Recording exposure

[Vaughn]

I use LF and keep notes in yellow Rite-in-the-Rain waterproof notebooks. Date, place, film, lens, filter, exposure, a couple meter readings, a small very rough messy drawing of the scene, and later on, how I developed the neg. No form that I fill out, just a standard way I right the info down -- maybe two of three lines in the notebook. Pretty compact. I transfer most of the info onto the paper negative envelopes that hold the negatives.

Why -- 1) tells me how to develop the sheet of film later, 2) when I do something right, I'll know how to do it again, and 3) the books become a journal and record of where and when I have photographed over the last 30 years of using LF cameras. Many times I have gone back to the notebooks to see when, for example, I photographed my boys at the base of Bridalveil Falls, or what year and season I took a particular road trip.

Vaughn

 

[Rick A]

I'm with you Vaughn, I'm learning LF and want to know what I'm doing right and wrong. It also helps me to remember what I shot(old-timers memory).

 

[dehk]

I used to worry about recording exposure data but nowadays, it seems irrelevant to me. I used to record the data to check and learn about exposure at the very beginning, besides if i try to do it now its just gonna be papers and note card that will get mixed up. I don't feel like the exposure data is going to help anything anymore. Wait, i do mark down aperture sometimes when I am testing out a 'new' lens, correct me if I am wrong. The only "exposure data" i record nowadays is in the darkroom, for reproduction.

 

[benjiboy]

I record exposure and lighting condition details so if the exposure is incorrect , the next time I encounter the same conditions, I can learn from my mistakes.

 

[Q.G.]

I'm reminded that i do record something else: when and where the negatives were made. And when not immediately obvious, also what they are pictures of.
I do that later, on the sheets i keep the negatives in.

 

[alexmacphee]

Small notebook and pencil. At the top of the page, the camera and the film & speed rating. For each frame, the date, a word or two to help identify it later, a code for the lens and zoom setting (if applicable), a code for filter, and speed/aperture. e.g.

28/8/09 cyclist VS35-70/35 OrX2 500/5.6

VS35-70 is my Vario-Sonnar 35-70 and /35 is the zoom setting. OrX2 is an orange filter with factor x2. I might also add +1 or -1 after the exposure in case of intentional over- under-exposure.

When I get home, I transfer the notes to a document with a name like Exposure_record_2010, held on Googledocs, so that I can access it from anywhere, it's less likely to get lost, and it takes up no space. When that's done, I put a note in the notebook for that film to record that it's been transferred to Googledocs.

Having this record is also useful as a search pointer in to my negative binders. I also add a note to the electronic record when the film is processed, to describe the processing, e.g. D76 1+1, 12' @20C.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I use a little Olympus pocket hard disc voice recorder and write it down when I get home

That's my favorite method. However, mine is a small dictaphone with a magnetic tape.

 

[benjiboy]

That's my favorite method. However, mine is a small dictaphone with a magnetic tape.

I find this method ideal Ralph, my voice recorder is small and looks looks like a cell phone and people don't stare at you in the street they think you are on the phone, I can record a lot more information than I would have time or could be bothered to write down.

 

[Mats_A]

When I shoot rollfilm I (try) to write down exposure records for all negs. Only 12 of them to a roll. When I shoot 35mm I only record type of film, ISO used, date of development, developer, temp and time.

r

Mats

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I find this method ideal Ralph, my voice recorder is small and looks looks like a cell phone and people don't stare at you in the street they think you are on the phone, I can record a lot more information than I would have time or could be bothered to write down.

I agree. It quick and complete. When I'm out shooting, taking notes is a bother, but when back home, I would not like to be without the information. This is the best of both worlds.

 

[Eising]

I've considered starting a hobby project to create an application for my android-based mobile phone that lets me record exposures, either by voice recording or text input, optionally use the on-phone camera as a way to have a sketch of the photo you are taking. It should also be able to export the information you input to your computer some how. I know such an application would probably belong in the hybrid forum, but it is none the less an application I would find useful myself. What do you think?

 

[RalphLambrecht]

... What do you think?

Why make it simple if you can make it complicated?

 

[Eising]

Yes, good point.

 

[Vaughn]

I like recording the info digitally -- pencil and fingers. Do it once, and it will be readable as long as the paper holds up.

 

[thefizz]

I also use a dictaphone, very quick and handy.

 

[benjiboy]

I also use a dictaphone, very quick and handy.

If anybody ever asks you if they can borrow your dictaphone, tell them to use their fingers like everyone else