Entire row of negatives washed out - My fault or Walgreens?

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Question:

Hi all!. I'm taking a B&W film photography class at my college!. My professor requires that we take 8 rolls of film a month and have the film processed only (meaning just getting the negatives, no prints) at some place that with a photo center!. Walgreens is the closest store to my house with a photo center and I just got back from picking my negatives up!. I was reviewing them and trying to decide which pictures I'd like to develop I have almost a whole roll of film that seems to be washed out, like I turned in a blank roll of film!. In some of the frames you can see faint outlines of my kitten (the subject of the roll of film), but not much else!.

This month I'm focusing on photographing animals!. My kitten, who was the subject of the washed out film, was playing around on my bed one evening so I figured he'd be as good as subject as any!. I have 6 windows in my room - 3 windows on the two walls my bed is pressed up against - and the sun was setting!. I lifted up my blinds as far as they would go to let some natural light in and to get some shadows going!. I didn't point the camera directly into the sunlight (I know better than that), but is it possible that I let too much light in!? My professor gave us a little guide on aperture and shutter speed settings and according to the chart, I should have (and did have) my aperture at f/11 and my shutter speed at 1/125!. Is it possible, however, that I did something wrong!? Or is it possible that Walgreens managed to mess up some how!?

I'm kind of peeved that I'm now behind and have to take an extra roll of film!. However, if you think it was I who messed up, could you me some advice or tips so I don't screw up again!? Thanks! =o)Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

First of all, if you're just looking at the negatives, it's hard to tell whether the pictures were actually "washed out!." Washed out pictures are from an overexposure!. If the film was overexposed, the negatives would look really dense (dark)!. If the negatives are "thin" and look really faint or light, that means the film was underexposed!. Remember that negatives are just that!.!.!."negative!." Light reacts with the silver halide on the film, and so film that was exposed to more light will be darker!.

You need to know what the ISO of the film was!. The ISO is the film's light sensitivity!. An aperture setting at f/11, with the shutter speed at 1/125 might work well for some films in daylight conditions (the "Sunny 16 Rule") but depending on the ISO of the film, you might need a much longer exposure indoors!. In fact, I'm thinking you probably underexposed the film!. Even with the windows open, there probably wasn't enough light!. Especially if it was late in the day!. To give you an example, even with all the lights on in the room, most of my indoor pictures need a 6 second exposure!.

And of course, if you use a shutter speed longer than 1/50 or so, you need to use a tripod or the picture will be blurry!.

Anyway, I'm thinking more than likely you underexposed the film!.

EDIT: Thanks, Steve! But actually I usually don't need a light meter!. I've been able to estimate the exposure outdoors using Sunny 16 and I get pretty good results!. But yeah, for taking indoor pictures it can be very tricky!. I'm getting better at taking long exposures, but that was after a lot of practice and trial and error!. If she is describing "light" or "blank" negatives, then I'm definitely thinking the film was underexposed!.

EDIT (again): Okay, it sounds like the "chart" your teacher gave you might be for the "Sunny 16 Rule!." That's a guideline for how to get a good exposure on a clear sunny day!. But you need to know the ISO rating of your film!. Basically, the Sunny 16 Rule says that you will set the shutter speed to the same number as the ISO of your film, or the closest available number!. So let's say you use Kodak Plus-X film, which has an ISO of 125!. So if you're taking pictures on a bright, clear day, you would set your aperture to f/16 and the shutter speed to 1/100!. If it's really bright, you might even close down the aperture to f/22 if your camera has it!. If you're in light shade or if it's kind of a hazy day, you might open the aperture to f/11!. If it's partly cloudy with weak shadows, you might open the aperture to f/8!. You can also leave the aperture the same and change the shutter speed, but that can get a little tricky!. It takes some practice, but after a while, you CAN learn to judge the light and estimate exposure without a light meter!.

Now the problem is that the Sunny 16 Rule doesn't work well in low light!. Remember, the light indoors is MUCH weaker than sunlight!. To take a picture indoors without a flash, you will need an exposure of several seconds!. Even with 400 ISO film, you usually need an exposure of about 3 seconds!. But again, it depends on the lighting and the ISO of your film!. Unless you have a super sensitive high ISO film, like 800 ISO or something, than 1/125 at f/11 was just way too low and probably didn't even expose the film!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I have to agree with "gateway"!. This sounds like an underexposure issue to me!. I don't know what kind of "little guide" you were given and used, but 125 at f11 INDOORS sounds MUCH too fast of a shutter speed and too small an aperture for these conditions!.

Does your camera not have any metering function!? Or are you not allowed to use a handheld light meter!? Even the best pros in the world use metering instruments of one type or the other most of the time!. Guessing at exposures or using some kind of generic guide is a sure fire recipie for disaster!.

steveWww@QuestionHome@Com

Exposure charts are great and everything, but you should trust the light meter in your camera to calculate the correct exposure, if so equipped!. Without knowing the light conditions, I can't tell whether your exposure was correct!. It is possible that Walgreen's made a mistake!. The last time I went to Walgreen's, I was assured in my decision to never have a roll of film developed in a pharmacy!. However, it is more likely that your exposure was wrong!. You should have your film developed by a professional lab, if you want or expect professional results!. At the very least, a trained photographic lab technician would be able to tell you why your negatives came out fogged or blown!. At Walgreen's, all the person running the machine can tell you is the negatives didn't come out!.

If your camera is equipped with a light meter, use it and remember what it chose for the exposure!. Together with your as shot ISO, compare what the camera chooses vs!. the settings used from the chart your teacher gave you!. If they match, great - it's Walgreen's fault!. If not, you likely didn't match the correct exposure settings with your as shot ISO rating on the chart!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

if the film was mostly clear other than little bits of detail that means that it was greatly underexposed!. based on what you are saying, it was probably about 3 stops under exposed!.

There is a slim chance that it was walgreens that did it but most likely, it was a matter of exposure issues!. how did you determine that you needed to have your camera at f11 @ 1/125 was it based on what your light meter said in the camera or on what your teachers notes said you should have it set at!?

and what ISO film were you using!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Did you use your light meter!? f/11 at 1/125th second is just a little over exposed if you are shooting outdoors in bright sun!. Indoors you could be about three to four stops under exposed

Look on the edge of the "blank" film and look for the edge numbers !.!. it they can be read, the fault is not with the lab!. BTW, what film are you using!? Is it the black and white film that is developed in C-41!?

There are so many possibilities, it would be difficult to know without you giving us the full list of what you did!.

* did you use the light meter in the camera or a hand held one
* what film did you use !.!.!. specifially Kodak, Fujifilm, Illford or other!?
* is the film you used one that is supposed to be developed in colour chemistry or black and white chemistry!?
* why are you not processing your own film and making contacts at school!?

By the way, shooting into the sun is one technique used by many photographers to put a "halo" around the subject!.

To keep from messing up!?

* always meter your scene and use those settings!.
* if possible, develop your own film if it is the type that is to be processed in black and white chemistryWww@QuestionHome@Com