It'll be a little while before I get to the film, but just returned from a solo backpack trip over Thanksgiving (Wed - Sun) along Redwood Creek. Many cold creek crossings (sandals, no socks), clear skies, but only an hour of sun on me on Thursday and again on Friday. My hike-in was at the beginning of a rare cold spell...clear skies but no wind. Hiking part way out on Saturday, I had no sun on me that day, much of the ground frozen, and I do not think the creek water had warmed up any! Full moon. I did not take a tent and had a fire one night...so enjoyed the changing light of the other nights. Salmon "doing it" in the creek, otters swimming by, a bald eagle low overhead one morning, noisy kingfishers and fresh bear tracks up and down the creek.
The lack (or almost lack of) wind made photographing easier. I took the 4x5 (Gowland PocketView w/ Caltar IIN 150/5.6). I hand-carried the camera/lens on the tripod (old Gitzo Reporter Perfomance). The 11 film holders loaded up with Tech Pan, and the other stuff were in the pack. Having the camera on the tripod meant I could quickly set up a shot while hiking. Film etc were at the top of my backpack, ready if I wanted it. Once in camp I had a shoulder bag for film and meter. I came home with two holders unexposed...mornings are slow when it is below freezing!
I metered the Tech Pan at ASA 16, and at the f/stop I used a lot on this trip (f/32), exposure times were anything from a minute to 30 minutes, depending if I was deep in the redwoods or on the gravel beds of Redwood Creek. I would toss in another stop or so of exposure to the already generous exposure times to handle a little of the reciprocity failure -- have no idea what it is for Tech Pan...just going by experience, guesses and luck!
This is a continuation of a project start a couple years ago (Redwood Creek: 4x5 Tech Pan/Carbon Prints). Brought out the 5x7 for a quick backpack along Redwood Creek in September with TMax400, but the 4x5 is so light in comparison!!! Well, as long as I have Tech pan, I'll keep on with the project!
This is a reproduction of my 4x5 carbon print of Dolason Creek, taken on a previous (and much warmer) trip using the 4x5 and Tech Pan.