Digital BW, The Print

I just returned from Ireland, this time I changed my method a bit... 
I brought Portra B/W and asked for hand inspections. Our 
departure was hand inspected but after that no way, it went 
through the scanner or didn't go. So I scanned two times total. 
Then when in Ireland I found a good lab and had the film 
processed before returning. Far less hassle that way. No tax 
either, you get the VAT tax back. No regrets or airport hassles!

Dave

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., Andrew Eschbacher 
<photolists@s...> wrote:
> I've been to Europe twice in the last five years, the last time for 
a month 
> in Ireland starting on Sept. 20, 2001.  Both times my film was 
sent through 
> the hand luggage scanners.  The last trip the film saw three 
scans.  The 
> first trip in Sept. 1997, the film saw 9 scans (yes, lots of short 
flights 
> and a ride on the chunnel train).  There was NO fogging or 
damage.  I shoot 
> Velvia, E100S/SW/VS, and HP5+ sheet film.  Furthermore, I 
know of no 
> professional or amateur photographer that has had his film 
fogged by the 
> scanners for checking hand luggage provided it is of 800 
speed or 
> less.  Most of the problems that had been reported have been 
the result of 
> the processing lab screwing up and blaming the x-ray 
machine.
> 
> A professional photographer friend just came back from 
Morocco and Italy in 
> May with about 200 sheets of exposed T-MAX Ready loads in 
his hand luggage 
> -- NO Fogging.
> 
> That said, NEVER put film in checked baggage.  It can and will 
be 
> toasted.  The Director Sir Richard Attenborough (sp) lost a 
years worth of 
> unexposed film thanks to checking it and it got fried.  Don't 
mess around 
> with the film shield bags.  You will have to take the film out 
anyway when 
> the security personnel can't tell what is in the bag.
> 
> There are a couple of strategies that you can use to minimize 
exposure but 
> they do drive up the cost of the trip and can result in more 
problems than 
> you solve.  Personally, I want my film with me.  I'm going back 
to Europe 
> next spring and I will be carrying the film in my briefcase which 
will be 
> x-rayed by carry-on luggage scanners.  I shoot 4 x 5 sheet film, 
there is 
> no hand inspection.  I do keep of couple of sheets of 
unexposed film with 
> me to show the security personnel what is in the box.  The 
camera and 
> tripod get checked.
> 
> Don't sweat the x-ray machines, you have much more to worry 
about with the 
> pickpockets in Florence and keeping them out of your pockets.
> 
> Drew
>