I have experienced attitude four out of four , make that five, (I forgot Arcata airport in N.California) times that I have requested to have my film hand checked and they still put it in a machine of some sort. Because I wish special attention, I try to be as polite as possible. However, I will keep your "have it in hand" and clearly visible method in mind when next I fly. I am not the only one here in LA who has issues about the security.
regards

That is really unfortunate. You do have the right to ask for a supervisor; however, and request them to have your film hand inspected.

I recently flew out of SFO (San Francisco) and had to have my suitcase xrayed so that I could lock it, the first thing they ask me was if I had any film in it. They said the carry on scaner would not fog film slower than 1600 ISO.

I travel extensivly with film, and we find it to become a problem when you start having high speed films scanned several times, as stated in the magazines, it seems to be a cumlative effect of several exposures to the x-ray machine.

TSA is required to provide by law hand checking to anyone who requests it, I normally don't have a problem if I present myself to the security counter before hand and let them know I am going to request a hand inspection due to the fact there is film in the baggage, I have only had problems one time and it only took two requests to get a supervisor there, I also carry a copy of the federal code with me, so if there is a question I can show them.

Hope that helps.

Dave

Although the TSA folks are friendlier than their predecessors; I still find a lack of consistency between airports. Much as with "The Shoes Issue" (everyone must take 'em off; everyone can leave 'em on; randomly foot-strip a few people), some airports wave my film through with hardly a glance, others swab it for explosives, still others insist on x-raying it all.

I was flying back from Miami last year and asked for a hand-search of my canister-free, clear ziploc bag of 35mm film cleverly seeded with a few rolls of 1600-speed film. The TSA guard politely ushered me over to a tech who proceeded to swab every single roll of film. As she carefully read the labels of each roll, she placed everything less than 1600-speed in a tray and handed it off to another guard with the instruction to x-ray it. Such much for being clever

Worst airports I've dealt with: Las Vegas and Phoenix.

Nicest airports: Anchorage and Kodiak, AK

BTW: Make that "Albuquerque" not "Miami" as the airport that foiled my cleverness.

Hello all, I've dug out my old Canon, bought some Velvia and Provia, and sort of sidelined my new digital SLR. I like film!

I'm currently thinking about a Grapic View in my future--spiralling toward a purchase I think maybe in pieces over a few months.
I live in NM and have neither a lab close by nor do I want to build a dark room right now (yet the prices are right right now) though I might in the future as retirement nears and the kids complete college (fingers crossed).

In the interim could I collect the 4x5s and send them off somewhere? And where do you recommend?

Nick

You could try San Miguel Photo Lab http://www.bestlab.com in Las Vegas, NM.


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: tsgrimm on 2004-08-13 21:24 ]</font>

You don't need a darkroom just to develop film. You can get yourself a develop only setup then send out for prints the ones you like. I bet my film only setup could fit in a small box when not in use. I some times load the tank at night or just walk into a closet. Once the film is in the tank then you're able to work in the sunshine.

You can even do contact prints with little more then a small light bulb and a couple of trays.

If you're willing to use one of the "daylight" tanks available (and there are many; this board is a good source for information and opinion on them), then all you need is a good-sized daylight changing bag, the tank, a capacious graduate and three or four large bottles.