ClarkPlayREALLYStreaky

Yeah, the streaks on this are from the camera...

 

No, it isn't a MECHANICAL problem with the camera (per say) or a CHEMICAL problem with the film...

 

See, there's this foam stuff they glued to the inside of the camera...it actually serves little purpose as to make the camera light tight or to avoid anything as far as I've observed, though it apparently did aid in sound dampening and possibly shock absorption...but since the camera was made in the SIXTIES, the material has DISINTEGRATED a bit, and essentially has become this sticky black mess...I THOUGHT at first this would be merely a nuisance...

 

BUT, the stickyness managed to find its way onto the film(?) and most certainly the guide plate (the slick black metal panel that pushes the film against the plane of exposure, allowing guidance of the film and proper exposure of the frame, etc.)

 

Suffice to say this sticky crap had an effect on the film.

 

This is obvious.

 

I didn't NOTICE this after I had run the Fuji Film through it, and will review the files I have from it to see if there is earlier evidence of it. I have a roll of Kodak that I used subsequent to the Fuji, but prior to the UC, so it MAY be unaffected by the stuff.

 

HOPEFULLY, since I have removed 99% of the black sticky foam crap and old adhesive marks with Masking/Freezer Tape (to be specific), the camera will not demonstrate this negative to exposure quality or the actual film state itself.

 

Had I had GAFFER's tape, or not found the tape I was using effective at not only covering, but REMOVING the old deteriorated foam and adhesive semi-goo, then I would have just covered everything in the first place or when I set about solving the streak problem.

 

I first noticed this problem on the negatives that the Walgreen's employee had erroneously recorded me as ordering (which they didn't let me keep as they needed to "count" the spent paper, essentially accounting for their mistake). Even though I was very concerned that it was in fact MY camera that was the culprit- I warned them of possible chemical or mechanical problems with the process as I didn't have the Ricoh on me to check it.

 

Suffice to say I was upset when I found out that the camera was the problem, so my Photo CDs and my more valuable negatives were affected as well.

 

The "streaks" as I'm calling them, don't appear to be just scratches or merely exposure disruptions...they are representative of direct trauma to at least one layer of the film and apparently the emulsion layer as well.

 

 

Oh well, live and learn.

Ruin film...and gain experience.

 

Trial and Error works for loads of things, hell it is partly how I noticed the lens I had on my Minolta XG-1 was broken in ADDITION to the XG-1 light meter apparently dying...

 

BUT, even though I have little planned for the cheap old camera body...I will add this simple statement I thought up during my recent "Camera Slinging" escapades.

 

Light meters...are for pussies.

 

Seriously, if you can't trust yourself to take a shot without some lights in the viewfinder or an outside tool to aide in calculating exposure time, you are not prepared to accept the consequences of pointing a camera, creating a composition in your head and shooting.

 

With or without prior consent, there are many things you can be held responsible for when taking an image.

 

This might be part of the reason why I've taken to just snapping semi-interesting objects and scenery around town lately and less people even with shots of people I know and don't know now uploaded to Flickr.

 

Never work with Children or Animals, not so with photography,

 

Experience begets wisdom.

 

Oh well, enough ranting, right?

Done