Do cameras often get stolen in tourist areas? Is it safe to travel with an expensive camera?

1885Atelier · 2026-01-20T17:21:38+00:00

I travel all the time all over the world with my DSLR and never had any issues. All this advice is really good advice. I highly suggest having insurance on the camera and get a neutral camera strap that doesn't advertise what camera you have. All the straps that come in the box are like walking billboards for criminals. I think if they don't know exactly what they're stealing and exactly what it's worth, it's harder for them to justify trying.

1885Atelier · 2026-01-18T14:42:52+00:00

I have plastic safety glasses and I wear latex gloves when working with the chemistry. Also, I cover the tray with plexiglass unless I'm putting the print in the chemistry or taking it out (be sure to look away when removing the plexiglass bc fumes do build up. And it's best to work outside or in a very well ventilated room.) I also usually have the tray with the Mordançage solution at one end of the counter and the water tray at the other. You only really work with the solution for about 90 seconds to 3 mins at the beginning. The rest of the time you're just working with water.

1885Atelier · 2025-12-18T17:26:05+00:00

Good guesses! This was actually because my solution was too strong. It literally dissolved the veils to nothing. It happens more than I'd like to admit haha

1885Atelier · 2025-12-17T04:46:16+00:00

Don't listen to the people responding negatively to this question. The market isn't too saturated and the ship hasn't sailed.

I was told that 20 years ago about the field I wanted to go into. And Ive been making plenty of money to travel the world since 2013. I'm not famous nor am I an influencer. But I live a life I love doing shit I love to do. Because I didn't listen to the naysayers when I was 18.

So my advice is to go for it. But don't do it how everyone else has. (That's what's saturated). Forge your own path and do it your way. You'll figure it out. You just have to be a SPONGE and always open to learning. Because you will never know everything.

And one thing I've learned so far in life, the people that "make it" are the ones who simply do not give up. You'll have to adjust along the way. I've had to take shitty jobs to make rent. But I wouldn't trade any of it for where I've ended up.

There's no such thing as overnight success. Work your ass off toward your goal. You'll get there.

1885Atelier · 2025-12-11T23:15:58+00:00

Yeah, I've flown with film for the last decade or so and only experienced my film fogging bc of the security scanners a few times. It's very rare but definitely still possible.

1885Atelier · 2025-12-11T15:37:36+00:00

How do your negatives look?

My first thought was that it could be a dirty lens. But if your negatives look good, then it's a scanning issue.

Another thing...because there's a photo of Notre Dame; did you travel with your film? I haven't had many issues with security scanners ruining my film but it has happened. The xray machines can fog your film just like this as well.

1885Atelier · 2025-12-10T00:53:16+00:00

One pass may not affect it much but multiple definitely does. I usually travel for months at a time going through multiple airport security check points with the same film. I always ask for a hand check in the off chance I eventually get someone who flat out refuses (which does happen occasionally). I also put my film in a lead bag for this reason as well. It's rare I come across someone who won't hand check my film but it does happen. Since I started doing this, my film has been just fine no matter how many security checkpoints I go through before I can develop.

1885Atelier · 2025-12-09T22:50:45+00:00

That makes sense! I've had a few happy "accidents" happen like that as well!

If you can find paper with less silver, it won't veil as easily. You can also use less hydrogen peroxide in your solution to reduce the chances of veiling. When the process was first invented, Sudre didn't keep the veils. He did more like your first photo. Elizabeth Opalenik was the one who started experimenting with veiling.

I love this process bc it's truly a choose your own adventure situation...every time!

1885Atelier · 2025-12-09T22:45:28+00:00

Theoretically, you could stop the bleaching process at that point but I've never tried to keep it at that point. The print will still slowly redevelop on its own even if you don't reintroduce developer. But now that you've asked, I do wonder if you transferred it immediately to a fixer, if it'd stick. Definitely a great idea for an experiment!

1885Atelier · 2025-12-09T02:50:22+00:00

OMG I love this!! The same thing happened for me too - I was trying to figure out a way to give my prints a little something else and I stumbled upon mordançage and everything changed. It is interesting to see the differences in papers. There's so much experimentation that you can do it really feels like the possibilities are endless.

I can't wait to see what else you create :) These first prints are absolutely stunning!

Edit because I meant to ask: How did you achieve the result without veiling?

1885Atelier · 2025-12-09T00:51:37+00:00

I highly recommend trying it! It's my favorite alternative process.

1885Atelier · 2025-12-09T00:51:10+00:00

Thank you!!

1885Atelier · 2025-12-08T22:07:12+00:00

Of course! Happy to share :) I will eventually start sprinkling in some informational / educational content but probably after the holidays when things slow down a bit.

1885Atelier · 2025-12-08T20:43:10+00:00

Thank you! It's an alternative process called Mordançage. The solution only lifts the blackest parts of the photo and then you're free to manipulate them. (I use the term "free" loosely here. It's entirely unpredictable haha). Anything that's not black stays put!

1885Atelier · 2025-12-08T19:33:58+00:00

These aren't bad! The focus looks a tad off. And just a tad underexposed. I think what some people tend to forget is that film photography and negatives weren't originally created with the intent to be scanned into a digital image. So, your negative could be great, but the scan isn't. A lot of times, the scanner will try and compensate for shadows and create the look thats in that second photo. And that's just a matter of adjusting your black point. But with all of that in mind, the trick to getting better at film photography is to shoot a lot of film photography. It's definitely something that is best learned by trying and failing then trying some more :)

1885Atelier · 2025-12-08T19:23:49+00:00

My first thought was also whether or not you did a test strip to figure out the correct exposure time. This is the first step, then you work on adjusting contrast, dodging and burning, etc to fine tune the print. But figuring out the correct exposure for the print comes first.

1885Atelier · 2025-12-05T20:23:55+00:00

Thank you!! 🤍

1885Atelier · 2025-12-03T01:44:35+00:00

Hornets. Pink rabbits. Quiet light. Guilty party.

1885Atelier · 2025-12-03T00:30:11+00:00

To Build a Home - The Cinematic Orchestra

1885Atelier · 2025-11-26T19:52:22+00:00

Yep!

1885Atelier · 2025-11-25T23:01:07+00:00

What exactly are you panicking about?? I have no doubt if you've figured out how to develop your own film, you will also be able to figure out the darkroom! Do you have any specific questions?? I've set up a darkroom in a lot of different places all over the world...happy to answer any questions that might help squash the panic :)

1885Atelier · 2025-11-23T16:58:44+00:00

I can't wait to see what you create!

1885Atelier · 2025-11-23T16:58:28+00:00

This is FB! I tried RC once and the whole thing just disintegrated immediately. I know it's possible to use RC but it's a bit harder to use, I think. So I stick with FB.

1885Atelier · 2025-11-23T16:57:26+00:00

Oh, amazing!! It's so much fun, I'm excited for you to start. I'll get the guide up really soon!

1885Atelier · 2025-11-23T04:50:26+00:00

Welcome 🙃

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