Perplexed about geocache item (cache archived)

[Guest Wesley Horton]

Ok everyone,

 

I have a relly perplexing item that was recently left by persons unknown in a geocache that I recently archived. (Cache in the Park, in Oklahoma City)

 

Someone left a 24 exposure roll of 35 mm film which has been exposed. Could be anything from family photos, to someones geocaching adventure, to adult photos to kiddy porn. I have no idea. (It may not even be a good roll of film!)

 

Anyway, what do you think, should I take it for processing? Risk getting busted if it is, well who knows what . . .

 

Thoughts?

 

Wesley Horton

Oklahoma Geocachers

[Guest Firefishe]

Firefishe here, outta Michigan.

 

(Used to live in Norman, OK, way back in '85)

 

Was lookin' over the forums and thought I'd respond.

 

I'd forget the commercial photo labs, if I were you, unless you know someone who has unrestricted access to a processing machine *after hours*. Since you don't know what's on the film, this is just "protecting your buttinski," imho.

 

My suggestion: I'd take the roll to a fellow geocaching buddy with a well-equipped home darkroom set up for either C-41 (color print film processing chemistry) or E-6 (color slide film processing chemistry), tell them your dilemma, and keep the entire shebang private. That way, if it does turn out to be a bit questionable, you can dispose of the roll in the most confidential manner possible. If not, you can go on, pay your buddy some moola for the assistance, and print out some color prints or reversal prints if it turns out to be transparancies. (Clue: If there's a "chrome" in the film type (like Ektachrome or Cibachrome), it's *SLIDES*.

 

This is, of course, the *paranoid* route, but also, imho, the most secure. Considering the demented nature of some geocaching miscreants, I would suggest erring on the side of caution. You'll do what you wish, of course, but that is what I'd do.

 

Warm regards,

[Guest Firefishe]

Firefishe here, outta Michigan.

 

(Used to live in Norman, OK, way back in '85)

 

Was lookin' over the forums and thought I'd respond.

 

I'd forget the commercial photo labs, if I were you, unless you know someone who has unrestricted access to a processing machine *after hours*. Since you don't know what's on the film, this is just "protecting your buttinski," imho.

 

My suggestion: I'd take the roll to a fellow geocaching buddy with a well-equipped home darkroom set up for either C-41 (color print film processing chemistry) or E-6 (color slide film processing chemistry), tell them your dilemma, and keep the entire shebang private. That way, if it does turn out to be a bit questionable, you can dispose of the roll in the most confidential manner possible. If not, you can go on, pay your buddy some moola for the assistance, and print out some color prints or reversal prints if it turns out to be transparancies. (Clue: If there's a "chrome" in the film type (like Ektachrome or Cibachrome), it's *SLIDES*.

 

This is, of course, the *paranoid* route, but also, imho, the most secure. Considering the demented nature of some geocaching miscreants, I would suggest erring on the side of caution. You'll do what you wish, of course, but that is what I'd do.

 

Warm regards,

[Guest JamieZ]

If you have a geocaching buddy with a darkroom, that'd be my suggestion as well, but since not too many people have that luxury, I offer different advice.

 

Take the film to a professional photo-lab. I don't mean Walgreens or Kmart, I mean one of those places where cameras and film is all they do. Those people develop film for professional photographers, so it's unlikely that they would question the content of the film.

 

Or.

 

Take it to Walgreens or Kmart and get it developed overnight, rather than one-hour. I don't know who's at the lab end of the overnight process, but they seem to be less concerned about what's on the film. I had some pictures with nudity one-houred at a certain Mart once, and they would not print them. Their suggestion was to send my film through their overnight service.

 

Jamie

 

[This message has been edited by JamieZ (edited 16 February 2002).]

[Guest JamieZ]

One more thing...

 

Plus, who's gonna put a roll of good pictures in a cache?

 

My guess is that the roll will come out unexposed, or there will be a handful of boring shots of people you don't know.

 

Make sure you tell us what happens!

 

Jamie

[Guest brokenwing]

Just toss it. I can't imagine it's worth all this trouble. Is there any indication from the logs who might have left it?

 

------------------

Brokenwing

http://www.cordianet.com/geocaching

 

[This message has been edited by brokenwing (edited 16 February 2002).]

[Guest brokenwing]

ouble. Is there any indication from the logs who might have left it?

 

------------------

Brokenwing

http://www.cordianet.com/geocaching

 

[This message has been edited by brokenwing (edited 16 February 2002).]

[Guest infosponge]

If you want to do it by mail, you can send it to these folks:

http://www.superiorsnapshots.com/

They're used to developing film with nudity in it and won't freak out, if that indeed is what's on the film. You could also include a note about the origin of the film in case there is anything illegal.

[Guest JamieZ]

quote:

---

Originally posted by brokenwing:

Just toss it.

---

 

Toss it? What? Are you kidding? Where's your curiosity?

 

Get 'em developed and then afterward you can say "Oh.. Brokenwing was right. These pictures are dumb."

 

Jamie

[Guest BassoonPilot]

quote:

---

Originally posted by JamieZ:

Toss it? What? Are you kidding? Where's your curiosity?

---

Appears to be the best advice to me. I vote that Wesley send the film to Jamie, and let Jamie handle it.

 

[This message has been edited by BassoonPilot (edited 17 February 2002).]

[Guest JamieZ]

I'd be happy to do that, although I'm just as convinced as anyone that it'd turn out to be something dumb. Either no pictures at all, or a couple or regular family pictures. Probably somebody left it accidently, thinking it was a new roll. We'd get pictures of some 8-year old kids birthday party or something.

 

Jamie

[Guest JamieZ]

I'd be happy to do that, although I'm just as convinced as anyone that it'd turn out to be something dumb. Either no pictures at all, or a couple or regular family pictures. Probably somebody left it accidently, thinking it was a new roll. We'd get pictures of some 8-year old kids birthday party or something.

 

Jamie

[Guest King Pellinore]

or maybe it's clues to a secret spy vs. spy cache! (though I like the exhibitionist woman idea)

[Guest BassoonPilot]

quote:

---

Originally posted by King Pellinore:

or maybe it's clues to a secret spy vs. spy cache! (though I like the exhibitionist woman idea)

---

 

Yes, but if they're photos of a buck-naked "Jiminy Glick?"

[Guest JamieZ]

BP...

 

Why you gotta ruin things? Geesh.

 

Jamie

[Guest TTracker]

I do a lot of nature and wildlife photography now, but I've done some nudes too and I take the film to a small camera shop that has its own lab. They told me they print anything that isn't kiddie porn. Just tell them how you got it in case it is something wierd.

[Guest BassoonPilot]

quote:

---

Originally posted by JamieZ:

BP...

 

Why you gotta ruin things? Geesh.

 

Jamie

---

 

Hey Jamie, I'm just looking out for your best interests. If you DID end up with something like buck-naked "Jiminy Glick" photos, just THINK what that would do to your mind! You'd never be the same again. Probably end up on the cover of "Time" magazine for some horrendous crime.

[Guest Doppler]

Most states have legislation requiring photofinishing staff to report child pornography. Hefty fines and prison time await those who don't comply.

 

With this in mind, and not knowing who left that film in the cache, do you really want to run the risk of a misunderstanding with law enforcement?

 

If you have a trusted friend who can develop the film, go ahead and satisfy your curiosity... but under no circumstances would I turn in an anonymous roll of film to a photo lab.

 

The price of your curiosity might mean prison time and a permanent classification as a sex offender.

 

------------------

-- John Doppler

[Guest Doppler]

By the way... I worked for some time in a photo lab in Sacramento.

 

I've seen things on film that would make you swear off photography forever!

 

*shudder*

 

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-- John Doppler

[Guest JamieZ]

John,

 

I'm aware of the law you cite, but I'd still do it because I believe the chances of finding something illegal are extremely remote. Remote enough that my curiousity in seeing the photos would outweigh my concern for inadvertently possessing illegal material.

 

Besides, if the film contains illegal material, do you not think it would be best to know that, so something could be done about it? I wouldn't want to have a piece of evidence like that in my hands and toss it in the trash.

 

Jamie

[Guest Doppler]

Oh, I'm not saying I wouldn't get the film developed. I'd be dying of curiosity!

 

I'm just saying that I would have a friend or an understanding photo lab tech develop the film, rather than risk a misunderstanding and an ugly entanglement with the law.

 

(From my experiences in Sacramento, I can honestly say that exclamations of "Oh, those aren't MY pictures!" and "How did THAT get in there!" are met with doubt, at best.) [ ]

 

------------------

-- John Doppler

[Guest Doppler]

Oh, I'm not saying I wouldn't get the film developed. I'd be dying of curiosity!

 

I'm just saying that I would have a friend or an understanding photo lab tech develop the film, rather than risk a misunderstanding and an ugly entanglement with the law.

 

(From my experiences in Sacramento, I can honestly say that exclamations of "Oh, those aren't MY pictures!" and "How did THAT get in there!" are met with doubt, at best.) [ ]

 

------------------

-- John Doppler

[Guest Zuckerruebensirup]

If it were me, I'd take the film to a place that develops it next day and then files the developed film alphabetically on a "self serve" shelf...using a ficticious name (i.e. "Mary Smith") on the envelop, of course. If the developed pictures never show up on the shelf, you can walk away with nobody being the wiser.

[JMaxamillion]

I agree with Zuckerruebensirup...because you keep your identy plus if it turned out to be something bad y would you wnat to see it any way

 

MAX

[+Jamie Z]

So Wesley,

 

What's the outcome? What'd you decide to do?

 

Jamie

[+pizzachef]

aww jeez....develop it already...

if i had the film, i'dve known what was on it yeaterday...

you don't have to use your REAL name at wal-mart, you know..and they've got about the cheapest 1-hr developing around

[+Hawk-eye]

quote:

---

Originally posted by pizzachef:

aww jeez....develop it already...

if i had the film, i'dve known what was on it yeaterday...

you don't have to use your REAL name at wal-mart, you know..and they've got about the cheapest 1-hr developing around

---

 

DITTO! Let's hear what it is!

 

[Zuckerruebensirup]

quote:

---

Originally posted by pizzachef:

you don't have to use your REAL name at wal-mart, you know..and they've got about the cheapest 1-hr developing around

---

 

I wouldn't recommend 1-hour. Usually they hold that at the counter. If the film contained porn or something, they might wait to see who picks it up. The self-serve places seem much less risky. If the developed film never shows up back on the pick up shelf, I wouldn't want to draw attention to myself by going to the counter and asking for it.

[Zuckerruebensirup]

I'm beginning to wonder if Wesley used his real name, and then got arrested for child pornography or something...which is why he hasn't been able to post an update here to let us know what happened...he's behind bars, with no computer access.

[Zuckerruebensirup]

I'm beginning to wonder if Wesley used his real name, and then got arrested for child pornography or something...which is why he hasn't been able to post an update here to let us know what happened...he's behind bars, with no computer access.