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What went wrong?

The first frames on my roll are orange, red or fogged

Negatives and slides

What you're seeing

The first one or two frames, or the start of the first frame, are fogged or washed out. On colour film it may look orange or red on a scan. It fades towards the middle of the roll.

Check this first

Check this first

Check whether the fog only affects the start of the roll and fades away, or appears elsewhere too.

Likely causes, most common first

  1. 01

    Normal leader fog from loading

    Common
    How to tell
    Fog only on the frames wound on while loading, fading within a frame or two. The rest of the roll is clean.
    Test it
    Check where frame 1 starts. If the fog stops before it, this is expected.
    The fix
    Make the blank exposures your manual asks for after loading (Nikon says two) before the first real frame.

    Sources Nikon (scan: butkus.org), Nikon FE instruction manual (features/specifications); Nikon (scan: butkus.org), Nikon FM2 (FM2N) instruction manual (specifications)

  2. 02

    Loading in bright light

    Common
    How to tell
    Fog reaches further into the roll than usual, and is stronger on rolls loaded outdoors in sun.
    Test it
    Load the next roll in shade or indoors and compare.
    The fix
    Load and unload in subdued light, turning your back to the sun if you have to.

    Sources Kodak, Kodak Professional TRI-X Films Technical Data; Asahi/Pentax (scan: butkus.org), Pentax 67 operating manual (specifications); Ilford Photo (Harman Technology), Common Processing Problems

  3. 03

    Light leak at the cassette end of the camera

    Occasional
    How to tell
    Fog repeats on frames throughout the roll near the cassette side, not just at the start.
    Test it
    Load a scrap roll, leave the camera in sun with the cap on, then develop and look for fog in a fixed place.
    The fix
    Have the seals checked. See 'There are streaks or flares of light on my photos'.

    Source Eastman Kodak Company, Baggage X-ray Scanning Effects on Film (TIB 5201, updated 8 April 2003)

Avoiding it next time

  • Load in shade.
  • Make the blank frames your manual recommends.

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