Freezing exposed film

[kurtdriver]

I have read that film is best preserved by freezing and also that it degrades very rapidly after exposure. So, I have been keeping it in the freezer and returning it after shooting. Is this another of my cornball ideas? Or am I on the right path? Thanks, Kurt

[AcadieLibre]

I hope you mean the fridge and not freezer. It does work but not by keeping it cold but keeping it at a constant temperature on the cool side. I used to do it only when I bought bulk and unless I was going to keep the roll of film past the expiry date. It is the fridge where you want to keep it. Some say the freezer it a good idea I just do not think exposing film to those extremes is not good for it. The debate over the freezer aspect is one that is ongoing but very little disagreement over using a fridge. In the end it is your call.

[Marko]

I too have heard of many photographers keeping film in the freezer and I personally have never done it, for me - fridge only.

That said and on a completely different tangent, there is an old darkroom artistic technique called reticulation. This is achieved by drastically changing temperatures in a specific way during the development of the film and the result is an overall textured pattern all over the roll of film which looks really cool. To further enhance the effect, at the end of the process, you can freeze the developed film while it's partially wet. You can also use this technique on already processed film, though of course you are forever changing 'damaging' the film by using this technique.

ok then back to our show...

[tirediron]

I've frozen lots of film, the thing that you have to be careful of is the condensation that forms when it warms up. Make sure you thaw it slowly and gently, and do just grab some film and run outside in the hot summer.