Lest my readers think everything always goes smoothly over here, gather around and hear this tale.

On the heels of solving a photographic mystery last month, I bought another roll of exposed film on eBay. This time it was a roll of exposed Kodak Porta 160 for $9, and every thing about this purchase was frustrating. To start with, it took almost a month to be delivered.

When I finally got around to developing it, it was a real bear to get loaded onto the film reel. I’ve gotten pretty good at loading both 35mm and 120 film and can generally get it done in a just a few minutes. Not this time. I spent over an hour dicking around with it. I can’t even pinpoint what the problem was. The film just wasn’t cooperating.

Every thing about this purchase was frustrating.

Finally loaded, I developed it just like I’ve done dozens of other rolls of C-41 color film. My Cinestill chemicals were up to the proper temperature of 102 degrees, timers set correctly, etc. The film strip came out solid black. Not even a grain of visible exposure.

Was the film inadvertently exposed before I bought it? After I bought it? After I received it? Did I screw up the development process some how? No way of knowing.

You win some, you lose some.