Imagine it. You walk into a second-hand store out of pure curiosity. You look around and what catches your attention the most is a camera, 2.50€. Everything seems normal until Stefaan Knaps, the protagonist of this story, discovers that someone left the film roll inside (gen Z, the film roll is what you now call “gallery” except back then you had to wait an eternity to know whether your eyes were closed in the photo or not!)
Well, inside that roll there was a treasure (depending on how you see it, of course) over half a century old! A whole undeveloped roll, can you imagine the stories those photos could tell? Well, we’re going to tell you.
From the shelf to the lab
Stefaan Knaps is not a collector or a photography enthusiast. He just entered the shop looking for vinyl records to redecorate his house, and ended up buying a German box camera Alfor from the 50s because he thought it was pretty. Simply that. But when he examined it at home more closely, he noticed something that caught his attention: inside there was an old undeveloped film roll.
Driven by curiosity, he looked for someone who could help him. That’s how he met Guy Meurs, a photographer specialized in traditional techniques, who not only was able to develop the images, but also confirmed that the camera still worked. He even placed a new roll in it so Stefaan could keep using the device.
Images from another time
The developed photos showed family scenes: a man with two children, the same children alone, and the man practicing archery. Judging by the clothing style, it’s estimated the images could date back to the mid-20th century.
Although the people portrayed remain a mystery, Stefaan doesn’t want to leave it at that. He has shared the images in a local Facebook group hoping to find the protagonists or their relatives. He says he’d like to return those memories to whoever they belong to, because those photos are still someone’s cherished memories. Can you imagine finding a photo of your grandparents as young people? It would be a real gift.
The miracle of preservation
Photographer Guy Meurs admits that it’s not so rare to find old cameras with undeveloped rolls, but in most cases the film is already too deteriorated to save anything. Humidity and the passage of time usually ruin any recovery attempt. That’s why he considers this finding exceptional, both for the condition of the material and for the sharpness of the developed images.
From nostalgia to personal commitment
What started as an unpretentious aesthetic gesture has become a personal crusade for Stefaan. Even though he doesn’t know if he will manage to return the images to their rightful owners, his story has gone viral and touched those who believe in the value of memory.
Develop your negatives at home
Do you have a roll and don’t know what to do with it? Here’s the tip
You only need a dark room or very low light, basic products like developer, stop bath and fixer, and follow a few simple steps to get your own prints. Today there are even beginner kits that explain everything step by step, no need for an enlarger or professional equipment! Ideal if you find a forgotten roll and want to discover what’s inside, like Stefaan!
In a digital world where everything is fleeting, rescuing an analog image, taken more than half a century ago is something incredible. Used to immediacy, to speed, to seeing a photo a second after taking it… Photos taken with care, on a trip, in a special moment that was so unique and special you wanted to capture it forever! There’s so much magic in an old film roll…!