A Walk into the Forest of Small Things

[Ms. Toad]

This is my second assignment for Photography II (the second darkroom class in the BFA in photography).

Quite the challenge! I bought a new lens for my 70s Nikkormat (https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/105mm-f4.htm). It's a beauty!

But simultaneously, I started loading my own film. Then I developed a light leak and something scraping my negatives - not quite simultaneous with the new lens and film loading. The first roll of self-loaded film shot with the new lens was fine. The second had heavy scrapes across the bottom - the same edge with the light leak.

Clues:

* On examining the inside of the camera, there are small chips in the seal of that edge (no idea when they started - but it is possible a chip worked its way into the felt on the film canister and scratched the film).
* The spring clips on the door to the bulk film loader aren't tight (although the lever latch is) (Ironically, the tight lever latch is on the same side as the one-sided light leak.)
* I swapped out bulk film loaders and ran a couple of (too) short rolls and shot them using two different cameras. Unfortunately, I didn't include enough frames for a true test. . . . to be continued.

As to the images - there were severe scrapes on the bottom left photo and the start of a scrape on the leaf with drops on it which looked like a crease in the negative on the print. I made those far less noticeable by dodging the impacted area during the entire initial exposure, de-focusing the enlarger (raising it several inches), then burning the same area for slightly longer than the initial exposure.

I left the prints that show the damage at school - I'll upload photos tomorrow for anyone interested in detective work.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Wow, my dear Ms. Toad!

It's quite a lot of work you're doing. Of course, the BFA calls for this. You've turned into a sleuth, or maybe you already had some tendencies for that!

The photos you posted are lovely. Very worthy of the bachelor's degree you'll get.

I will definitely want to see your detective work tomorrow, or whenever you get to it.

[Ms. Toad]

3. Thank you!

It took about 18 hours of darkroom work to create those. I tend to be a perfectionist, so I'm pretty sure I create about twice as many test strips as anyone else to get the contrast and exposure just right.

And - sleuthing does come naturally to me. It's a lot like puzzles that have kept my mind occupied my entire life. I'll try to post the original images tomorrow - but I've got 6 hours of classes before I get a break!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. Do take your time about posting your originals! I'll be around to see them when you do. nt

[usonian]

2. What a response to a challenge. Awesome of you.

I was going to use my ancient F2 but the seals were just shredding and falling off, so I postponed that experiment until I can find someone to replace the seals.

When I got my outfit, I chose the 55mm for all-purpose and macro work. I still use it, but on the new camera body (a Z-5, via the FTZ adapter) The 105 is a fabulous lens and I actually got the latest incarnation of it (from required IRA distributions).

I really look forward to using the F2 once again, and thanks for giving me the motivation to have it brought up to speed.

I’ll look at your photos closely later. It’s very late and I had an eye exam and did some shopping today, 100 miles driving.

[Ms. Toad]

4. This one is an EL.

I've got another one where the shredding seals is much more obvious (without looking I don't recall the model - it has the battery hidden under the mirror or some weird place). But when I was looking for solutions, someone suggested using a single strand of yarn to replace shredding felt seals. I'll see how the next roll goes before I give that any serious thought.

These two are actually my spouse's cameras. My original camera was a Pentax SP 1000. If I can't get the EL to stop leaking light, I've got a battery on the way so I can use the Pentax, although I really want to continue using the lens.

[usonian]

6. Best of luck with your efforts.

I can look up ways to update the seals. Not right now!

Hang on to the Nikkor. It’s usable on the latest Z-series cameras.

I think there’s also a damper on the mirror that is falling apart. I’ll check on that shortly.