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Kodak posts advisory on how to travel with film through new airport CT scanners

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A couple of months ago, it was announced that some airports across the US had switched over from the more traditional X-Ray machines to use Computer Tomography (CT) scanners to check passenger luggage. Unlike film, which can usually handle a few x-rays just fine if it’s low ISO, CT scans will destroy pretty much any film almost instantly.

With this technology set to expand to at least 145 airports in total, Kodak has posted an advisory to Facebook with some guidance on travelling with film. They actually did some testing with Portra 400 and the CT scanners in cooperation with the TSA to see exactly what kind of effect it had.

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Using a 31-year-old SLR for fast-paced photojournalism

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Introduced in 1988, the Nikon F4 was the world’s first professional autofocus camera, and it made its way quickly into the hands of many working photographers. But despite the incredible leap in technology it represented, it was apparently quickly overtaken by the competition, which built on the solid foundation the F4 offered.

Early reviews were kind, but the advances in all areas of camera technology since then have left it more a cult option for today’s users.

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Here are some gift ideas to make film photographers happy for holidays

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Christmas is coming, and so is buying gifts for your loved ones. In case you have film photographers among your friends and family, Noah of Analog Resurgence has some great gift ideas. In this video, he doesn’t only give you ideas about what to buy. He also offers lots of useful advice on how and where to find these gifts and make a film photographer in your life happy this Christmas.

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Ilford announces 5th gen Multigrade paper and Ortho film is now available in 35mm and 120 format rolls

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Designed as a technical high-resolution copy film, Ilford Ortho film has thus far only been available in sheet film formats. Now, Ilford has expanded the formats to add 35mm and 120 medium format roll film. The black and white film is rated at ISO80 in natural light and ISO40 in tungsten.

Harman Technology, who owns the Ilford brand, has also announced the 5th generation of Ilford Multigrade paper. Multigrade V RC Deluxe replaces the Ilford Multigrade IV RC papers released 25 years ago.

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The Clash of Palladium and Silver

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September 21st, 1979. Forty years ago, British rock photographer, Pennie Smith immortalized the destruction of a Fender P-Bass guitar by Paul Simonon of The Clash on the stage of The Palladium in New York City, on gorgeous B&W 35mm film.

Her soft-focus, grainy image with its blown-out highlights and development stains has been dubbed by numerous publications and music fans, “the Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Photograph of All-Time.”

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How I made alternative film developers from peppermint and green tea extract

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By now most everyone dabbling in analog photography has seen articles on the use of “Caffenol”, “Beerinol”, “Redwineol” where people have developed film in mixtures of coffee, beer, red wine. While these can be fun experiments with show-able results they are somewhat pricey developers. Aside from the coffee-beer-wine you also need fairly consumptive amounts of sodium carbonate (wash soda) and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) to make it work. We are going to pare that down a bit.

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Feel old yet? This Stranger Things fan didn’t know what a darkroom was

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For most of us who own cameras, we’ve at least heard of a darkroom, even if you’ve never been used one or been inside one. It’s been a part of photography for as long as photography has existed, and there are many still around today, despite the world going digital. A lot of people still shoot film, and there are plenty of darkrooms around the world you can hire, even if you don’t have your own.

One appears in Stranger Things quite frequently, and it’s somewhere we often see Jonathan go to develop his photos and make prints. One viewer, though, seems pretty confused as to what the hell this “red room” is. This viewer took to StackExchange to ask the question. Poor Ansel would be turning in his grave.

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How I removed base fog from old film stocks

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A lot of us analog film photographers love to shoot film but new film stocks can be pricey. A 100ft roll (30meters) of fresh Tmax is about $80 US these days. Deals can be had on “vintage” (expired) film but many purists will disregard this as results are inconsistent and sometimes just awful. I teach on the side and I am always looking to save student monies but give them a positive experience so there is no discouragement.

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