The first rule of photography...

grat · Apr 6, 2021

MattKing said:
I don't measure out the next chemical until the film is in the current chemical.
But I do line up the bottles before starting.

Every time I do a new combination of film/developer, I print out a spreadsheet with all my ratios, times, and steps for that run.

I even have a block that looks suspiciously like a recipe. It includes the intermediate steps of "measure out X" so that I can measure out the next round of chemicals in between agitations, and notes such as "Return to storage bottle". It's not so much that I'm OCD, it's that otherwise, I'm guaranteed to do *something* out of order.

Between that, and the automated process clock on my tablet, I usually manage to muddle through without screwing too much up.

Patrick Robert James · Apr 6, 2021

You'll eventually do everything once. Sometimes you will do it multiple times just to make sure you learn. Lol. Call it reinforcement. At least you didn't lose any images.

Donald Qualls · Apr 6, 2021

This does, however, raise an interesting question: what's the correct replenishment dosage for an empty tank?

VinceInMT · Apr 6, 2021

Always carry on your film and camera with you.

30-some years ago I was flying to a relative’s wedding and they asked me to be their photographer, not something I normally do. I packed my 120 film in my suitcase but had the camera along with my 35mm camera and film in my carry on. When I arrived my suitcase had decided on a separate journey of its own. The wedding was in the mountains about an hour from the city where the airport was and even though they still had a camera store they frowned when I asked for 120 film. The next day the airport courier arrived just after the wedding, which I shot in 35mm, so I was able to shoot all the formal after shots in 120 with my now arrived film. Just another reason I never do that kind of work.

Sirius Glass · Apr 6, 2021

First rule of photography: Think

paolod · Apr 6, 2021

I shot an entire roll in an OM-2 with the film loaded but not engaged with the sprockets. Did not notice that every time I wound on, the rewind knob was not turning.

More recently I forgot that I was replenishing and by force of habit dumped the Xtol down the drain instead of back into the jug.

Donald Qualls · Apr 7, 2021

paolod said:
I shot an entire roll in an OM-2 with the film loaded but not engaged with the sprockets. Did not notice that every time I wound on, the rewind knob was not turning.

Pretty sure everyone who has ever shot 35mm has done that at least once. I did it just a couple months ago, with my Kiev 4 (which somehow doesn't turn the rewind even when correctly engaged; I've also opened it in the darkroom a couple times to verify the takeup was building diameter). Also possible with some 16mm cameras (those that use Rada cassettes, for instance).

ChristopherCoy · Apr 7, 2021

Donald Qualls said:
Pretty sure everyone who has ever shot 35mm has done that at least once.

Well... at least anyone who shoots a 35mm RF. Kinda hard to do that with an SLR.

Horatio · Apr 7, 2021

Um... the OM2 is a SLR.

ChristopherCoy · Apr 7, 2021

Horatio said:
Um... the OM2 is a SLR.

Oh wait.. LOL. @Donald Qualls was referring to you not having the film engaged. I don't know why, but I was responding and thinking that he had mentioned having the lens cap on.

Look... it's early, and I've only had one cup of coffee. LOL

Horatio · Apr 7, 2021

ChristopherCoy said:
Oh wait.. LOL. @Donald Qualls was referring to you not having the film engaged. I don't know why, but I was responding and thinking that he had mentioned having the lens cap on.

Look... it's early, and I've only had one cup of coffee. LOL

I've done the RF lens cap thing. Fortunately no one was looking.

Donald Qualls · Apr 7, 2021

Horatio said:
I've done the RF lens cap thing. Fortunately no one was looking.

I did that one fairly recently, too -- never had a non-SLR with a lens cap until the past year; in that time I've done it on a few frames with my Kiev 4 and a couple with my Debonair (Holga-like). At least if you leave the dark slide in with large format you can just pull it out and cycle the shutter again...

foc · Apr 7, 2021

1st rule of photography.......use your eyes.

DF · Apr 19, 2021

Horatio said:
Since we're fessing up, last year I shot a whole roll of 36 exposures... with no film in the camera. Doh!

Is your camera an older model - that doesn't indicate whether or not it's loaded?

Down Under · Apr 19, 2021

Carry a notebook and a pen. Jot down everything. As I have done (off and on) since 1963.

I also write stuff on bits of paper and these I update every evening from my desk at home. As memory-jogs. as long as I remember to put them in a place where I can find them and read them, these serve me well.

Every month I sit down and type the best notes into a computer document I all FotoNotes (year). One every year. I have done this since I got my first computer in the 1980s. Last year thanks to C-19 my FotoNotes 2020 was the longest document I have ever written. About 100 pages. Many many scribbled photo notes and darkroom reminders I jotted down in other notebooks went into those pages.

Now, I would like to say I go back to and reread those notes regularly. Of course I don't. But I will. Some day. Or someone will.

Maybe George Eastman. While I sit on the next cloud and play my harp to him...

ChristopherCoy · Apr 19, 2021

ozmoose said:
Carry a notebook and a pen. Jot down everything. As I have done (off and on) since 1963.

Could I buy your 60’s and 70’s notebooks from you? I bet they are full of useful information!

Horatio · Apr 19, 2021

DF said:
Is your camera an older model - that doesn't indicate whether or not it's loaded?

Nikon F. There's no "window" in the back.

wiltw · Apr 19, 2021

ChristopherCoy said:
Well I thought I loaded the 35mm roll the other day when I loaded the tmax and TriX in the same tank. I’m just getting around to developing them today and it’s been in the same place on the table so I thought it was loaded. But nope... there the 35mm roll sits, right where it was when is WASNT loaded.

How would you develop Tmax and TriX simultaneously in the same tank?...the developing times are not the same!

Horatio · Apr 19, 2021

ozmoose said:
Carry a notebook and a pen. Jot down everything.

That was my goal last year. I logged exposure data for five rolls before I gave up. I would try to store the changes in settings in my head, then forget what I had done! When I venture forth again for purposeful film photography, I will carry the notebook, and try again.

Down Under · Apr 20, 2021

ChristopherCoy said:
Could I buy your 60’s and 70’s notebooks from you? I bet they are full of useful information!

I am greatly honored by this. In the next few months when the weather turns cold (fortunately it doesn't snow yet in Australia tho' climate change may alter this situation in the too-near future), I will take the time to type up my notes in computer document (Word) format, several hundred pages but I will leave out all the high school passion which will cut down the pages to be typed. I will also try to scan all the 1960s film leaflets I have held on to for all those years.

I will PM you when this is done and you can have a PDF of this with my compliments.

Then I may tackle the 1945 Kodak film and darkroom handbook I have in an archive box somewhere.

Now if I can only live to 107...

foc · Apr 20, 2021

wiltw said:
How would you develop Tmax and TriX simultaneously in the same tank?...the developing times are not the same!

Depends on the developer you are using.
B&W development can be very flexible.
For example if I had both films in the one tank and I was using Ilfosol 3 at 1+14 @20C then I would give both 12 mins.
I have done it before and to be honest, I couldn't see any difference (to my eye) than if I had developed them separately with separate times.

ChristopherCoy · Apr 20, 2021

Horatio said:
That was my goal last year. I logged exposure data for five rolls before I gave up. I would try to store the changes in settings in my head, then forget what I had done! When I venture forth again for purposeful film photography, I will carry the notebook, and try again.

You too? I've tried notebooks, I have two film notes apps on my phone, I even tried using my voice recorder app on my iWatch. Nothing sticks!

wiltw · Apr 20, 2021

foc said:
Depends on the developer you are using.
B&W development can be very flexible.
For example if I had both films in the one tank and I was using Ilfosol 3 at 1+14 @20C then I would give both 12 mins.
I have done it before and to be honest, I couldn't see any difference (to my eye) than if I had developed them separately with separate times.

I looked up Ilfosol and discovered that indeed the recommended developing times for Tmax400 and for TriX are different by 1:30...which works if you underrate the speed of TriX at EI200, or pull development for +1EV (overexposed) TriX for the 1+9 dilution. At the 1+14 dilution, the 2:00 time difference as a percentage difference in times is not so great as at 1+9 dilution, so I guess you can get away with treating the film in that manner.
But IMHO, that is not great darkroom technique, unless you deliberately rated the film for pull development in order the deliberately reduce contrast. Having shot TriX for many years, I can't say I have run into any situations in which contrast was too great!

Donald Qualls · Apr 20, 2021

Or you could always use Rodinal 1:50 and stand development for 90 minutes or so. That works (as well as it works) on almost all B&W emulsions.

TmRn · Jun 1, 2021

Juan Valdenebro said:
Things happen sometimes... I met Buena Vista Social Club band members in Barcelona 20 years ago, and we had a great time two hours before a concert, and they allowed me to photograph them freely: relaxed people... I did nearly a whole 36 frames roll, all Musicians smiling and playing their instruments, getting ready for the show... Unforgettable. I had seen them live recently, a few days before, so I just went home to develop while they were about to start... In front of my door, looking for the keys, I found my roll was yet in my coat pocket: I never put it inside my camera.

But I bet those images are firmly etched in your mind. Probably the best pictures you ever took.

The first rule of photography...

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