Notes from your exposes

bowzart said:

I don't bother much with exposure, etc. Did you note Saint Ansel's quote of Minor White? When AA asked MW for data the reply was "the camera was faithfully used". In that spirit, I record the reasons for the decisions I make. The f/stop and shutter speed, etc. are really not very important - unless it's going to stay the same and I need to go back. That sometimes happens indoors, but almost NEVER outdoors.

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I record my light readings and camera settings so that when I do something wrong...or even do something right, I'll know why...and perhaps even avoid the mistakes and repeat the successes. My notes are part of my learning process. I am constantly tweaking my exposure & development to match the changing parameters of my carbon printing.

I see the benefit of recording the "Why", but I'm afraid that I'll keep those as mental notes.

Vaughn

Vaughn said:

I see the benefit of recording the "Why", but I'm afraid that I'll keep those as mental notes.

Vaughn

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Yeah, and I think I may be compulsive to the point of being ridiculous when I make notes.

I liked the pix of your notes. I couldn't do it that way. It would mess up my work flow. I move right along. With me, shooting is a process, or more a kind of dance, actually. I follow my eye.

Later, I can usually extract what I need from the negative itself, or from a proof sheet. I can't say I don't screw up, or that notes such as you make wouldn't be useful. Thinking about your statement about "mental notes" - my memory is not as good as it used to be, but I seem to be able to remember the "what" well enough. I'm more interested in my mental process. Even if I never look at the notes again, making them "sets" them in my mind.

I can also see how the carbon process would impose some very specific parameters.

Wish I had more time today; I'm eager to scan and describe some projects. I'm still moving my studio, and finally, it's a fine spring day, albeit a bit chilly. Can't afford to lose the opportunity.

I record the usual exposure information for each flm pack in a small notebook. On the facing page a draw a quick sketch of the shot. Sometimes I use my canon point and shoot digital for a quck shot and record voice notes.