What Happens When You Try to Shoot Film That’s 80 Years Old

Ever wondered what happens when you shoot with film that's nearly 80 years old? Photographer Mathieu Stern embarked on this intriguing experiment, loading rolls of Kodak Super XX and rare color stocks into his Canon F-1, rating them at the lowest possible ISO to compensate for their age. The results were both fascinating and sobering. The Disappointment of Blank Frames The initial development of the color film yielded no images—just blank frames. Even the black-and-white film from 1946 seemed lost at first. This outcome is a common risk when shooting with expired film, especially those from the 1940s and 50s, where the materials may have deteriorated beyond use. A Glimmer of Hope: Rescanning the Negatives Undeterred, Stern decided to rescan the seemingly ruined negatives using a Valoy 45 setup with a macro lens. To his surprise, faint, ghostlike images began to emerge. These barely visible images proved that the film had indeed captured light, albeit in a degraded form. The Fragility of Film: Gelatin's Role This experiment highlighted the inherent fragility of film. The photosensitive layer is suspended in gelatin made from animal bones, making it organic and susceptible to environmental factors. Heat, humidity, and time can cause the gelatin to decompose, leading to the breakdown of the emulsion and loss of images. Conclusion: The Gamble of Expired Film Shooting with film that old is more of a gamble than a reliable process. While the results may not always be perfect, the process offers a unique insight into the history and fragility of photographic materials. For those interested in exploring the unpredictable world of expired film, this experiment serves as both a cautionary tale and an invitation to delve into the past.