Lost film

This is a rant. I need to get it off my chest. I did a shoot with Marc Wainwright on 23rd May. We first tried to work at the disused West Hill mental asylum but we were escorted out by a security guard - the place is soon going to be turned into luxury flats, so it is heavily guarded.

We were lucky to find a derelict house not too far away from the hospital and we used it for our shoot.
I had brought along my Bronica and Marc taught me how to use it. We had a problem with the Polaroid back but maybe it was the polaroid film we used which was too old?
Anyway, as well as taking pictures with the Bronica Marc used his digital camera - thank god for that.

 Photographer: Marc Wainwright

On 24th May I took the film to Jessop to be developed. I asked for a contact sheet and for the negatives to be scanned on CD, so that I could later decide on the prints. I had two rolls but only gave one because I am still unsure about the camera, it could be that the polaroid back was faulty but who knows maybe there is something wrong with the camera too? I seem to be unlucky with cameras. I was given last year a Nikon D70 and then found out that the lenses had developed some mould, so I would need to get new ones. Needless to say I have never used the Nikon, not after finding out about the mould.

 Photographer: Derick Clerk

I was told I'd have to wait for 10 working days. I did . Then I had to deal with a family crisis so I did not honestly think anymore about the film. Early this week, when I got back,  I remembered and went to the store to collect  my order. It has not arrived, I was told. How come? Oh there was a Bank Holiday so everything has been delayed. Well even with a Bank Holiday  things should have moved. There was one Bank Holiday, not two! Dont worry , it must be en route, we will call you as soon as it is delivered. Heard nothing for the last couple of days. Called the store today. Oh we have to fill in a missing item form now, we cant tell you what has happened. The film was sent back from Germany and the courier has misplaced it.

 Photographer: Ricardo

I could not believe my ears when the manager with great nonchalance told me he could not tell me how long this would take, it could be weeks before the missing item is found and meanwhile no compensation is due until they declare it lost. And it did not make me feel any better to know that in his five year tenure as manager of this particular Jessop store this was the very first missing item case he'd had to deal with. To be honest I could have done without the honour!

So now I have another film to develop, I still know nothing about what is wrong with the Bronica and I do not trust Jessop. Even if I get compensated I will never be able to get those shots back.
When things go wrong they decide to go wrong en masse. This is a trivial matter compared to what is going on at home at the moment. But it is still somewhat irritating.

Photographer: Carlos W.