cover shot of a horror novel for photo fans
Toronto. George Dunbar wrote me recently regarding a new ‘horror’ book. George writes, ” For those who like horror-novels and photography too, this new book may be just the thing.
“‘Silver Nitrate’ by Silvia Moreno-Garcia apparently refers to the dangerous film stock used in the early days of photography. Silver nitrate film stock was used in many of the earliest motion picture films and was finally banned because of its dangerous habit of combustibility. A review of the book will be found here.”
The nasty film base that tended to burn on its own was actually ‘nitrate’, short for nitrocellulose while silver nitrate was a solution that once coated glass plates, blackened metal plates, and film bases. Combined with a salt solution, it formed light sensitive silver halides.
You may have wondered why Kodak once touted various films as ‘safety’. These were films that did not use nitrate as a base.
After WW2 surplus stores sprung up in cities all over. I mentioned in an earlier post in 2017 that I bought some ‘nitrate’ cut film to use in a 6×9 film camera. Some years later, I had reason to check my exposed negatives. Sure enough, I smelt the characteristic odour of acetic acid (vinegar) and when I looked at the nitrate cut film, the emulsion had wrinkled, warning me of a potential fire by self combustion. Out went the cut film, images and all.
On the plus side, nitrate films were clear like glass, but unless the storage room was cool and temperature controlled, there was always a serious risk of fire. Later films used a cellulose acetate base (safety film) and still more recently films used a polyester base (think Kodak’s ESTAR line).
Regardless, you fans of photography, track down a copy of ‘Silver Nitrate’ and enjoy the read. But keep a light on!
