The Tyranny of All Those Frames

[Doug A]

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I am firmly committed to 35mm for my B&W film photography. I like working with my Barnack cameras, I like the Hewes reels I use for developing my film, I like being able to develop the film in 250ML of the solutions, I like scanning the 35mm negatives with my BEOON setup, I like the 1:1.5 aspect ratio of the images and I like being able to see the grain in my 8x12 prints. There is just one thing I don't like - all those frames on a roll of film.

 

As of this evening, I have 10 exposed frames of film in the IIIg and 6 exposed frames of film in my "new" 1941 IIIc. My friend who is a builder would like to see the photos of a new house in my neighborhood that I took with the IIIg. And I would like to see the test shots I took to check the rangefinder of the "new" camera. But I still have 14 unexposed frames in the IIIg and 18 unexposed frames in the IIIc (24 exposure rolls). And I have no good ideas for what to do with them.

 

I know that the answer is simple. Just take the film out of the cameras and develop it, blank frames and all, but I have trouble doing that. It just seems so wasteful. I don't remember having this problem when I was shooting MF. I could always think of something to do with the last few frames. But 18 frames???

 

I'm going to try loading a couple of FILCA cassettes with just 12 exposures. There is still some waste involved because the leader and tail end are just as long with 12 exposures as with 36, but after I've loaded the cassettes it will be out of my hands. 

 

And to think that back in my digital days I'd have banged off the 32 unused frames in five minutes.

[mikemgb]

Put the camera in the changing bag, cut off the exposed frames and develop them. Cut a new leader on what is left and continue shooting, you will lose 3-5 frames doing this but you will feel good knowing you have not thrown away most of a roll.

[Jeff S]

For the sake of consistent development, you'd be better off exposing those remaining frames, not leaving them unexposed, even aiming at the ground. Wasteful, but purposeful.... in a sense.

 

I prefer, however, to patiently fill the roll as shots materialize. Seems your rush for digital shots has transferred to a rush for film development.

 

Jeff

[250swb]

Shoot more film, seriously, as soon as you get precious about how many are left or how many you've used the process is dictating to you rather than you dictating to it. So to avoid conflict the easy way leave the house with an unexposed roll and come back with an exposed roll, the last few frames can be photographing something you've never considered before, exposure experiments, or better still use the film by 'working' your main subject harder, so when you think you've finished start again.

[TomB_tx]

I agree - I find 36 exposures hard to use up many times, and often use them up just experimenting. So I typically load bulk film in short rolls (usually 20, but sometimes 10), as I'm often just testing an old camera I've acquired or worked on. Having shot film for 6 decades I'm just as stingy with exposures when shooting digital!

[M9reno]

Have you considered FHKOO or FCKOO single exposure holders for your Barnacks?  If you are using both IIIg and IIIc, then you would need one of each.  No one uses these things now, and even collectors seem to shun them, so they're (relatively) cheap.

 

Snip off frame by frame, place in the holder, load the camera, all inside a changing bag or darkroom.

 

See:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FCKOO-Leica-Leitz-Single-frame-holder-for-leica-Ic-IIc-IIIc-IIIf-/172869874021?hash=item283fd8f165:g:nyoAAOSw-89ZUBVV

[Michael Geschlecht]

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Hello Doug,

 

Back in the 20th Century when you went to a photo store you could buy your films in 36, 24 & 12 exposure rolls.

 

Imagine that.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

[TomB_tx]

I recall a photography class where the final was to shoot a 12 exp. roll of slides, and all 12 had to be shown to the class (projected). The idea being to shoot so no shot was wasted.

[earleygallery]

Take photos of people you know and like.

[Michael Geschlecht]

I recall a photography class where the final was to shoot a 12 exp. roll of slides, and all 12 had to be shown to the class (projected). The idea being to shoot so no shot was wasted.

 

Hello Tom,

 

Imagine that.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

[Guest]

...

Already photographed all the valuables in your home for household contents insurance?

Maybe many new items have been added since your last photo date, or maybe they have not been photographed on all sides.

There is so much to photograph, so that never should left unexposed parts of any film.