P3D Risk management

[fj834@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Dr. George A. Themelis)]

>So, while I've never seen any problems with film fogging while
>travelling, I still take the precaution of placing the majority of my
>film in a leaded pouch while travelling.  After all, the price of a
>medium size bag is miniscule when compared to the price of 
>going back to reproduce your photos.

Agreed.  However, for me it is not a matter of cost but a matter of risk
management and general philosophy of life.  Stereo photography is my hobby,
a source of pleasure and not anxiety.  Why should I have anxiety over x-ray
machines, arguing with airport officials (gets your blood pressure up, just
thinking about it!) when there is no risk?  Instead, I choose to
concentrate on factors that actually have ruined film for many people, like
leaving the film in a hot car, leaving it unprocessed for many months, or
using  cheap processing outfits just a save a few bucks.

I used to send my film to Fuji for processing.  After a few problems I
decided to switch to my local "Drug Mart".  There I found the same
situation.  Scratched film, lost film, film switched with someone else's,
etc.  Now I use a local professional outfit.  I pay through the nose, so to
speak (twice as much as "Drug Mart") but I enjoy some of the benefits of a
first rate service, the most important of which is respect for my film. 

There is risk everywhere.  I would rather concentrate on real risk instead
of worrying about little or non-existing issues.  But it is up to everyone
individually to assess where there is risk and where there is not.  I am
just stating my own personal convictions here (OK John? :-))

-- George Themelis


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