Unforgettable Encounters with Hidden Film in a Small Photography Lab
Working in a small photography lab can be as routine as developing rolls of film or as bizarre as discovering hidden photographs in a shipment. Over the years, several memorable incidents have highlighted the darker and more unusual aspects of the job, often found in current and former photo developers and printers. These stories, while primarily from the 1990s, still resonate with the weirdest things one might encounter in a customer's roll of film or SD card.
Encounter #1: Naked Photos and Embarrassment
My experience at a camera shop in Brentwood, California, in the early 90s was quite unique. The story began with a simple processing envelope that had no customer name on it. As I went through the 36 exposures, I noticed that the photos were mostly of a dog and the exterior of a house, with a few shots of unknown people. Then, around the 20th frame, I found a self-portrait of an incredibly beautiful 20-something girl facing a mirror, wearing nothing but her hair. In the next frame, she was fully nude, and the rest of the roll consisted of her in various poses, all fully naked. The oddity of the situation was not lost on me, and sharing such a discovery with others would be too embarrassing for everyone, especially the girl in the photos.
I carefully stashed the envelope in the back office, hoping to avoid any potential embarrassment or misunderstanding. It turned out to be a long week, but thankfully, it was enough time for me to get the order processed. When the woman walked in asking for her photos, I had already ensured that the envelope bore her name. As she was about to take the photos, my face turned slightly red with embarrassment.
Encounter #2: A Gruesome Accident Scene
Another memorable experience came when my employer purchased a color photo reproduction machine. The purpose was to make perfect color prints from existing photographs, which was particularly useful for making copies of prints when negatives were unavailable. One day, a lawyer came in with a request to reproduce prints from an accident scene, which was a sensitive and distressing topic. The image that caught everyone's attention was a gruesome scene, showing a woman who had been struck by a helicopter's rear rotor blade, leading to the gruesome image of her head being split in half, with one eye hanging off. I kept a copy of this image for myself, as a reminder of the more disturbing aspects of the profession.
Encounter #3: Evidence Photos of a Major Drug Bust
My most memorable encounter occurred at a pro lab in Tucson, Arizona, in the late 90s. The lab served a diverse clientele, including educational institutions, the university, local government, and law enforcement. One bizarre experience was an abandoned order from the sheriffs department. This order contained three rolls of film with double prints and had never been picked up, despite multiple calls. After four months, we were instructed to trash all abandoned orders, including the negatives and any photos with people in them. The order contained evidence photos from a major drug bust - over a hundred photos of marijuana, cocaine, cash, guns, knives, and various tattoos. While the order was ultimately destroyed, I couldn't help but wonder if something fishy was going on behind the scenes.
These stories illustrate the unusual and sometimes disturbing nature of what a photographic developer or printer might encounter every day. From naked photo rolls to gruesome accident scenes and drug evidence busts, the memories are both of great difficulty and moral responsibility. It's a fascinating part of the profession that few outside the industry ever get to experience.