I’ve been shooting large format for more than 40 years and still make mistakes and forget to do things. Chief among them, getting excited or in an hurry and forgetting to close the shutter before pulling the dark slide. Or using a filter and forgetting about the filter factor.
yeah , forgetting the shutter is open is always my problem too .. it doesn't mater a copal shutter, focal plane, or box camera ...luckily (unfortunately?) that's the least of my problems !
Fred Picker said to put your camera and gear in your car trunk in the driveway. Then take out the camera, set it up, make your exposure reading and settings, put in a film holder (empty) make your exposure. Then take down the camera and repack everything in the trunk. Do that 50 more times and you'll have it down.
Kino
We never have time to do it right, but we always seem to have time to do it again...
I long ago quit worrying about what the neighbors think.
With methodical practice all will eventually become ritual, and the process will flow. What I do wonder is how this process might "undo" itself as I age...will I begin to forget the essential steps in the reverse order of remembering them?
I have a checklist but I have learned that I don't have a checklist mind. Brownies and Holgas were made for people like me and I can still ruin film with those cameras.
The only time I didn't waste any film was the time I forgot to load the film holders before I went out.
The Viewfinder is the Soul of the Camera
If you don't believe it, look into an 8x10 viewfinder!
Dan
Have you made at least 500 negatives? Even if you have, a handy checklist is still essential. AND SLOW DOWN, TAKE YOUR TIME
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