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I've just started using film cameras, so sorry for any terminology errors. I picked up an Olympus OM-1 from a flea market and it works great, but every now and then my pictures come out looking like this:

Green fog

I have no clue why this happens. It's not every picture, but a great deal of them. It's quite frustrating. I'm using 200 speed fujicolor film (the normal stuff). Any suggestions?

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  • Hi Pcake, Welcome to photo.stackexchange. Do you find the green tinge on well-lit photos or only on ones that look otherwise dark - ones taken indoors as opposed to outside in bright daylight? – Stan Apr 10 '18 at 17:06
  • Its really only indoor photos. – Pcake Apr 10 '18 at 17:46
  • Your flash guide number is probably incorrect. – Stan Apr 10 '18 at 18:06
  • Im actually not using a flash, could that also be a problem? – Pcake Apr 10 '18 at 18:08
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    Bingo. That could shed some light on the issue. : ) – Stan Apr 10 '18 at 18:13
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Your exposures are under exposed.

Prints made from under exposed images often have a green fog or tinge. It is an artifact from an attempt to make a "useable" print from a very thin, under exposed colour negative.

Increase your exposure time or illumination and the resulting print will sparkle with beautiful colour.

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  • The same green cast for underexposure happens on Fuji Superia 400 too, just in case if @Pcake tries that film. It takes at least a few stops underexposure for that to kick in, IMO. – Calyth Apr 10 '18 at 18:27
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You are using a color negative film. This type of film, after being developed, yields a negative image that is just a means to an end. Next this negative film is fed into a high-speed printing machine that makes positive prints on paper. This negative – positive system has great advantages in that the printing cycle affords an opportunity to correct and therefor enhance pictures that were poorly exposed when the initial picture was taken with the camera. We are talking about over and under exposure. You should know that this negative – positive method can greatly increase the yield as to the number of acceptable prints obtainable from a roll of film.

That being said, there is a limit and severely under-exposed and over-exposed negative are impossible candidates. Nevertheless photo labs (photofinishers) make their living by selling prints. Thus the tendency is to print and sell prints made from these dreadful negatives. If you were to inspect and reject these substandard prints, you would not be charged for them.

Severe under-exposure in the camera results in substandard negatives that when printed yield shadowy off-color prints. Bottom line, these negatives should never have been enclosed in your photo packet. You remedy is to better understand the operation of your camera and practice the art of making good exposures. No easy task but you are up to it.

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  • Ive been thubling that lowering my shutter speed would help, right? I just have no clue really what a good spot is to lower it to. I have been rejecting the worst prints, as you hit that nail on the head. Some are just green blobs, lol. So im trying,not to waste my money. – Pcake Apr 11 '18 at 17:18
  • @ Pcake -- Modern film cameras have built-in light meter that measure the brightness of the light playing on the subject. This data is used to set the both the shutter speed and the aperture. Further, the software figures out if a flash is needs. If your camera lacks these features, best think about buying a modern digital. You will end up getting good results and you can preview your pictures on your computer (or phone) and then sends only the good one out for printing. Think about it! – Alan Marcus Apr 13 '18 at 14:55

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