Trying to proceed with plans for my trip to Laos.
For a number of reasons, I've ruled out digital as a viable option. To
save on the digital vs. film points I'll just touch on a few ones.
Firstly, I don't currently own a laptop and I don't want to have to
deal with taking one to Laos. Not to mention battery issues. As much as
I'd love to maintain a website of my experiences and include current
photos I just don't think it's an option (well the comments are still
fine, just not the photos).
So with the choice being made to stick with film (a decision I like for
various other reasons as well), I can focus on issues around that.
Primarily at the moment I'm trying to figure out if I should just take
over all the film I'll need (and then how much?) or try to find sources
of film once I'm over there. The other issue is in terms of processing
while I'm over there or holding on to everything until I get back.
In terms of how much film to take, I would certainly want to take a
number of rolls over to get myself started no matter what. I'm not
certain though that I'd want to rely on having a good supply of film
once I'm in Laos. But if I want to take as much as I'll need then I
really start running into the question of how much to take? Where I'll
be away for at least 6 months and possibly much longer depending on how
much travelling I do after my placement, it's hard to gauge how much
film I'll need.
When I stayed in Russia I didn't shoot very much at all (averaged about
1 roll per month) but that shooting was very concentrated. That was 6
years ago and I find I shoot much more now. Also, I have to account
that the Russian winter definitely impacted my desire to get out an
shoot.
When I travelled in Belgium I shot 10 rolls of film in under a week.
But this was also primarily a photographic trip for me.
I've also managed to go through 6 rolls in a few hours walking around
town and 3 rolls in about an hour on another occasion.
I'd say the best way to categorise my shooting is that I tend to go
through lengthy periods when I don't shoot and then concentrated
periods of much higher volume shooting. This makes it really difficult
to estimate my film needs. Especially when I find that I'm most
motivated to get out and shoot when I travel.
What may help me is a possible visa situation. I may have to routinely
make trips to Thailand (I know, a terrible hardship here) to leave on
one visa and return on another if my visa for the entire period can't
be arranged in time. I spoke with someone who had returned from Laos
and he had to make the trip once a month for 4 months before his proper
visa was worked out. If this turns out to be the case for me then I may
be able to find film supplies in Thailand.
Then the other question is processing. Considering the amount of travel
I may do afterwards, limiting exposure to x-rays would definitely be
good. I've had pretty bad luck with getting hand inspections done so I
don't want to rely on that. I certainly wouldn't expect to find decent
E-6 processing in Laos (let alone any). Again though, Thailand may
offer a solution here. I do see there is a Kodak Q-lab in Bangkok which
should have pretty good standards given the requirements that need to
be fulfilled for that status. I see a few gambles here though. I have
really good and reliable E-6 locally. Bringing back all my film means I
expose it to numerous x-rays and will have kept the film in a hot
climate for many months (although I do believe I'll have access to
refrigeration in Laos). If I have it processed overseas then I run the
risk of dealing with an untested lab. Also, mounted slides take up much
more room so I'd probably want to mail them back home which would
create another risk.
Any comments or suggestions?
Andrew "Frugal" Dacey
frugal@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.tildefrugal.net/
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