Will I ever remember all required steps to take a good negative?

[Mark J]

Here's one i was reminded of last night : the depth of field of a 300mm lens at f/32 when focused on a scene about 12 feet away is SHOCKINGLY shallow !

[LabRat]

Camera shooting checklist:

F A S T

F- Focus/Factor/Flag/Film Holder (filter + factor, bellows factor, flag (shade) lens, holder in)

A- Aperture/advanced (roll film)

S- Shutter/Slide (speed set, sync, shutter closed, cocked, pull dark slide)

T- Think/Take (anything you forgot!?!!!)

There's others, like head/tripod tightened down, stable etc but that is basic sequence to expose... Say to yerself "FAST"...

It's a lot like learning to drive... So much to remember, but becomes natural over time + miles...

Steve K

[willwilson]

This is a great thread. Lots of great ideas. I approach this problem with a continuous improvement mindset. Each time I encounter something that makes taking a photograph a struggle or is just hard. I try to make a continuous improvement to reduce that struggle. Taking a photo should be easy.

I also try and follow the lean principle of 3S. Sort, Sweep (clean to inspect), and Standardize. This is a short version of 5S. So everything in my kit has a place and everything is in it's place. In my experience, because of this standard, actions can become more intuitive. Lean can also work wonders in the darkroom.

[Thom Bennett]

I started keeping a box with all of my f*** ups and would periodically look through them to remind myself just how much time and money was going to waste because I was not paying attention, moving too fast, etc. Doing this gave me a deeper respect for each sheet of film and has led to me being more methodical with every aspect of taking a photo.

[Michael Jones]

Have you made at least 500 negatives? Even if you have, a handy checklist is still essential. AND SLOW DOWN, TAKE YOUR TIME

Fred also said it will likely to make 5000 negatives before you get real keepers. That was more fun when 8x10 was less than $1 a sheet, Azo was less than $70 a box and J&C would cut Ilford ULF film in any size literally on demand…

[Chuck_4x5]

I'm just perusing some older threads as I drink my coffee this morning. Once I pulled the dark slide on the wrong side of the holder, exposed, then put the dark slide back, without realizing my error. I then flipped the holder to make another exposure, but for that exposure, I pulled the correct dark slide, still not being aware of my mistake. Talk about not paying attention........So, one sheet was bullet proof and one sheet had no exposure on it! It brought me to a stand still trying to figure out what had happened, I was perplexed but finally figured it out after going over in my mind several times my actions in the field.....it was a relief when I finally realized my dumb error. At that point you just laugh at yourself and to this day, I'm reminded of that mistake when I go to pull the dark slide.

[Kino]

Yeah, I have to really grab myself by the nape of the neck and shake myself hard before I make an exposure to avoid a myriad of mistakes at the back of the camera (not to mention the front).

My latest sin has been getting in a hurry and slightly unseating the film holder as I withdrew the dark slide, casting fog over most of the image. Pull the dark slide out SLOWLY and directly in-line with the slot. Insert the dark slide SLOWLY with the end square to the holder without any side pressure.

Thought I had leaky film holders at first, but no. A quick test with x-ray film in my back yard, without even draping the holder with the dark cloth confirmed I was the problem.

For myself having started with a 35mm SLR, everything about the speed and convenience of a modern roll film camera seems to be a poor training ground for large format shooting.

[Vaughan]

Fred also said it will likely to make 5000 negatives before you get real keepers. That was more fun when 8x10 was less than $1 a sheet, Azo was less than $70 a box and J&C would cut Ilford ULF film in any size literally on demand…

The general work flow is the same for all large format cameras, there is a very strong argument (financially as well as practically) to hone skills on 4x5 before moving to 5x7 or 8x10.

For myself having started with a 35mm SLR, everything about the speed and convenience of a modern roll film camera seems to be a poor training ground for large format shooting.

Apart from composition, there is very little skill overlap between roll film (35mm and 120) cameras and large format with sheet film (or plates).

[Alan Klein]

I'm just perusing some older threads as I drink my coffee this morning. Once I pulled the dark slide on the wrong side of the holder, exposed, then put the dark slide back, without realizing my error. I then flipped the holder to make another exposure, but for that exposure, I pulled the correct dark slide, still not being aware of my mistake. Talk about not paying attention........So, one sheet was bullet proof and one sheet had no exposure on it! It brought me to a stand still trying to figure out what had happened, I was perplexed but finally figured it out after going over in my mind several times my actions in the field.....it was a relief when I finally realized my dumb error. At that point you just laugh at yourself and to this day, I'm reminded of that mistake when I go to pull the dark slide.

Sounds like a great way to save film.

[Alan Klein]

Yeah, I have to really grab myself by the nape of the neck and shake myself hard before I make an exposure to avoid a myriad of mistakes at the back of the camera (not to mention the front).

My latest sin has been getting in a hurry and slightly unseating the film holder as I withdrew the dark slide, casting fog over most of the image. Pull the dark slide out SLOWLY and directly in-line with the slot. Insert the dark slide SLOWLY with the end square to the holder without any side pressure.

Thought I had leaky film holders at first, but no. A quick test with x-ray film in my back yard, without even draping the holder with the dark cloth confirmed I was the problem.

For myself having started with a 35mm SLR, everything about the speed and convenience of a modern roll film camera seems to be a poor training ground for large format shooting.

Hold the other hand over the camera back applying some pressure on it when removing and reinserting the dark slide.