Monthly Archives: May 2012

A not-quite-dead film

Just had a totally magical experience.

Yesterday, I developed a film with some trepidation. I had brought it with me, in my camera, before Jem and I were together.

I wasn’t sure what would be on it.

As
it was, the Universe fixed that problem for me. As I spooled it in the
dark bag, it was horribly stuck together and my heart began to sink.

As I went through the developing process, more bits of film disintegrated away with each chemical emptied out of the tank.

I
took it out of the tank and there was nothing left. Just scraps of what
once was film on the long plastic reel. I hung it out to dry thinking
at the very least we could use the film to teach the boys how to wind it
onto a spool.

Then, today, just before either ditching it or putting it away, I looked closer and saw a little face.

Only two partial prints had survived. Both of a baby Bert (of whom I now own precious few photographs).

And here he is…