Weird streaks on my negs...

[megan]

Has anyone seen this? These bizarre streaks have been appearing on my negs. It follows no rhyme or reason. I thought maybe it was the Rodinal, but then it happened to a roll developed in D-76. I thought maybe it was a bad batch of fix, but it's happened since the fall. I've been traveling a lot - could it be film that has been X-rayed? It doesn't happen on every frame, or every roll.

[SmartWombat]

X ray I would expect to be general fogging.
This looks really odd, like reflected light on a long exposure with camera movement.
Except the pattern of each is so different.
Doesn't look like air bubbles.
I'm baffled...

[photophorous]

I guess this is a close up of a MF neg? Is it always on the edge like this? What kind of camera? ...just gathering data...

I agree with what Paul said about xrays. That should just fog the entire neg.

This is very strange. The only thing I can think of is some kind of a pinpoint light leak, but even then it's hard to imagine what the source could be. If you're camera has a cloth shutter, check it for tiny holes. Check your whole darkroom process to make sure there's no new light source or damaged equipment. I don't think bad chemicals could do this.

Please let us know when you figure this out. I'm really curious now.

Good luck,
Paul

[drg]

Megan,

Film didn't freeze did it while you were braving the icy weather??

The MF stuff is can be temperamental in bad weather. The HOLGA doesn't provide the most sophisticated film path/advance either.

Those almost look like little breaks in the emulsion or the the film base itself. One looks like a an outright scratch.

As it isn't occurring on every image and where it is on the film I'm sure its not a light leak. Doesn't really look like a flare or damaged lens reflection/refraction/etc. either.

My first best guess is that something physical as opposed to optical damaged the film.

[megan]

Thanks all. Indeed, it was using a Holga, but several *different* Holgas. However, the film had been outside, yes, in very cold weather. It didn't start happening until October or November. It's odd, though, this is the first year I've *noticed* it happening. I've used my Yashica Mat in ice cold weather and that never happened - then again, it's a pretty mechanical, even pull on the advance, unlike the Holga. I'll bet that that's it!

[Wild Wassa]

Static marks are easily identifiable and are usually caused by film transport sysyems. They are caused by discharging static electricity. Cold and dry air is often associated with the creation of static marks.

They can be caused by rewinding film too quickly in the camera or rewinding the film too tightly within the cassette or back onto the roll film spool. There is no prize for rewinding exposed film super fast only possible disappointment.

Using a bulk loader or hand loading a film casette can cause static.

Using an automatic loading device prior to processing can cause static.

When I was using sheet film for large format work, when pulling the sheets apart, in a box of film, to load the dark slides, I did it slowly because in my environment it could often create sparks, that could even cause faint flashes of light at times, seen in the dark room. I live in an extremely dry environment where some times the Dew Point has been recorded at -2.

If you google 'static marks on film' ... there will be a stack of stuff to read, no doubt.

Warren.

[drg]

Static was one thing I really considered but discarded quickly knowing quite a bit about the shooting conditions. Static almost always creates 'a pattern' and isn't stopped by the edge of the frame mask. Megan was shooting a camera that doesn't move the film fast enough to produce static under probably any circumstances. Cracking emulsion of course is not stopped at some artificial 'edge' either.

The kind of film will play a big role in such phenomena. The polyester film base of 'modern' film is very likely to create an added opportunity for static to occur especially in gated systems or entering or leaving 'cartridges' or magazines that have those light gates/seals that look like felt. Again, this doesn't apply under this set of circumstances.

Movie cameras are notorious for producing this if not operated correctly because of the steady (hopefully) film speed and the transport mechanisms. Combined with the gate action in close proximity, but not touching, to the film static is not that uncommon. Grounding is the obvious key solution.

I have shot a lot of film in the exact location and identical environment using very high speed film advance and sheet film. The Dew Points are regularly way below -2 (if you are calculating in Celsius) and I only know of one particularly horrid occasion that static occurred with a still camera. Different time of year and different conditions when it might have happened I still rarely have ever heard of it or seen it shooting stills.

I have frozen film in camera to the point it ripped. When 'saving' the remainder with hand processing, all kinds of funny little marks have appeared that with a microscope are obviously indications of damaging to the physical structure.

Knowing the weather, the camera, and the conditions, I'm going with freezing or temp related/transport damage. If Megan has some more images that show a different image it could be static and if so I want to see them as they are unusual but can be cool in the type of work she does regularly.

[Wild Wassa]

Thank you for correcting me.

I'm sorry to have confused the issue.

I'm very pleased that you are the only person here who is experienced enough in understanding what actually happens in photography.

You are very helpful in correcting my postings, for that I'll be forever thankful. My thoughts only come from a couple of decades of practice wisdom from making my living as a scientific and industrial photographer ... I haven't always been a sailor.

Warren.