Dan,
For the 'SALT' series I was changing in a harrison dark bag, washing my hands before, carrying everything 'sealed' in multi-layered bags. I took air in cans and inspected each slide meticulously and tapping any 'rocks' out of the light traps.
'Commando' is easier for the clothes thing
I shot nearly all neg (portra NC) and occasionally went to chrome (E100S) for the really flat stuff.
As I said earlier, the biggest problem was getting smooth development of the open skies - this is where digital wins hands down...
Murray
hear ya there . Smooth development for color with the short dev. time(c-41 mostly) can be a PITA. I have only shot e-6 in 8x10 for color, no c-41(yet), but lots of 4x5. I develop in Jobo drums on a motor base, so the rotary constant, random, motion helps to keep things from mottling too much. E-6 i ship out for dip-n-dunk. There's a lab here in Santa Barbara that does E-6 4x5 for $1.50/sheet and $5/sheet for 8x10, its Samys in downtown Santa Barbara. just in case you thought about switching labs ever. they take mail order, and have a super-fast turnaround, usually within a day. I've never had a problem with them. and they have a good amount of throughput, since Santa Barbara has enough artist "purists" and students who shoot e6 to keep the lines busy, also to help keep processing costs down too! Labs here in LA average about $4-5/sheet for 4x5 and about $8-10 for 8x10 film. e-6 and c-41.
most people just do their own b/w.
if I could afford a P65+ or an Aptus-II 10, I'd shoot with one, but even though I'm 21, I HATE sitting behind a computer, much less photoshop. I guess I'm just kinda "old-fashioned", I like hand writing letters instead of email if its possible, and mailing parcels to me is fun . I guess this is why I shoot film, for the process, rather than the end result. But right now I don't have the resources to invest in a digital system that could match the rez I can get out of a 4x5 or 8x10 piece of c-41/e6/bw film. Canons and nikons are nice, and the D3x has a place in my heart, but MF digital just isn't in reach as of yet.
thanks for the info, its great learning about your process! One more question if I may, are you using a folding-camera, since you're out there in the boonies, or a rail camera?
-Dan