The Safelight Project: The Travel Companion for Film Photographers
For film photographers, navigating airport security can be a stressful experience. X-ray scanners used in carry-on and checked baggage can fog or damage undeveloped film, making hand checks an essential safeguard to keep film safe. However, not all airports accommodate these requests, leaving photographers uncertain about the best way to protect their film. Enter The Safelight Project, an upcoming web-app designed to simplify the process and provide peace of mind for film shooters everywhere.
The Safelight Project is a web-app currently in development for film photographers who frequently travel. The website provides a database of popular airports worldwide, detailing whether they allow hand checks for photographic film. This means no more guessing or last-minute stress at security checkpoints—The Safelight Project equips photographers with the necessary information ahead of time. Beyond airport security insights, The Safelight Project also offers an inventory system for photographers to track their film and camera gear.
The core feature of The Safelight Project is its extensive, user-driven database of airports, indicating whether they permit hand checks for film. The hand check success rate for each airport is calculated based on user experiences, offering photographers real-world insights into their travel destinations. Users can search for airports by name or location, helping them plan their trips with confidence and even contribute reviews based on their own experiences. The Safelight Project allows users to log their film rolls, noting details such as expiration dates, film speeds, and usage history. This feature ensures that photographers always know which rolls have been exposed and which are still fresh without having to rummage through their stock.
Traveling with film can be nerve-wracking, especially when faced with inconsistent airport regulations. The Safelight Project removes the uncertainty, helping photographers protect their film while staying organized. Whether you're a seasoned professional or an analog enthusiast, this app is designed to be an essential tool in your film photography journey.
The idea for The Safelight Project originated while I was preparing my camera bag for a trip to Europe. I spent hours researching photographers’ experiences with airport security and discovered that some airports were notorious for denying hand checks, which could potentially ruin my film. This information was crucial for me in deciding which airport to fly out of, but finding it was a tedious process. I realized there had to be a better way to access this kind of data—thus, The Safelight Project was born.
With the help of Lovable.dev, I’ve been able to turn this idea into a reality. Lovable.dev is an AI-powered platform that allows users to create websites and applications through prompts, streamlining the development process. While I do have some coding experience, creating an app of this caliber alone is no joke. As of this writing, The Safelight Project has more than 8000+ lines of code. Without the help of Lovable.dev the production of The Safelight Project could have taken several months if not years. Throughout this process, I put my Masters Degree in Cybersecurity to use and ensured that the app has several protections to safeguard user information and to prevent attacks from malicious actors.
The Safelight Project is coming soon, and I can’t wait to share it with the film photography community. Stay informed, stay organized, and protect your film with ease.