Film storage and high humidity?

AshleyC

AshleyC

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Im off to China at the end of August, apparently the weather then will be very hot, potentially 35+ and very high humidity. Im just wondering about how the film will handle those conditions? Ive seen what happens to film in the changing bag when its been hot and ive had sweaty hands! I don't want to take a load of shots that will just rot away over the weeks before i get back to the UK. Anyone had any experience of shooting film in those sort of conditions? advice on how to store it?
 
In the time you're away, I don't think any damage will be done to your film, exposed or unexposed. I lived in Australia for 20 years (mainly in the dryer parts, to be fair) and never heard of problems of the kind you're worried about. I have certainly holidayed in Far North Queensland and shot film without much problem (although one film did suffer from reticulation, after years of the negs being stored in a cupboard that went between 2-3 degrees and 35%). Storing them for years in hot, humid conditions, that's another matter.
 
Did the Gambia many years ago in my film days and that was pretty damn hot. Just kept unused film in the fridge and used as required.

Its more a case of what the heat will do to the photographer than the film.
 
cheers peeps, hadn't thought about those moisture sucking bags, i will get a stock of them in.
 
If it's that damp they won't do much good once opened for the first time? NB @skysh4rk was there on his honeymoon not so long ago, he might have an opinion... based on observation rather than truthiness, of course! :banana:
 
my main worry is the humidity, if any moisture builds up in an exposed roll over a few weeks then its knackered.
 
AshleyC said:
my main worry is the humidity, if any moisture builds up in an exposed roll over a few weeks then its knackered.
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Where are you planning to store the film? Outside in the sun? :thinking:

Just leave exposed film in a cool place away from the sun (e.g., a hotel room) in a sealed plastic bag with some silica gel.

The biggest thing you need to watch is subjecting your camera and film to extreme changes in conditions (e.g., going from air conditioned, cool interior to hot and humid outside conditions in a snap and vice versa).
 
skysh4rk said:
The biggest thing you need to watch is subjecting your camera and film to extreme changes in conditions (e.g., going from air conditioned, cool interior to hot and humid outside conditions in a snap and vice versa).
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TBF from my time in Singapore and Hong Kong that can be pretty hard to avoid, but perhaps tourist mainland chine is different?
 
ChrisR said:
TBF from my time in Singapore and Hong Kong that can be pretty hard to avoid, but perhaps tourist mainland chine is different?
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Yes, but just put your camera away into its bag before entering those air-conditioned spaces and leave it there until it's had time to adjust.

I always have the camera and film sealed away when switching between warm and cool environments.
 
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