infrared

this is not my picture.

so, i bought some infrared film on saturday. my plan was to go to Graceland Cemetery and take creepy pictures of the surroundings and maybe, possibly, develop one into a print for my mom for her birthday. ok, so i get this film. it sets me back $15. wow. not only that, but i had to buy a new battery for my camera, too. that's $10. anyway, the guy tells me you have to load and unload this in complete darkness. yes, i've learned that the hard way. so, i load my film in this dark, dank stairwell i happen to find at the cemetery (my camera still had film in it from a previous photo shoot that i had to burn off) and all is well. i go out and shoot all 37 pictures, happy as a clam. i go back to said stairwell and remove the film, put it in its cannister that is marked with mark of infrared. i put more color film in my camera and go back at it.

so, yesterday, i take my film to Gamma Photo on Superior, whom i've had do all of my black and white developing. the chick behind the counter takes the cannister and OPENS IT! as she's opening it, i say, "it's infrared." she slides the film out of the cannister, gasps, and puts the cover back on it. she looks at me with this look of abject horror. "you just told me it was infrared and i opened it anyway!" yes, you did. i understand that sometimes people put film in any cannister they can find, but there was a reason i put that particular film back in that particular cannister. of course, i really doubt that there was any real damage done, but it was funny to watch her beat herself up over it. i asked if there is any damage, how can i be compensated? she said that i wouldn't be charged for my development and i'd get another roll of film. hey, that's reasonable. as i was leaving and she was still apologetic, she said, "thanks for being so understanding about it."

it was quite humorous. we'll see tomorrow how my film turns out.