LF Film Bank

I have been reading the comments of others for some time now, regarding the problems associated with transporting film on airplanes. I, too have been concerned with the impact recent events have had on those of us who travel with film (and objects that may confuse and concern the security people at airports).

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A thought occured to me that I'd like to share and get your feedback on. What if we use this wonderful forum to help provide local assistance in procuring film for each other? A kind of National (or International) Film Bank. For example, if someone in New Jersey is planning a trip to Death Valley, maybe one of us in Las Vegas might be willing to purchase film for the trip ahead of time? Those individuals would then coordinate drop off to the traveller. Perhaps we could compile a directory of LF users who would be willing to help in this cause. We would of course, have to set up some guidelines for reimbursement. I've even been thinking of ways to process (B&W only) in motel rooms. Color film might be processed at labs local to the traveller's destination as well and then shipped back to them directly. Imagine making a trip without carrying film to your destination and bringing back processed negatives? I know it sounds scary, but this may become a viable alternative to no travel at all. I'd like to hear your ideas and thoughts.

Robert: Good idea. We LF shooters really do need to set up network of

sorts. We do have contact within this forum which could be easily

expanded. Perhaps we could help each other until this crisis passes

by acting as a film drop for other photographers as needed. I don't

think that the current panic will last more than a few months, then

perhaps we can work with the government and the airlines to develop a

way to carry on film without it being x-ray nuked too seriously. We

really do need to work with the authorities to come up with a

workable solution. This forum would be a good way to get a joint

project going.

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Regards,

Count me in!! I don't travel much outside the UK, but would be more

than happy to assist anyone venturing to the UK, especially to Wales.

Regards Paul

A great idea! I would like to take this opportunity to shamelessly

plug the <a href="http://www.angelfire.com/film/large">LF Users

Directory</a> that I've been working on putting together. The more

people we have listed on the directory, the easier it would be to

find people for this sort of thing. There are currently 12 people

listed, but I'm hoping other people will email me with info to put on

the list. I know it's on Angelfire for the time being and you get

the stupid pop-up ad, but once I get my commercial site set up some

time in the next six months to year, I'll make the lf directory part

of that. Anyhow, I'd be more than willing to give fellow

photographers a hand, so count me in.

This works! I have done this several times for other photographers.

And not just for Film. I have loaned my Darkroom for Loading and

Unloading and One fellow processed his film. I have Loaned Holders

and even Cameras(sorry no Lenses) and I have a regular list of

Darkrooms that I use when traveling. It's a Great way to meet and

break up the trip(besides it's a pain in the A__ to load film in some

not so dark Hotel rooms)and the most it's ever cost me was a bottle

of Glenlivet and we shared that over a nice B.S. session.

Here in northern Arizona the scenery is incomparable, the reputedly

most-photographed site in all of Arizona is visible from the house

and the camera stores, other than the P&S places, are few and far

between. However, I would be delighted to be a delivery site/drop for

anyone coming this way who is in need of one, and a friendly place to

chat is almost always available.

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We are also planning to open our guest house as a B&B after the first

of the year, but that is another story.

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Tony

Hi All,

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Anybody coming to Sydney is more than welcome to have me

arrange stock for them prior to arrival ... but a word of warning:

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Here in Australia 8x10 black & white stock is an INDENT ONLY

item and could necessitate ordering up to 3 months ahead.

Then, if it's Ilford you want and you want it quickly you will be

charged for their air-freight. Other foreign destinations are likely

to be like this also.

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I had a supply problem with Delta 100 4x5 in the UK last year - I

ordered 20 boxes and could only get 14 after the supplier

scavenged around.

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My intention for future trips is to purchase the film here and

FedEx it to a contact point at my destination. Loading, unloading

and processing is where I think the International traveller will find

the greater benefit from networking.

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Bon voyage ... WG

2 thumbs up for the initiative! If anyone needs help in Israel, drop

me a line. Be advised though, that 8x10 stuff is a special-order down

here, but I have good contacts with both Fuji, Ilford and Kodak

importers, so I think I can help..

Robert,

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Great idea! For anyone venturing into the warm, tropical north of Australia

please contact me and I'd be happy to help - no worries! We've also got a

good pro-lab and excellent scanning facilities here too.

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Trouble is, as Walter pointed out, LF film can be hard to come by in Australia

and it is expensive here, by international standards.

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Kind regards

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Peter Brown

Cairns - and all points north, west or south!

Queensland

Australia.

It sounds like we have some interest in this. Let me throw out some

implimentation ideas. Your suggestions will be most welcome.

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1. We need to establish some criteria for the database. Name, email

address (we probably should avoid actual mailing addresses), location

(city, country, continent), available local resources (film stocks and

sizes, chemistry and available lab services), local prices and

applicable tax and shipping charges if any. Typical lead time for

special order items.

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2. Could the LF forum establish a page for this database?

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3. We should probably have a feedback provision to track our

experiences and see how this process is working.

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Okay, there are some items to begin with. What do you all think?

If the LF forum cannot support it for some reason, I can certainly

help. My real job is as an IT consultant, and I have a few years of

web programming experience under my belt. I even have a couple of

personal web sites that I host so I could host it (I'm warning you,

my server isn't speedy but it's functional).

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I should know better by now than to volunteer for things like this,

but I've learned so much from this forum and this is one way I can

start to repay you all.

We may be overreacting to the actual situation - I recenly took the

same film through 9 different airport carry-on x-rays in 5 or so

countries, including the the Empire State bldg x-ray, without

effect. I was a big worrier beforehand. But it's nice to see the

comraderie. Large format really does draw a different breed.

i think that we need a new cathegorie in this forum, call: good lab at destination...

i'm going to india this month, in the city of chennai (madras), i will use roll film E100VS, and i'm wondering if i can find a good pro lab to

process my slides, any recommendation ?

Hi all

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I also willing to help here in Switzerland if sombody needs some Film

in my little good old Switzerland!

I can offer my help and assistance in Ferrara, Italy

Ciao

Count me in if you're coming to Tokyo. Fuji is pretty much

everywhere, but some Kodak and Ilford stuff might be best arranged

beforehand.

Count me in too. I have ready access to B&H and various other NY/NJ

supply houses for those visiting my area. But when I travel anywhere

in any way but driving it was a trial even before. Now it is

impossible.

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I process VERY often in motels. BTZS tubes and a portable darkroom

tent that I get into and even has a vent fan. I load in the tent and

can even watch TV with one eye while spinning. At home I do JOBO.

I stock a variety of films at a local Florist shop on I 595 here in

Fort Lauderdale, Fl. The shop is 10 minutes from the airport. I do it

more as a courtsey than to make money. We can accept any package for

you with total assurance. Access 7 days, with after normal business

hours availability by pager. Ask for me, Wayne @ 954-474-1055. Tell

Pat the owner your a friend of mine and you need an address.

Here in New York you can buy film off the shelf from B&H, Calumet, and

a few other places and rent darkroom time fairly easily to process

film or take it to a lab that will have it back in a day or less, all

pretty much without special arrangements (you might want to call

ahead, if you need film in an ultra-large format).

dg: the page

<a href =

"http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~qtluong/photography/lf/labs.html">

http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~qtluong/photography/lf/labs.html</a>

sollicits recommendations for local labs.

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All: I suggest posting in this thread if you are willing to help

in this cause. If the volume of postings warrants upgrading to

some better software, I'll see what can be done then. Or do you

think that this initiative, or others (such as "Meeting in person"

and "Local labs") would get a better response if the software was

already available ?

Q.-Tuan Luong:

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This question is sort of what comes before the chicken or the egg? :-)

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I suggest we keep on posting and if the thread continues you can put

the program in place, as it stands I think you should wait for a

little while before you spend more time on this. BTW good job and my

thanks for keeping up this site!

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ONTH anybody going to Queretato,Mexico is welcome to contact me. I

usually stock TMX, TMY and fuji ACROS in both 4x5 and 8x10. Any other

emulsion you can contact me and I will research the availability and

price. I will also have a full darkroom with facilities for regular

and alternative printing.

contact me at this address or at jorgegm@mail.com

Although not in San Francisco, there is a lab in Dublin, CA that I

use:

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Custom Photographic Services

6948-B Sierra Court

Dublin, CA 94568

925/828-6000

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CPS is an excellent all-around pro lab. They do about 95% of my work.

Fast turnaround on E-6 processing of all sizes.

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For processing & proofing color negatives I use:

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E & J Photo Lab

7748 Dublin Blvd

Dublin, CA 94568

925/829-0222

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E&J seems to have a wider selection of papers & sizes for proofing

than CPS. They also sell film, paper, albums, filing pages & a few

other similar items. (Not broad in scope like a camera store.)