7 Countries, 2 Weeks, 8 X-Ray Machines, and a Leica M6

[joel aron]

I'm back home.

<br>

<br>

I wanted to follow up on my quest for finding out what the best way is to travel

with a Leica, and face the music with every airport x-ray machine operator. I

brought only my Leica M6, the 35 summicron f2 asph, and the 50 summicron f2 dr.

<br>

<br>

I'll start by saying that I had 25 rolls in a plastic zip-loc bag. All film

cans were out of their plastic container. I split each film type, based on asa,

in their own little zip-lock bag, and marked the bag for it's asa. I figured

this would explain in some way to the x-ray operator that I was serious.. like

that got me anywhere!

<br>

<br>

So, leaving San Francisco for London.. I handed the bag to the TSA agent, and

shot her a smile, and gave her my begging eyes. Kindly, she passed it to the

guard on the other side of the x-ray machine after a quick inspection of the bag

without opening it. With a huge, "thank you!", I managed to get the film past

it's first x-ray exam.

<br>

<br>

In London, I shot as much as possibly, getting it developed at 'Snappy Snaps!',

and buying lots of Delta 400 and 100 to replace what I shot. I should of

listened to the woman at Snappy', in that she suggested grabbing a few rolls of

c-41 process b/w film (Ilford XP2 Super 400). This will come back to haunt me

later.

<br>

<br>

London to Paris. Not a freakin chance in hell. The friendly man told me that

their machines are tested by Kodak, and they are safe to asa3200. Riiiight.

<br>

<br>

Developed again in Paris, and began to notice that the only film available was

touristy color crap... had to buy some 400 color Fuji. Not a place to be found

that could develop my black and white in under 7 days.

<br>

<br>

Paris to Madrid. No dice. First off, I'm an American begging in english to a

French x-ray operator. Odds were against me. 20 rolls.. zap. Only 8 rolls

were Delta 400.

<br>

<br>

Madrid.. developed 3 rolls of the Fuji 'tourist' color, and as expected, weak

color compared to Provia. Not it's getting harder to find a place to develop

black & film!

<br>

<br>

Madrid to Malmo.. I love Spain. Zip-Lock handed around the x-ray machine.

It would have been a very happy flight to Malmo Sweden, had I not broke my thumb

on the bus to the plane on the tarmac, trying to open a window.

<br>

<br>

No film developed or purchased in Malmo. Began to get scared about heading to

Munich, and Moscow. I was down to 10 rolls, all Delta 100. I had 8 rolls of

developed Delta 400, and 2 rolls of Delta 100.. and in dire need to get them

developed.

<br>

<br>

Drove from Malmo to Copenhagen, Denmark for the weekend. There was film galore.

I even found goggles for my 50 summi' DR! Go figure. (thank you Photographica!)

<br>

<br>

Copenhagen to Munich, ZAP... through the x-ray machine it all went.

<br>

<br>

In Munich, I found (thanks to this forum!), "Blow Up". They developed all of my

black and white! They were a small hole in the wall lab. Sadly, they didn't

sell film. I ended up buying 5 rolls of Ilford XP2 Super 400 (c41). Next stop,

Moscow.

<br>

<br>

Munich to Moscow. Zap again. At least this time, I was not passing through

exposed film. *phew*.

<br>

<br>

There was *no* place to get film developed in Moscow. At least a place that

could do it for me in a few days. The language barrier was brutal. So much for

film being universal. With 2 days to play after the work tour was over, I

stumbled on to a camera booth in an underground mall just outside Red Square. I

was *shocked* to see 3 rolls of Provia 400, and one Velvia 100. I bought it

all, and headed to the square, and rode the metro for the two days I had. I

shot the rest of my Delta 100's, and prepared to head home. I knew that there

was a layover in London.. so that freaked me a bit, in that I may have a double

scan on my hands.

<br>

<br>

Moscow to London. I didn't even try. After 4 days of not being able to look

anyone in the eye, I just sucked it in, watched it pass under the flaps to the

x-ray machine.

<br>

<br>

In London, I was faced, as expected, with another security line. I begged the

guy, and he looked at me, and said, "so you are prepared to stand here, while we

swab each can of film... this could take 15 minutes". I had a 5 hour layover,

so I nodded yes, and he said, "okay then!". The swabbing only took about 5

minutes. 18 rolls of film.

<br>

<br>

My first night back, I developed every roll of black and white I had. I was

most excited to see the roll of Delta 100 that I marked "snow". It was a roll

that started the trip with me, and lasted all the way to be my last roll of

black and white..on the last evening in Moscow. I was so worried when I pulled

the film off the spool to dry, when I saw black frames, instead of full images..

then, as the neg dried...I remembered in my jet-lag haze, that I shot in the

blinding snow that fell on my last day in Russia.

<br>

Happy to be home, and happy that 47 rolls of film developed perfectly, with no

x-ray damage at all. The scanning is taking..as expected.. forever.

<br>

A few images from the trip. Thanks for reading, and thanks for all of your tips

for this journey. It helped so very much, and I appreciate it!

<br>

<br>

cheers,

-Joel

 

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<b>Red Square in the April Snow</b> Moscow, Russia

<br>

<a href=" title="Photo

Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/238/458430692_58df5d865a.jpg"

width="500" height="319" alt="April Snow in Red Square" /></a>

<br>

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<b>Metropolitain Urban Love</b> Paris, France

<br>

<a href=" title="Photo

Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/219/459153175_f9054c36e5.jpg"

width="500" height="356" alt="Metropolitain Urban Love" /></a>

<br>

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<b>The Glitter Man of the Montmartre</b> Paris, France

<br>

<a href=" title="Photo

Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/219/459291105_e2126f04fb.jpg"

width="500" height="346" alt="The Glitter Man of the Montmartre" /></a>

[shoebox]

Nice pictures. I really like the first one.

[stephen_w.]

Great story.

[neilambrose]

<p>Joel - thank you. A brilliant story and even better pictures; I'm very impressed. I'm off to

Paris for a week with my M6 tomorrow, so your story is well timed. I hope I'll have similar

luck.</p>

[sw12dz]

Great pics and narrative. Thanks for sharing the adventure.

[35mmdelux]

trying to get things done overseas is usually a hassel for the traveller. Just wondering why you didn't take more film or develop B&W yourself? Double-roll plastic holder and a few bags of dev/mixer?

 

great narrative. Thks much.

[joel aron]

Ya know, when I got to Copenhagen, I almost bought developer and a tank. Since I was on a whirl-wind tour for work, packing was pretty tight. As it was, my main suitcase was 30kilo, and I was only allowed a single carry on. Sadly, ended up packing my Billingham bag in the suitcase, and wearing my camera for every flight.

[35mmdelux]

Joel, 30 Kilos is what I take w/ me to Latin America and wind up only using half the stuff. My one carry aboard is a Lowepro mini backpack where I fitted my M7, 2 lenses, and 50 rolls of film (exchanged for smaller Tamrac 7).

 

I'm cutting down next time. They can wash my stuff wherever I'm staying. my 2 cents. YMMV.

 

Best - Paul

[joel aron]

...laundry service at the hotel in Denmark.. $120usd. :)

 

My catch was, I had to carry a laptop on board w/ me for work. It was my presentation tool, and it had to make it safe to each stop. I was luck to even have time to shoot! ...but boy, did I!

 

I had the option of taking my Tamrac that holds the laptop, but it was too big, and wanted to show up at my presentations with something a little more 'day-job' than a backpack. Next time I go for shooting, it will be all about the shoot. Now.. also, keep in mind that you were traveling to Latin America...mmm...warm weather. :) I went to freezing Europe in the early spring. I ended up buying a fleece pull over in an attempt to keep warm!

 

There is always next time!

[bob soltis]

Very nice images with an interesting tale.

 

Thanks for the post.

[Troll]

A GREAT post (and you won't find me saying that very often). How long were you gone, and how much film did you actually shoot?

[michael s.]

Way to go, Joel.

 

Look fwd to seeing more photos -- many more, I hope.

[joel aron]

Thank you so much eveyrone!

 

47 rolls in total. All 36's, so that's 1,692 shutter clicks. In all, I think that about 100 were throw away shots to make it look like I was taking a picture of something that I wasn't ;)

 

I was on a talk tour for software that our company uses, and it started in London, so I spent a week in London with my wife for a little holiday, and she took off for home when I went on my 16 day tour that me more in airports and hotels.

 

Many more photos on the way. i'll put them in my flickr pool, as it's faster there to spread them around.

 

thanks again!!

 

J

[christopher_a._junker1]

Great narrative and greater pics. I really like the Red Square picture. As you made no mention, I assume there were no equipment problems with your 1,692 clicks. I'm having weather just like Red Square here in Western Pennsylvania.

[Nowhereman]

So what's the point of all this? I travel extensively all over the worls and, when I was

shooting film (until last July) had absolutely no problems whatsoever with film through x-

ray machines for hand luggage: no need to make a game out of it of whether they'll hand

inspect or not -- so snide comments like, <i>London to Paris. Not a freakin chance

in hell. The friendly man told me that their machines are tested by Kodak, and they are

safe to asa3200. Riiiight</i> just appear plain silly.

<p>

As for Paris, it's a matter of knowing where to go: ProPhot in the 9th arrondissement (rue

Condorcet) sells all types of films and I know three pro labs that will develop B&W film and

make contact prints overnight. Really, I don't seem much point in this long posting.

<p>

--Mitch/Perth

[thidglance]

Beautiful images - I had the same worries recently with a trip the UK, scanned at every stop

between Australia and the UK. 400UC from kodak shot with my M6. I processed everything

back home and scanned in bulk at the lab - no worries with fogging. I wonder if we don't

really have too worry anymore ?

[stephen_w.]

"47 rolls in total. All 36's, so that's 1,692 shutter clicks."

 

Time to go digital?

 

I travel a lot, but much longer term, and if I shot that much is such a short period of time, even I, a complete digital whatever luddite, I'd get an M8 or a Canon 5D, a wide to short tele zoom, and a fast lens for the 5D. BTW, I just started to convince myself to do it after writing the previous sentence and looking at the prints that Nels sent me, which just arrived, just beautiful. It may make me abandon the Leica system for what I bought it for: guaranteed quality in a small system package.

[paulr]

Laughing my a** off. Done the same around Asia many times. Been off for a year now

other

then doing some time in India. I've forgotten whats its like to be a road Zombie.

 

Surprised you got any hand inspection at Heathrow, if it was Heathrow. Ive gotten slapped

around pretty good by airport security there.

 

Look forward seeing what you put on flickr. Delta stuff looks like it scans pretty good.

 

P/

[joel aron]

Mitch,

 

Forgive me for not being as worldly as you are. I like to come across as a person that shares information, and experiences. Before I started my journey, I posted here with a few honest questions. I found that there were many that shared the same questions, and were curious of my adventure when I returned.

 

I am a writer, photographer, and an established visual effects artist for motion pictures, and in I espress my art the way I know how. Today, it was in the form of a short story of what I encountered in my travels for my first time with my M6, and to share some of the images, and so many do here.

 

Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts.

 

J

[jeff_plomley1]

Joel:

 

Cheers for the feedback. Love image #2 and #3. What lenses, what film, and what scanner?

[joel aron]

Stephen,

 

I am digital ;) It was a huge pill to swallow before this trip, as I wanted to travel light. I was about to pack the 5D, 24-70L, 100-400L, and hit the road.. then I felt how heavy my bag was.

 

..and plus, I'm in love with film. :) I'll have an M8 as soon as they get it to their standards. :)

 

j

[joel aron]

35 Summicron-m F2 ASPH

 

#1 = Delta 100

#2 = Delta 400

#3 = Delta 400

 

Nikon 9000 ED

4k scans for 8x10 prints

[jeff_plomley1]

Wow. I'm surprised the Delta 400 scans do not show more grain, especially since Nikon Scan

does not allow GEM to be used for B&W. I've been using XP-2 Super and 400CN since it

scans so nicely...perhaps I will give Delta 400 a try. What are you developing in?

[joel aron]

The 400's where developed w/ by 'Blow Up' in Munich, and they used Ilford developer.. had a tough time understanding his German.

 

If you look at the full rez versions, ...oh, there's grain!

 

At home, I used Tmax Dev on all of my B&W from Moscow.

 

I'm going to try that 400CN this weekend.. curious how it compares to the XP-2 super.

[einars1]

good story, nice pictures! but like someone else mentioned i have traveled with film often and haven't had any problems with xray machines. also, i find it easier to just get everything developed when i get home, as not to waste time running around arguing in another language.