Steno pad - Technical vs artistic

Using notebooks in the field or darkroom I find my self only writing down the technical details faithfully. Over the years I have been more inclined to try and express the emotions or thoughts during the taking/making of my images. I'm not doing a very good job of it and it becomes difficult to find my technical details when mixed with other thoughts or to search those thoughts when embedded with technical details.

At the store in the office section, I came across a 6"x9" Steno pad with lined rows and 2 columns. I labeled the left side Technical and the other column Thoughts.

I tried it out in the darkroom with some new prints and wrote down the technical details for a given print. On the Thoughts side I wrote down some random thoughts about the images. I almost needed a third column for Ideas spawned while thinking about the images such as How to improve next time, what to explore or try to express. Then I remembered there is the back of the page. The back side is now labeled Techniques to try and Questions (to ask myself).

The last two pages of the pad are my LF checklist, Shutter variances, and a growing techniques list (use intentional blur, Hyperfocal focusing, etc)

This is a very useful tool for reference. Pen and paper - who knew? I suppose I could transfer it all to a database or spreadsheet for search-ability.

The problem with stenopads is that they are spiral bound and it is easy for sheets to tear out. The half page format really does not provide enough space unless one write rather small. I personally use hard cover school composition books with pages that are sewn in. I think most people are familiar with these books. They usually have a black and white marble printed cover with a blank label on the front. Since it would be very difficult to add or remove pages to such a notebook they are permitted in court as evidence. Handy should there be a dispute as to when a photo was taken and its location. They usually sell for about a dollar and are available just about everywhere.

I number each page and make an index starting at the last page and working backwards. When the entries and index meet I start a new book. I use the same format for field notes and also for darkroom work. A further suggestion use a waterproof and permanent pen. For legal reasons do not use pencil as it can be erased.

I like that use of the old-school steno book.

Welcome to APUG

That is an interesting idea of note down the technical and artistic ideas.

Gerald C Koch said:

The problem with stenopads is that they are spiral bound and it is easy for sheets to tear out. The half page format really does not provide enough space unless one write rather small. I personally use hard cover school composition books with pages that are sewn in. .

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I like the flip nature of the spiral bound vs the fold of the composition book. I was thinking the tear out nature would come in handy if the negative is damaged or otherwise unusable. The artistic thoughts would not be kept for that image either until reshot/revisited.

I suppose you could use different pages of the composition book or a line in the middle of the page or special Note markers to draw your eye to a thought or artistic expression vs the composition and technical notes.

Find what works for you even if its a smart phone app, voice recording, or notes on blue painter tape on your 4x5 holder (which I use more in the field than the notebook when working quickly).