Nowadays we carry everything with us camera in your pocket thanks to mobile phones. Despite this, there are still nostalgic people who continue to use digital cameras, and doubly nostalgic people who have not left behind traditional film cameras. In fact, in recent years, after a previous decline in sales, the latter have come back into fashion. Many people prefer to take such cameras with them on trips, but they forget that if they are traveling by plane, they need to be careful when selling film through a storage locker. airport control.
They act through X-rays They x-ray our luggage to make sure there is nothing prohibited inside. If in the said luggage we carry a camera and camera rollit is possible that he will receive damage that, as it develops, will turn into some kind of fog You can see it very clearly in the photographs.
This doesn’t always happen when reels pass through airport security, but there are certain factors that add to the danger. For this reason, Kodak has developed in recent years guide to guidelines allow film to pass through security without damaging our photographs. You just need to take a few details into account. But let’s start from the beginning, what is the risk?
Light and Silver: Keys to Photography
Photographic films are made up of several layers with different functions, but it is the gelatin layer that is responsible for the risk of the reels being tripped at an airport security checkpoint.
It consists of a plastic base coated with gelatin in which they are immersed. silver halide crystals. When light hits these crystals, the silver becomes silver metallicmuch darker.
This light, bouncing off the objects we want to immortalize, enters through the aperture and shutter, which control both the amount of light that enters and the time for which it does so. Areas where light hits the crystals will be darkened metallic silver effect. On the other hand, those that are not exposed to light will not suffer from any impact. This is how a negative image is formed, which then needs to be developed with the help of others. chemical reactions.
Even if the photo has already been taken, the film still remains. photosensitive. For this reason, coils are stored in dark containers and exposure to light should always be avoided. But also to other types of radiation, such as X-rays.
The danger of drums at airport control
When X-rays hit a photographic film and are able to penetrate the box in which the reel is located, an effect similar to light occurs. The result is a kind of fog or the appearance of streaks, which, of course, destroy photographs that have not yet been developed.
But this doesn’t always happen. According to Kodak, there are three things to consider. On the one side, scanner type which is used at this airport. In Europe and the United States, scanners have begun to be used in recent years. CT scan, whose images of the inside of luggage are much clearer. This is, of course, very effective, but also very powerful. So much so that they can damage the film in one go. If it’s a regular x-ray scanner, you can usually only go through it once. Nevertheless, damage is cumulative; so if we’re going to get through several airportsextreme precautions must be taken.
Finally, the type of film also affects x-ray exposure. rays On the other hand, if ISO less than 800no obvious damage usually occurs.
NASA research
NASA itself has conducted studies to test the effects of radiation in photographs. In their case, it’s not about getting the reels through airport security, but about cosmic rays who will be in constant contact with the camera.
These studies analyze the amount of fog produced on various photographic films exposed to radiation. His conclusion, generally speaking, is that the haze will be stronger in negative films and, as we have already seen, higher than ISO.
What can we do with drums at an airport security checkpoint?
The main recommendation from experts is to not allow films to go through security checks, especially if they are filmed CT scan. To do this, they should not be carried in checked baggage, since there we lose control over them. It’s best to carry them with you. hand luggage and, having approached the control, ask the person in charge, if possible, to analyze it manually.
This should always be done, but especially if these are films. ISO above 800 or they will undergo various tests. Finally, Kodak also recommends that, if possible, you develop your photos before traveling. You can’t always do this, so the best option is usually the one above.
Finally, if it couldn’t be avoided, NASA also found in its study that fog can be deleted some photos. But it’s not easy, and they don’t always look good. Therefore, with photographs, as with everything in life: it is better to be safe.
Source: Hiper Textual
