Traveling With Film

Traveling with film can be nerve wracking because of the effect X-Rays have on photographic film. There are a few things you can do to minimize this risk when traveling both domestically and internationally. However no technique works 100% of the time because security is different in every country and airport.

X-Rays can expose photographic film creating haze or waves across your images. The best way to keep this from happening is obviously to keep your film from being sent through the X-Ray machines. There is really only one way of doing this and it is a "Hand Check".  (Side note: Most recommend to never put film in checked baggage as the X-rays are stronger for stored luggage. Always have it with you.)

In the USA, this works like this: You put your film in a clear plastic bag, kept separate from your luggage. When you get up to the security area, tell a security agent who isn't busy that you have film that you would like to be hand checked. I have never been given any trouble in the USA with hand checking although some seemed annoyed to be doing it. It is important to be as nice as possible and understanding that they have a job to do. Like I said, I've never had a problem.

Technically, the TSA does't have to hand check film under ISO 800, so one trick I've heard is to carry a roll of 3200 in your bag specifically so they have to check the whole lot. I've never done this but its a pretty solid idea. Despite these procedures, some people have been given problems in the US, you'll have to decide whether it's worth fighting them over on a case by case basis if this happens to you.

International travel is a different story. Language barriers, stricter security, and varying policy can make traveling with film a lot more difficult. There are basically two approaches to what I talked about above.

The first is that you can use a clear plastic bag, and follow the above procedure, or you can use an X-ray proof bag. Some have criticized the X-ray bag because it is solid, not transparent and involves the extra step of explaining whats in the bag. The second is that there is a possibility that the X-Ray operator will simply turn up the machine to see through the bag if it ends up going through the machine. Despite the risk, this is what I did on my trip to Nepal. My logic was that if they send it through the X-Ray, at least there is something covering it to blur or minimize the effect. (I don't know if this is what would realistically happen but that was my thinking.)

So before my trip I purchased a 12 roll Domke X-ray proof bag. Departing from the US I did the standard routine and it worked just as it has before. I arrived in South Korea where I had to get off the plane, go through security, and get back on. While going through security, I told the guard that I had film and was wondering if there was any way it could be hand checked, or exempt from being X-Rayed. He looked at it, and tossed it in with the rest of my stuff. My heart sunk a little but I was't going to argue with him at 2 in the morning with a line of people behind me. Next I had a layover in Singapore. On my departure I had to go through security again, this time the guard explained that it should be fine...before throwing it in the machine. At this point I was just glad I had my DSLR as well. Finally in Nepal, I told the official that I had film that I would like to keep out of the X-Ray. He looked through it and handed it back to me to walk through. A small victory. On the return trip I had the exact same experience with my film passing through about four times total. 

From what I could tell, my film at 160 iso, was unaffected by the X-Rays. I don't know if it was the speed of the film, or the X-Ray proof bag that did it, but I was really happy they were not ruined. The irony of the experience was that I shot primarily digital throughout the trip because I wasn't sure if the films were going to be okay. 

Depending on whether you are flying domestically or internationally, you may want to employ a combination of these methods to ensure your films stay safe. The plastic bag method makes communicating much easier because the film is clearly visible, I highly recommend it for domestic flights. As for the X-Ray proof bag, it can be a liability, but I am glad I had it when my film got sent through. So it is up to you to decide if thats the route you want to go. I have had good experience with both methods, and my film survived to tell the tale. 

Here is a link to a TSA Article as well as a link to the Domke Bag I used.

I hope this article was helpful, if you have any questions about my experience or want to share your own tricks, leave a comment. Thanks for reading!