HELP! I need photo help..PLEASE!

[Crazy for Tigger]

We got back from our trip to WDW last week. My mom had all our film developed at Walmart from 14 disposable cameras. I am very disappointed!!! Most of the pictures are too dark and too many didn't come out at all. I really feel it was not the cameras but the developing. Don't get me wrong there are a lot of good pics that are not too dark, but I want to salvage the ones that came out too dark.

PLEASE help with any suggestions!

Thanks in advance...I love my DIS family!

 

[pattyT]

if you think it was the developer try bringing the negatives to a place where they do them by hand (I have a local photographer who does developing so he is very careful at watching them come out and adjusting the color if he needs too)and ask them to look at them - see if they can make better prints
sometimes it cost more to have them developed like that - but sometimes it is worth it!

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Following up on what PattiT said, there is a way to get an idea if it is the printing, or if the negatives are dark.

The easiest way is with a light table but since most folks don't have those sitting around their house the next best idea is to use a lamp. Set it at a height (probably on the floor) where you can work easily, then lay a piece of plain white paper across the top opening of the shade. Of course be careful that the paper isn't touching the bulb and don't leave it there too long! 60 watt works, I prefer 100 watt.

Lay your negatives on the white paper. If the negatives are "dark" (remember this is reverse so they would look extremely light) you'll need to work with someone that can lighten the print up and that is tricky. If the negatives look like they are pretty well color balanced then it is likely they were mass run through equipment that prints everything the same.

If the latter is the case taking them to a photo shop that balances each print is the way to go. We have a couple in town that do this, one is a camera shop and the other is my LSS. I generally use my LSS because they understand scrapping and will often go ahead and print enlargements or panoramics (yes that can be done from 35mm film) for me. Also they are less expensive than my local Wal-Mart. So check around and good luck.
Deb

 

[nicurn]

if you have a program like photoshop, you can also use it to lighten the pictures. (I get my pictures done to cd for this reason, so I can fix them ) maggie