Blotchy marks on negatives

[matthew_smeal1]

<p>Hi everyone,<br>

Has anyone had experience with this? I recently returned from Cambodia and found a lot of marks on the negs. It's not on all frames, nor all rolls but I have never experienced this in many years of developing film.<br>

<img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/17773993-lg.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="1500" /><br>

The process is Ilford HP5 developed in ID-11 1+3 @ 20 deg., the same process I've used for years. At first I thought it was simply dry marks but nope. Condensation maybe? I was in and out of air conditioning and it was crazy hot and humid but I would have thought it would be more uniform across all frames and film shot if that was the case. Plus, I've done a lot of work in Asia in the past (and Africa) and never found this. <br>

Other rolls that came with me on the trip but I didn't use have since turned out to be fine now that I've used them back at home.<br>

Any thoughts?<br>

Thanks in advance.<br>

Matt.</p>

[chris_waller]

<p>I am inclined to think that this is due to moisture condensing on the film, or possibly air-bubbles sticking to the film during the early stages of development. Was it 35mm or 120 film?</p>

[matthew_smeal1]

<p>Thanks Chris, it was 35mm. I tend to agree with you about condensation. At a 1+3 ratio needing 20 minutes in the tank, and agitation every minute, I would have hoped that any air bubbles preventing development would have been sorted out. </p>

[tim_bradshaw1]

<p>I suspect that this is condensation of some kind, and it probably occurs on frames that were <em>not</em> in the canister (or spool etc if not 35mm) at the point where whatever big temperature / humidity change caused it happened. So, really I'm guessing that there was condensation happening inside the camera, and that this affected the parts of the film that were surrounded by air at that point.</p>

 

[john_shriver]

<p>Looks more like water drops when drying. Could the water in Cambodia have lots of mineral content, such that you needed more surfactant in the final rinse before drying? Such issues would be visible by reflected light on the emulsion side.<br>

I know in Ohio you just have to use distilled water for the final Photo-Flo rinse, the tap water has way too much mineral content.</p>

[matthew_smeal1]

<p>Thanks Tim, I was thinking the same thing. It would explain why it was not on all negatives. Perhaps, as you say, just on the film out of the canister but not on the take-up spool. Maybe changing lenses contributed too, letting in a bit of warm, moist air. Not sure how to get around it next time but I'll certainly be more aware of it.</p>

 

[matthew_smeal1]

<p>Hi John,<br>

That's a good thought but I developed the film when I got back to Sydney. I've never had any problem with that before which is why I'm a bit confused and concerned. It's pointing to a condensation issue but if I had developed in the field I would have immediately suspected the water (especially considering where I was....).</p>