[Leica] Security in Dublin Airport now insist on scanning film

[tedgrant at shaw.ca (tedgrant at shaw.ca)]

doug kim OFFERED:
Subject: Re: [Leica] Security in Dublin Airport now insist on scanning film

Gee Doug,
Did they scan your digital cameras also????????

 Given airports have been scanning film for umpteen dozen years by now and 
like you in the beginning I got ticked off because there were no easy tricks 
or words to not having film scanned. HOWEVER?????

My good fortune was, I put all the film on the way out and back from 
assignments in clear plastic zip lock bags out of the little yellow boxes so 
it could be seen. Then walked up to the scanner guys and handed them the 
film asking quite politely... "This is very sensitive 800 / 1600 film, does 
it really have to go through the scanner?" And in a great number of cases 
the security guy just shook the bag, looked at the rolls and passed them to 
the other side without going through the machine.

Quite honestly I didn't always win! But I always kept my cool, walked 
through without saying another word and picked up my rolls. Some times it 
might be several hundred rolls in a few bags.  By the same token the Gods 
were with me and I never had any film fogged going through the dozens of 
airport locations over the years I was travelling on assignments. However, I 
accepted that was the world plan like it or not. And certainly don't start 
whining and bitching because in 99.9% of the time they are going to be the 
winners and you will get your ass fried!

Besides by now, given the years digital cameras have been out and many 
professional photographers working only in B&W make fabulous B&W prints from 
digital images.  I'm quite surprised you are not shooting digital? You'd 
never have a worry again about scanning. Besides if I were in the security 
business I'd be far more suspicious of a "Film carrying guy today?" Than a 
guy carrying a half dozen digital cameras.

Any thoughts on this approach?

cheers,
Dr. ted