I developed some film today (TMAX 400 in Hc-110 dil B for 6 mins.) and noticed some very odd formations within the picture areas of the negatives. They basically look like bubbles, with one center and what appears to be a chain in a circle. I know it sounds weird, but I can't think of a better way to describe it! But what's stranger is that it's only on a few negs and there is an image...it didn't ruin it. I thought originally that it was just a shadow, but being so intricate, and not being anywhere near a fence, it seems very unlikely. Also I did do these at night, using the camera's bulb setting for 1-2 mins each exposure. Could it be an error in development, i.e. bubbles, or an exposure problem, or some sort of light leak, or just a fluke? I haven't made a proof sheet yet but I'm certain that it will probably show up on the print. If it's something I'm doing, I want to be able to correct it.

-- Erin Conroy (ericon_22@hotmail.com), December 12, 1999

Answers

Could one of several things.... 1. During development you didn't tap the tank solidly to get get rid of air bubbles (this has a name but I can't remember - aeration?) 2. A drying mark... you should be able to see this sitting on the surface of the film, most likely the shiny side (non emulsion) 3. Out of focus lights in your night scene.

-- Nigel Smith (nlandgl@eisa.net.au), December 13, 1999.

sounds like lens flare to me, especially since you mentioned doing a long, bulb exposure at night. were there hot sources of light in the picture, streetlamps, headlights, etc? what kind of lens were you using, did you have on a filter (extra surface for flaring), and what aperture did you use?

--brad daly

-- brad daly (bwdaly@scott.net), December 31, 1999.