Exposure Checklist
Those people who have only ever used digital cameras will not realise the dearth of meta information a transparency or negative carries. There is no date on it, no exposure data, no camera settings, no lens information, etc. Film photographers have to record all this information for themselves. Large format photographers do not even get the order in which the photographs were taken (sometimes a strip of 35mm can put the information on each exposure in context). So what we do is to make notes.
I tried making notes freehand to begin with but it was such a mess. I can’t write particularly well at the best of times and I’d always forget something. Also, I wanted something that could help me make sure I’d checked everything before taking each exposure.
The result is my exposure checklist that I’ve printed out and made into a little clipboard that slips into my Gnass Quickload Pouch. When I take photograph I fill in the details and mark an incrementing number on each quickload. The result is almost organised and it’s stopped me making mistakes a few times..
I also try to make a quick sketch of the scene and mark down some of the important EV readings. In this way I can then double check the exposure of critical shots when I get back to base. I can look at the digital version as well, checking that the result will look correct and judging how blown out highlight or blocked up shadows will be before sending off the first sheet..
I’m off to Whitby this weekend so I’ll show a sample exposure sheet with my notes. I’m also looking forward to trying out my new tripod. I don’t know if I’ve mentioned but I’ve worked with surveying equipment in a previous life and the use of spikes for the tripods seems to be a given. If this sort of critical task benefits from spikes then I thought photography might benefit too so my new Gitzo 3540XLS has 4 inch stainless steel spikes (which I can swap with rubber feet if needed indoors). The tripod is also bloody huge. At it’s maximum height with the feet on, I can’t attach my Ebony as the ceiling gets in the way!! This sounds like overkill, and on flat land it probably is (although Charlie Waite might disagree); on a sloping hill though, you need two very long legs to use on the downward side and if you are on the uphill side you can still only just stand up.. It’s less than a pound heavier than my current setup and I’d prefer the extra weight to be on the tripod where it can do some good..
The odd thing about the Gitzo is that it smells of old ladies bathing products. A fragrant talc smell that fortunately wears off fairly quickly. Somewhat disturbing though!
