Digital BW, The Print

Dear List,

I have been using the Type 55 (sheet) & 665 (pack) Polaroid film for pinhole
photography which is by nature very experimental in exposure and
composition.  I needed to be able to process the film in the field and
therefore a container that I could sling over my shoulder with the Sod.
Sulfite solution (SS).  

I've never quite understood the advantage of exposing Type 55 in the field
and then processing later unless one was going for the 'look' of the film
and borders, etc. or perhaps space savings.  Further, processing later is
not an option for the 665 pack film.

As a result I ended up using a Stainless steel canister set (example picture
- http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=881798 )
the tallest one holds enough juice to cover 4x5 film and the seal is good
enough that it doesn't slosh out.  In my case, I slipped the canister into
the largest climbing chalk bag I could find and clipped an unused
neck/shoulder strap to the whole thing which allows me to walk around with
the outfit. Another small sack attached to the neck strap functions as a
trash bag.

You do not want to spill sodium sulfite solution in your friend's car (or
house, etc)!  And therefore always need to be a little careful about how you
pick up any container of the stuff.  As you open the sealed lid and flip it
back to place film in the container (after sloshing and walking around) a
drip or two will inevitably slip off the lid, so I'm careful about where I
do this.
 
In theory you can put the film in water for temporary storage but with the
665 film, the backing layer doesn't gel and makes a flaky mess of your
water, while SS does gel it, and slides off more easily later.  I have also
left film in the SS longer than I care to confess and unless you also leave
it outside in the sun in the Arizona heat (resulted in light staining that
looks pyro-ish), it seems fairly durable.

I have not had much time to scan or print (I have both digital and regular
darkroom) so can't offer useful comments there yet.

Best regards,
Cleavis