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I think I may have brought too much film with me. There is a good article about how to carry film when flying here. (Notice it says you should hand inspect professional grade film) I managed to get through US customs with it being hand checked, even though the security woman pulled out every roll and swabbed each one. It took about half an hour, but at least it didn’t go through the machine. At least twice, another security guard came over and told me it was safe if it was 800 ISO or below. Thankfully I was not forced to X-ray it though.

However when I got to Charles de Gaulle’s in Paris, I had to change terminals. At no point did I leave any security zone, or pass outside of the designated path, but at the new terminal there was another bag and body check. The guard at this station told me that if I did not put my film through the machine, then I was not going to fly to my second destination. It took all my might and manners to maintain composure and insist on a hand check. The guard did not appear to be letting me through, and his only option was to call the police. This worried me a little, but I stood strong and waited for the ‘gendarmes’ to arrive.

After 10 minutes, this nice police woman came and ushered me through security into a curtained room. She put on some rubber gloves and flicked open a couple of boxes. Without swabbing, or even really removing any film, she closed them up, thanked me for my patience and let me through to my connecting flight. Zoot Alor!

I am shooting as much as possible now. Trying to get through as much as I feel necessary, although there is no need wasting film just to shoot. I’ll probably get some home to shoot for my last semester at Pratt. The real fun will be at Indira Ghandi International Airport on the way home.