > Jeff > > > ___ > Post to the list as PLAIN TEXT only - no HTML > Pinhole-Discussion mailing list > Pinhole-Discussion@p at ??? > unsubscribe or change your account at > http://www.???/discussion/
Re: [pinhole-discussion] United States airline screening and film
The last time I flew, I had some 120 tri-x which I forgot was in my hand luggage -- it went through the carry-on screening machine and got a pretty heavy fog (e.g. increased base density) all over the strip of film (both exposed and unexposed parts). I don't think I'll bother to develop the roll of 3000 speed film I had in the bag as well... Philip __ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Shopping - Mother's Day is May 12th! http://shopping.yahoo.com
Re: [pinhole-discussion] United States airline screening and film
--- Jeff Dilcher wrote: > > > Can anyone with a better knowledge of physics than I, comment on whether > B&W film would be more or less susceptible to xray devices? Actually, color film and black and white film are pretty much the same. The only real difference is that color film has dyes that work with the grain clusters to produce the three colors. There should be no appreciable difference. Cheers - george = Handmade Photographic Images http://GLSmyth.com DRiP Investing http://DRiPInvesting.org __ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Shopping - Mother's Day is May 12th! http://shopping.yahoo.com
Re: [pinhole-discussion] United States airline screening and film
Hi Lisa, On the contact sheets from my film, the x-ray damage looks like odd reddish-brownish blotches and then there are lighter areas, too. It is hard to describe. A simile might be a B&W print that was processed in too little developer, which was completely exhausred, for too short of a time with no agitation. Then imagine that the blotches are brown/red. Here are online versions of a Shutterbug article that includes one photo damaged by x-rays (ID=4016) and a letter to the editor (ID=4165). If I remember right, the printed edition of Shutterbug had more photos of x-ray damage. The damage to my film doesn't look exactly like the example in this on-line article. The letter from Britt Stokes gives good suggestions for transporting film. It is more germane to our conversation. http://www.shutterbug.net/archives/story.cfm?StoryID=4016 http://www.shutterbug.net/archives/story.cfm?StoryID=4165 Tom - Original Message - From: "Lisa Reddig" To: Sent: Thursday, May 09, 2002 10:19 AM Subject: Re: [pinhole-discussion] United States airline screening and film > Tom > > What does the x-ray damage look like? > > Lisa >
Re: [pinhole-discussion] United States airline screening and film
Can anyone with a better knowledge of physics than I, comment on whether B&W film would be more or less susceptible to xray devices?
Re: [pinhole-discussion] United States airline screening and film
Tom What does the x-ray damage look like? Lisa - Original Message - From: "Tom Miller" To: Sent: Thursday, May 09, 2002 11:10 AM Subject: Re: [pinhole-discussion] United States airline screening and film > Hi Jeff: > > Learn from my recent mistakes: I flew to New Orleans in February and > bought film there intending to have it processed there, too. I made > exposures with a box of Portra 100T and exposed two or three rolls > each of Portra 400VC and Ektachrome 64T. The trip went too quick, and > I didn't get the film processed there. I ran all the film through the > hand-held baggage x-ray. The Portra made it through OK; but the > Extachrome 64T was ruined by this one pass through an x-ray machine. > > I'd recommend checking ahead to make sure that the film you want is > available in Salt Lake City and have them hold it for you. Make sure > that there is processing available and that the processor knows you're > coming. I wasted a lot vacation time calling numerous photo stores in > New Orleans only to find out that the film I wanted wasn't available. > Spent a lot of time calling labs, too, only to find that their service > times didn't mesh with my interary. So, I got to learn the hard way. > > An alternative is to FedEx film to yourself in Salt Lake City. Then > you'll know that you'll have the film you want. The last I heard, > FedEx was not x-raying packages; but, things are changing fast these > days. > > A friend how beta-tests new film for manufacturers put it this way: > one pass through an x-ray damages film. > > Tom > > > - Original Message - > From: "Jeff Dilcher" > To: > Sent: Thursday, May 09, 2002 9:47 AM > Subject: [pinhole-discussion] United States airline screening and film > > > > Hi folks, > > > > I will be taking vacation to Utah in June, and will > > be shooting some pinhole while out there. > > > > Can anyone tell me whether xray or other screening equitment > > will adversly affect color or black and white film? I > > primarily shoot TMAX 100, but may bring some color film as > > well... > > > > Maybe someone has had some recent experiences, and can > > shed some light on this (no pun intended). > > > > Thanks, > > Jeff > > > > > > > > ___ > > Post to the list as PLAIN TEXT only - no HTML > > Pinhole-Discussion mailing list > > Pinhole-Discussion@p at ??? > > unsubscribe or change your account at > > http://www.???/discussion/ > > > ___ > Post to the list as PLAIN TEXT only - no HTML > Pinhole-Discussion mailing list > Pinhole-Discussion@p at ??? > unsubscribe or change your account at > http://www.???/discussion/ >
Re: [pinhole-discussion] United States airline screening and film
Hi Jeff: Learn from my recent mistakes: I flew to New Orleans in February and bought film there intending to have it processed there, too. I made exposures with a box of Portra 100T and exposed two or three rolls each of Portra 400VC and Ektachrome 64T. The trip went too quick, and I didn't get the film processed there. I ran all the film through the hand-held baggage x-ray. The Portra made it through OK; but the Extachrome 64T was ruined by this one pass through an x-ray machine. I'd recommend checking ahead to make sure that the film you want is available in Salt Lake City and have them hold it for you. Make sure that there is processing available and that the processor knows you're coming. I wasted a lot vacation time calling numerous photo stores in New Orleans only to find out that the film I wanted wasn't available. Spent a lot of time calling labs, too, only to find that their service times didn't mesh with my interary. So, I got to learn the hard way. An alternative is to FedEx film to yourself in Salt Lake City. Then you'll know that you'll have the film you want. The last I heard, FedEx was not x-raying packages; but, things are changing fast these days. A friend how beta-tests new film for manufacturers put it this way: one pass through an x-ray damages film. Tom - Original Message - From: "Jeff Dilcher" To: Sent: Thursday, May 09, 2002 9:47 AM Subject: [pinhole-discussion] United States airline screening and film > Hi folks, > > I will be taking vacation to Utah in June, and will > be shooting some pinhole while out there. > > Can anyone tell me whether xray or other screening equitment > will adversly affect color or black and white film? I > primarily shoot TMAX 100, but may bring some color film as > well... > > Maybe someone has had some recent experiences, and can > shed some light on this (no pun intended). > > Thanks, > Jeff > > > > ___ > Post to the list as PLAIN TEXT only - no HTML > Pinhole-Discussion mailing list > Pinhole-Discussion@p at ??? > unsubscribe or change your account at > http://www.???/discussion/
Re: [pinhole-discussion] United States airline screening and film
Jeff - I can't speak to the technical aspects of this but I have never trusted these machines. Whenever I travel I ask the insprectors to hand check my camera bag by simpley telling them I have cameras and film in the pack. I have never had a problem. The most I have gotten is a question about a specific camera. Make sure all of the cameras are unloaded just in case someone wants you to open them. You shouldn't have any problems. The last time I flew was just a month ago so this is recent. Cheers Ray > Hi folks, > > I will be taking vacation to Utah in June, and will > be shooting some pinhole while out there. > > Can anyone tell me whether xray or other screening equitment > will adversly affect color or black and white film? I > primarily shoot TMAX 100, but may bring some color film as > well... > > Maybe someone has had some recent experiences, and can > shed some light on this (no pun intended). > > Thanks, > Jeff > > > > ___ > Post to the list as PLAIN TEXT only - no HTML > Pinhole-Discussion mailing list > Pinhole-Discussion@p at ??? > unsubscribe or change your account at > http://www.???/discussion/ >
