AboutDavid Barry Expertise I have a lot of experience in most traditional forms of photography, so I`m quite knowledgeable about things like camera types and formats, techniques, exposure, film types, colour, filters, lighting, standard colour and black and white developing and printing.
I do not make recommendations about brands or models, and I am not a camera technician so I may not be able to tell you what is wrong with your equipment if it`s not working .
I also know a little about digital photography and imaging with scanners and digital cameras, so ask me and I will answer if I can.
Experience Experience in the area
I have been seriously involved in photography for over 25 years, including about 4 years as a professional, as well as 2 years providing administrative service to government photographers, requiring interpreting photographers' requirements and trade technicalities for those unfamiliar with such.
I have successfully trained several beginners in photography, helping them to become competent in basic techniques.
Organizations belong to:
None at present, but have been in about 4 camera clubs, having won or had placings in 2 club competitions.
Publications:
A lot of my photos have been in educational / training manuals, books and some photography magazines, as well as 2-3 dozen images been on the Web so far.
Education/Credentials:
Completed 4-year diploma in professional photography technique at Sydney's Technical College
Awards and Honors:
3 placings and / or merits in camera club competitions.
Expert: David Barry Date: 3/12/2007 Subject: 35 mm film development
Question I appreciate your fast response to my question as well as your assistance. i am beside myself as to what the problem might be. As I said some of the rolls of film taken with the same camera developed fine. I posted some of the pictures that I had described to you in my previous e-mail. Please feel free to take a look. www.unusedphotos.shutterfly.com, the password is unused.
I thank you so much.
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The text above is a follow-up to ...
-----Question-----
I recently had taken photos for a couples wedding whom had their photographer back out at the last minute. I am not a professional I love taking photos as a hobby using film and digital cameras. My question is after sending my film camera to an online website to develop and post, I found three of the six rolls of film had some photos that were blocked out with a dark box. Some of the photos had them at the top, a small line at the bottom, side, or halfway through the photo. They were not on all the photos in the roll though. What causes this? Some of the photos were perfectly clear on one side and the other half was blocked out! Please help! Thank you
-----Answer-----
To be honest, I'm not 100% sure I understand the symptoms you describe.
At a GUESS, it may not necessarily be a developing problem, but a camera exposure problem. But then again it could be developing.
This may be awkward, but would you be able to have some of the worst examples put on a website and let me know so I can visually examine them and possibly be able to work out the problem.
Otherwise, not sure I can answer this one.
Answer First photo - frame 02 : Only 'fault' I can see in this is some small white marks like scratches just to the right of the female. Maybe a developing problem - the developer possibly doesn't clean their machines as often as they should, or are careless in handling film, enabling it to be scratched.
If it's the only pic with such marks, or only a few, then I suspect that's the issue. If all your problems shots have same mark in same spot, then it could mean a bit of dirt or something in the camera scratching the film as it is wound through the camera between shots.
As for shots 2 to 7 (frames 06 - 15.jpg), sorry to say it looks more like a camera / exposure problem than developing. The symptom is very much like what happens when the wrong shutter speed for use with flash is set on the camera. The shutter speed needs to be slower than a certain speed to properly synchronise with flash.
The fact that only some of the pics were affected maybe you inadvertently changed the settings during the occasion, or somehow the camera was bumped, or somehow tampered with and you didn't notice.
But then looking at frames 17, 18, 19, 03 & 11.jpg, suggests the problem may be even more serious, a more long term, intermittent jamming half-way open of the camera's shutter mechanism. I would say you may need to take your camera to a camera technician for a service or at least inspection. Take some of the shots with you to show as examples. Have you been experiencing problems with your camera on other occasions recently ?
