Twenty+ Years of Architecture and Large Format HABS/HAER Photography taught me this:

[schafphoto]

My top 12 gear lessons learned exposing thousands of 4x5 and 5x7 sheets for work:

• I always use a geared head.
• I have a cable release on every lens.
• I have a LEE filter ring on every lens (for 100mm glass filters).
• The edges of my lens boards are color coded so I can recognize a lens from color and so can my assistant. (White=55, Yellow=72, Black=90, Magenta= 120, Green=180) (300 and 450 are black but on a separate long camera)
• I Put a carpenter's nail bag on my tripod that fits filters or a meter or whatever.
• I use a film-pouch that holds 2-3 film holders clipped to the tripod to keep them out of the light while I get ready (this is a 10" laptop pouch, but finding one that zips on the top is tricky).
• I put a Post-it note on my ground glass every time I execute a swing or tilt (so I remember to zero my camera for my next photo)
• I no longer hit my film holders with the bare side of my dust brush, I now have wrapped the brush with a multiple layers of electrical tape. (I have many old, dented holders from back at Brooks)
• I put cold shoes all over my camera to hold flags and accessories.
• I wrapped my bellows with an extra white fabric wrap to keep it cooler and protect my bellows from getting skewered by a branch, etc. (I'm trademarking it the BellowsCondom)
• I often travel with a Burro. (Or a wagon will do)
• I always wear an orange surveyors safety-vest and have an orange dark-cloth to stand in the street and look official. (less important for portrait and boudoir shooters)(The surveyors vests have a huge pouch on the back that is perfect for the dark cloth)

Most of these tips come from my on-location HABS/HAER photo workflow where I will capture 20 to 30 views a day.
These tips won't be for everyone, not for every genre, probably not relevant in the studio.

PS: If you have never heard of HABS, check out the Historic American Buildings Survey collection at the Library of Congress here: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/hh/ [just search your town or county or a landmark like Golden Gate Bridge]

I'm looking forward to your opinions and observations and I hope to pick up some more tricks from all of you!

[pchaplo]

Schaf,

I really like the flag in articulated arm to shade the lens. Excellent idea! I’ve been thinking of this and would love to hear details on the parts you used.

Suggested #21: The platform on yiur vehicle roof — reminds me of Ansel Adams and his Infernational Travelall. On my old SUV, I set up on the (dented) roof. On my new Honda CRV, I am looking for a roof platform.

[schafphoto]

Hi Paul,

The articulated arm is a Flare Dinkum. You can get them at B&H or Samys. One side is a shoe mount, the other is a thin black aluminum shade.
This is my second truck platform. The first was a 4x6 foot sheet of marine plywood and an aluminum frame on my Toyota 4Runner. This time I had my new platform welded from a perforated aluminum panel and then had it powdercoated. The ladder is a GOBI ladder from my old 4Runner modified to it the Pathfinder.

[pchaplo]

Schaf,

Great idea for the side mount for digital camera. Especially useful if your dslr has gps! I also always use geared head is yours Manfrotto 405?

ps: glad that you’re practicing safe bellows.

[schafphoto]

My geared head is a Manfrotto 405. I have the little 410, but it isn't up to the task for the 5x7 and the knobs are too small once you've used the 405 for a while. The 410 is fine for DSLR work. I bought the Arca Swiss Cube once and returned it because it seemed too fussy for a fast moving job, it was a beutiful thing to behold though. The 405 is a beast and durable and the cube didn't feel like something I wanted to throw around, I was too worried about damaging it in transit. The 405 has been through a lot. I used to have a big Cambo ball head for years but when I found the geared head I couldn't believe I hadn't been using it forever in the studio or on location. That's just the way I shoot... always things that don't move.

I was addicted to Polaroid and then Fujiroid and now with a dwindling stash, I have calibrated to a Fuji XT-2 as a Digiroid camera for metering and histogram. I can move my Lee filters over for exact representations on the Fuji of what each scene will look like at f22. I set the display to monochrome view but the RAW files still have color later when I download them into Lightroom. That way I can deliver the Large Format film views and scans and a set of color field views from the same tripod position with similar framing. I can get the draft photos to the client faster that way too. The Digi mount makes use of an old METZ 60CT-4 flash mount added to the bottom of the quick release of the 405 head. I found I could never get a sharp image indoors handheld with long exposures but I was reluctant to remove the LF camera and put it down to use the tripod head for the Fuji. This way I can use both.

[Ben Calwell]

Great tips and ideas -- thanks for sharing!

[Jim Jones]

For a quick and cheap way to stabilize a vehicle with a platform on top, I cut lengths of 1x2 wood to prop at an angle between ground and vehicle frame. The vehicle is moved to make these props vertical. A plywood pad beneath the props is necessary in soft ground.

[pchaplo]

Monorail fall restraint: I always loop a thin bungee cord with a caribiner over the rail between the 2 standards and secure it on the tripod head. In this way, if my quick release mount ever suffered rare operator error :) the camera will only fall about a foot, and the shock attenuated by the stretchy bungee. I started doing this after mis-mounting my Canon 1Ds on an Acra Swiss dovetail an catching my camera in mid-air as it fell to the ground with my tilt shift lens. My client was impressed but I vowed never to repeat that feat.

[pchaplo]

About your “HABS a la Cart” that’s a great idea when terrain allows. I’m thinking that a garden cart would work well for me. Also I’m been toying with the idea of getting an aluminum Mag-Liner hand truck/dolly so that I can keep my gear on the cart overnight n hotel room during travel. Could also be used to haul gear on-site.

What is the yellow-headed device on the side of the cart? It looks like survey equipment. Do you make laser scans?

ps: saw the cup holder for coffee alleluia!

[pchaplo]

Schaf,

Your post is a gold mine! Lots of shared tips and lessons learned here! I like the bellows wrap yet most time I shoot with bag bellows and always concerned about "bellows pucker."

Here, my kit has to include snake boots, and I am partial to Rocky Mountain with zipper and laces. I can walk all day in them, and besides snakes. they protect from thorns and briars (and chiggers, too).

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Small note: how do you attach the cold shoes to your camera? I am going to add a Dinkum -- is yours the "Compact"? - thats the only one I see with cold shoe mount.

THANKS!
Paul


Hi Paul,

The articulated arm is a Flare Dinkum. You can get them at B&H or Samys. One side is a shoe mount, the other is a thin black aluminum shade.
This is my second truck platform. The first was a 4x6 foot sheet of marine plywood and an aluminum frame on my Toyota 4Runner. This time I had my new platform welded from a perforated aluminum panel and then had it powdercoated. The ladder is a GOBI ladder from my old 4Runner modified to it the Pathfinder.

[schafphoto]

Yes compact dinkum.
Aluminum Cold shoes screw on mostly with 1/4-20 screws or teeeeny metal screws

I need to get those boots


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[schafphoto]

For a quick and cheap way to stabilize a vehicle with a platform on top, I cut lengths of 1x2 wood to prop at an angle between ground and vehicle frame. The vehicle is moved to make these props vertical. A plywood pad beneath the props is necessary in soft ground.

I'm using the MASTER LOCK 265DCCSEN Telescoping Sliding Door Bar Lock so I have the ability to adjust to uneven terrain. They collapse nicely too.

[pchaplo]

I also wear a high-viz vest for both safety and the “official” look. Add a hard-hat to compete the ensemble and you resemble a survey team, which seems more comprehensible somehow. In addition, I often wrap a high-viz mesh vest as a skirt around my tripod, just below the head to make my setup more visible near traffic and pedestrians. For some shoots, I put magnetic Whelen lightbar on my SUV, and setup traffic cones. I also carry a fall restraint harness (Miller, with side and back anchor points).

[pchaplo]

Schaf, since we are discussing gear here, I am working on my scale stick as the center hinge needs adjustment to align and lock properly. I agree that our similar folding scale sticks are a bit long. I’m thinking of removing the last (highest) section of my scale stick to reduce it to 12 ft. The full height is unwieldy, especially in the Texas wind. Mine has bolts that seem easily removable. Have you considered this?

[schafphoto]

Schaf, since we are discussing gear here, I am working on my scale stick as the center hinge needs adjustment to align and lock properly. I agree that our similar folding scale sticks are a bit long. I’m thinking of removing the last (highest) section of my scale stick to reduce it to 12 ft. The full height is unwieldy, especially in the Texas wind. Mine has bolts that seem easily removable. Have you considered this?

Since my 12' scale only folds in the middle, if I reduced it to a 10' scale I would need to renumber the scale since I can't just lop off the 1' and 12' end and make it work.

[pchaplo]

Schaf,

Oh, I see! Mine is 16’ and folds into 4 sections. I just finished removing the highest quarter, making it 12’:

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[pchaplo]

You mentioned have a Lee filter ring on every lens—that’s a great ideas to save wear and tear on threads. If you were to get a filter system again, which would you buy? Also which exact
polarized would you buy?

[schafphoto]

I think there are a few really nice filter systems out there now. When I started it was only LEE. I just returned a "Breakthrough" filter holder which was very nice but didn't really accommodate the 4mm thick glass graduated filers I have. So I sent it back. I have so many LEE rings and four holders set up in different fashions with one, two and a one plus 105mm threaded slot. It would need to be a great product to make me want to invest in a whole new setup. I am getting a 17mm canon TSE lens soon and then I'll meet to look at the superwide 5 inch filters for that.

The trick with Lee I have found is to use them upside down so the weight of the filter plus the tension of the spring release are working to wedge the holder onto the filter ring. Otherwise the weight of a heavy glass filter or two will work AGAINST the spring loaded clip and make the whole assembly more wobbly. Even though the holder seems to make more sense with the clip up top, put the clip down.

Only get the LEE wide angle mounting rings because with movements you want as little vignetting as possible and because the regular rings are made of plastic and I have had them fail. The wide rings are all metal.

-Schaf

[schafphoto]

Paul,
I got my boots today. pretty nice. Now I need some snakes to try them out on.

-Schaf

[pchaplo]

Schaf!

Nice. Mine had a brochure that said 95% of snake bites are below I knee. I hope the Texas Diamondback rattlesnakes read that insert! Please see my post re: marking negs. Having some issues here.

-Paul


Paul,
I got my boots today. pretty nice. Now I need some snakes to try them out on.

-Schaf

[neil poulsen]

Thanks for sharing these insights.

I like the idea of wearing a professional vest. I'm wondering if that might not curb passers by stopping to chat?

I have both a Lee shade and also a filter holder with the rings, etc. Are the Lee glass filters that you use multi-coated? (I'd heard of Lee resin filters, but not glass.)

I can see carrying a light-weight white piece of cloth, perhaps even one side white, one side black, for protecting bellows from the sun.

What's the purpose of hitting a film holder with the brush; is it to dislodge dust? I have a friend who, before each exposure, hits the loaded film-holder on his palm, so that he knows the orientation of the film sheet inside the holder.

After seeing the well-known photo of Ansel Adams on top of his wood-sided station wagon, I thought about installing a platform. But then, one's limited to locations that can be reached by a vehicle. I finally decided to purchase a reasonably priced, Gitzo Giant Studex 5 and carry a ladder. It'll go as high as I would ever need. (I also have a light-weight ladder that I can carry.)

[pchaplo]

Schaf,

Also, I like the hi-viz dark cloth — did you DIY make that?

On my old SUV, I shot 4x5 many times from the roof for years. It was my workhorse and could support me along the edges. On my new vehicle, I need a platform. Brainstorming.

[schafphoto]

Anyone have any excellent sunscreen that's not too oily?
-Schaf

[pchaplo]

I’m partial to Bullfrog Gel but I wash my hands after applying.

Quik Gel (right) and classic Superblock titanium dioxide style at left.

Quik Gel dries fast sort-of like Benadryl Gel.

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[Steve Goldstein]

I've found the Neutrogena products to be basically non-oily. And they're PABA-free, which is important to me since the smell of that stuff makes me queasy.

[pchaplo]

I’m reading the photo guidelines regarding specified sunscreen (lol).

In the heat of the gulf oil patch in 101 heat index, just did a field test of Neutrogena Sensitive Skin sunscreen. Applies nice and smooth. Feels quality. Slight white residue all over my face eventually vanished. Not oily but a somewhat lotion-greasy feel. Pretty good stuff - thanks for the suggestion!

As for me, I’m going back to Bullfrog Quik-Gel. YMMV. Quik Gel seems to last longer if you sweat heavily hauling gear in high heat and humidity. I like the way it evaporates like rubbing alcohol on my skin nice and cool. Also unlike cheap Banana Boat, which painfully stings my skin, Quik Gel is compatible with my somewhat sensitive skin chemistry.

[schafphoto]

Thanks for sharing these insights.
I like the idea of wearing a professional vest. I'm wondering if that might not curb passers by stopping to chat?
I have both a Lee shade and also a filter holder with the rings, etc. Are the Lee glass filters that you use multi-coated? (I'd heard of Lee resin filters, but not glass.)
I can see carrying a light-weight white piece of cloth, perhaps even one side white, one side black, for protecting bellows from the sun.
What's the purpose of hitting a film holder with the brush; is it to dislodge dust? I have a friend who, before each exposure, hits the loaded film-holder on his palm, so that he knows the orientation of the film sheet inside the holder.
After seeing the well-known photo of Ansel Adams on top of his wood-sided station wagon, I thought about installing a platform. But then, one's limited to locations that can be reached by a vehicle. I finally decided to purchase a reasonably priced, Gitzo Giant Studex 5 and carry a ladder. It'll go as high as I would ever need. (I also have a light-weight ladder that I can carry.)

Hi Neil, I must've missed your post until now.
- Yes the safety vest makes people think you are 'supposed' to be doing what you are doing. People will still ask, but they assume you are 'official' and sometimes just want directions to somewhere, and since you're 'on staff' with a vest and all, you must be a good person to ask.
- I have Lee filters in resin, and glass filters from Schneider like the attenuator and two of my grads. They are 3+mm thick so I have to have thick tracks installed on the Lee holder.
- My cloth bellows cover is white on the outside and black on the inside. when I built my camera I had it sewn to fit around the 5x7 bellows.
- The brush banging filter is to dislodge dust. That's how we learned at Brooks. But I hosed many a holder before I started to wrap my brush with gaff tape.
- I do tap my film holders on my palm to get the top film edge to seat the bottom of the holder so that I have a larger border for HABS numbering. It's just a habit now, I don't even know I'm doing it.
- If you can't remember if you have film in a holder, you can shake it and you'll hear the film rattle back and forth.
I have a 6' ladder in the truck too and take a 8' or 10' ladder when I know I'll be away from the truck... but it's so nice to stand on a platform, it was worth having it made. I have the 9' high Slik Professional 4 tripod that is remarkably stable fully extended. One of Slik's better products, their consumer tripods are less than impressive.

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I had my dark cloth sewn from orange neon nylon and black cotton and the edges have a continuous string of curtain weights (available at large fabric stores) to weigh down the edges.

-Schaf

[pchaplo]

If you’re working on or over water and are required to wear a PFD, take a look at Mustang Survival H.I.T. Self-inflating “vests” (Type V Commercial) as they are less restrictive (than a traditional PFD) and the “H” stands for “hydrostatic” deployment, which I prefer. In short, they don’t fire the CO2 cartridge if they get splashed, but sense something like 4” of submersion to trigger inflation.

I like Schaf’s hi-vis dark cloth ...and my wife loves to sew :)

-Paul

[Mexipike]

I found this thread a few months late but it really inspired me to want to get into the HABS/HAER world. I started another post in the business section looking for tips and advice so as to not to hijack this thread: http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?147221-Tips-and-advice-for-a-young(ish)-Photographer-on-getting-into-HAL-HAER-HALS

[Vaughn]

To each their own. Interesting stuff, but the Monty Python's King Author in me says, "Run away!"

[schafphoto]

To each their own. Interesting stuff, but the Monty Python's King Author in me says, "Run away!"

Aw cummon Vaughn, I'm sure there's something old in Humboldt County that needs to be documented in Black and white Large Format. !!!

[Vaughn]

Aw cummon Vaughn, I'm sure there's something old in Humboldt County that needs to be documented in Black and white Large Format. !!!
Yes, but I'd rather not have my picture taken, thank you.

[Kirk Gittings]

Anyone have any excellent sunscreen that's not too oily?
-Schaf
Highest rated by independent test labs is Trader Joes.

[schafphoto]

A few photos and updates of my current HABS/HAER LF kit in Dec 2024.

• Re-imagined my hybrid 4x5-5x7 Cambo camera with a new Stabila bubble-level and old-style offset front standard after wind tipped over my tripod at Hangar 3 and bent my last Cambo hybrid.
• I built a fixed 135mm aerial camera for 4x5 shots out of a helicopter with left-side loading.
• I now have a separate stock Cambo SC with a long rail and long bellows for the 300mm and 450mm stuff (Hardly ever gets used).
• As a Travel camera, I bought a Toyo 45CF but it just couldn't do the movements I needed so I sold it (Nice camera though).
• As a Travel camera, I bought a Wista 45VX (because I didn't learn) but it just can't do the movements I need so, going to sell it (Nice camera though).
• Bought a Toyo VX off the LF forum here and a new-old-stock bag Toyo bag bellows from Kumar as a travel camera (Love it).
• Switched to the Benro metal 100mm filter holder b/c it is large enough to screw to the 72mm Schneider.
• Switched to a Benro Carbon Fiber tripod (fits in suitcase without the head, but not as tall as the SLIK 9' aluminum)
• Using same lens focal lengths, 55, 65, 72, 90, 120, 135, 180, 240, 300, 450. Upgraded to the Rodenstock 90mm F4.5 (in Caltar II N paint) in the Copal 1 shutter, and the 180 APO Sironar-S f5.6, both are just spectacular.
• Added a camera hanger and 8" sona-tube to the back of my 2011 Nissan Pathfinder for quick camera-hanging and tripod-stowing between driving from shot to shot on large projects (like Market St).
• Modified a big yellow tool cart from Harbor Freight into a photo cart (with soft tires) for my 2.5-mile HALS documentation of Market St in San Francisco (for the times when we couldn't just park on the sidewalk).
• Bought a few 4x5 Bosscreen (wax/glass) groundglasses on Ebay for the Cambo (& Toyo) backs and calibrated them all with tiny shims.
• Tried using Fuji for digiroiding (metering) camera, after the XH-1 I gave up and sold it.
• Now using my Canon R5 as the Digiroiding camera, with GPS receiver and the in-adapter (EF to RF) polarizing filter. (it's a little big/heavy for my needs but the rAW files are beautiful.
• Only using HP5 Ilford at 100ASA.
• Using Clayton C-76 in Refrema Dip&Dunk at Specialty Color Services Lab in Santa Barbara at 8on-8off nitrogen burst agitation at 7 ~ 8 minutes.\
• Had most of my Copals rebuilt by Flutot's.
• Using Viewfinder Preview App (By Adam Fowler) for all composition on my iPhone.
• Using Sunseeker App in 3D view for visualizing sun path on my iPhone.
• Using Photographer's Ephemeris App for visualizing sun direction and site planning on my iPhone.
• Using Bing Maps Birdseye View for oblique aerial views for site scouting on my browser.
• Using Cal Topo for ortho aerial photo and site scouting on my browser.
• Using Taco Bell App for lunch on my iPhone.

I'm sure I'll think of more.
-Schaf

[schafphoto]

Current 4x5-5x7-Stabila-level-Bosscreen-Cambo HABS/HAER/HALS documentation camera:
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Front old-style Cambo standard set to allow more rise than fall, two top cold shoes and one at end of rail.
255610
Rear Cambo 4x5 rotating back with Bosscreen GG mounted on Stabila level with no movements.
255611
Rear with 5x7 Cambo 5x7 back.
Dec 2024

[schafphoto]

255612
Lens case.

255613
PACKOUT film case and cooler

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[schafphoto]

255616
Rolling Market Street HALS tool cart with camera hanging drawer.

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[schafphoto]

255619
Hybrid Cambo 4x5-5x7 with nail pouch and film holder and Flare Dinkum Mini on cold shoe.

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[schafphoto]

255623
Viewfinder Preview (set for 3200ASA to have maxed out contrast displayed as film simulation)
This app allows you to put in your focal lengths and switch between 4x5, 5x7 or full frame 35mm etc.

255624
Sunseeker in 3D for sun path.

[schafphoto]

Aerial Camera (Cambo Parts) with left side loading (that's the side my assistant sits on when she hands me holders in the JetRanger0.
135mm Nikkor lens locked at infinity, yellow + UVB filter + Level visible in viewfinder so I can get the horizon straight.
Bottom handle goes between my thighs in between photos so I can use both hands and still have a grip on camera.

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[jnantz]

HI Stephen:

I just submitted an estimate to document a dam and its feature system. It's not a huge dam but it's got that 19th Century municipal charm. Looking forward to getting it looks interesting ... It's always an education photographing these historically significant "things".
Hopefully there's not a "gentleman photographer" ( only interested in the work and not getting paid for more than mileage!) running against me, he's been bidding against me for 30 years. Sometimes he, or inexperienced people who don't know
how much it costs to eat more than ramen bid against me. LOL.

Sweet rig!
John

[schafphoto]

Good luck with the dam job if you get it. My last dam shot was from a helicopter, that's why I built that aerial camera. The resource was actually the Friant-Kern Canal but canals often start at dams, so that's the first context shot in the group.
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I had to really push the film though, since the light was waning at the end of the day.
-Schaf

[phdgent]

For this project: https://www.photoeil.be/books/paris-dans-mon-gand.html, which is till a certain extend a cultural survey of the city I live in; the most important gear element, besides a Linhof Technorama 617, a good lightmeter and a lot of Tri-X (pushed till 1600ASA for hand held shooting), was my bicycle...

I always want to keep things as simple as possible as not to be distracted from the subject.

PS: That bicycle was my father's I got when he died, he bought it in 1984 and I rode it till 2019 (when I got a TIA and lost some of my steadiness an got retired). Now public transport is my 'platform' (and a carbon tripod)...

Now I am working, as a volontaire, together with (retired-) Historians, Art historians and Archaeologists on a book project about the Saint-Bavo's Abby history, which was determining for the city's cultural and economical development.

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[bdkphoto]

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Rolling Market Street HALS tool cart with camera hanging drawer.

255617

255618

My back hurts just looking at all that stuff ;-)) You seem so much more organized than I was when when I was shooting film - I used readyloads pretty much exclusively - that helped a bit but I also had a full medium format kit and lots of lighting gear, both strobe and hot lights to schlep. Don't miss that at all - especially if it was a fly gig. Now I have a Tenba backpack with a carbon tripod so I'm hands free ( I can carry my coffee while navigating the subways ;-))

[schafphoto]

- I used readyloads pretty much exclusively -

Oh how I miss the Fuji Across readyloads. Worth the money just to get the time back cleaning and then loading holders before a job... and no dust!

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[schafphoto]

Now I am working, as a volontaire, together with (retired-) Historians, Art historians and Archaeologists on a book project about the Saint-Bavo's Abby history, which was determining for the city's cultural and economical development.

Beautiful work, make sure your photo negatives are preserved in a safe place for all to see for the next 500 years!
-Schaf

[phdgent]

Beautiful work, make sure your photo negatives are preserved in a safe place for all to see for the next 500 years!
-Schaf

Thanks, Schaf, for the appréciation.

Preserving my negatives: a difficult task as I have a lot of them (started about 50 years ago) and wouldn't know where to find the right accommodations.
Absolutely not in my cellar as there, sometimes in the wet season, the Schelde and the Leie rivers tend to flow together...

Anyway, I do my best to process them so they are archivable and store them in acid free sleeves and boxes.

[jnantz]

Good luck with the dam job if you get it. My last dam shot was from a helicopter, that's why I built that aerial camera. The resource was actually the Friant-Kern Canal but canals often start at dams, so that's the first context shot in the group.
255650
I had to really push the film though, since the light was waning at the end of the day.
-Schaf

yeah, this dam was for a mill pond and other 19th century (New England) manufacturing &c when water was King, nothing as grand as that behemoth :)
Interesting you built an aerial camera, I had a bid when Steve Grimes was still with us, and he was going to make me a rigid sleeve for my speed graphic so downdraft wouldn't collapse my bellows as I photographed a highway interchange &c. my main concern was not being the "butterfinger" that I typically am LOL. getting wacked by a film holder or dark slide that dropped from the heavens would defiantly ruin your day.
I was undercut by a retiree just looking to get out of the house, and have fun in a whirligig, , and then well ... RIP Steve.

[schafphoto]

Interesting you built an aerial camera, I had a bid when Steve Grimes was still with us, and he was going to make me a rigid sleeve for my speed graphic so downdraft wouldn't collapse my bellows as I photographed a highway interchange.

Next time I can send you my aerial camera if 135mm is an acceptable focal length. I loaned it to Bill Dewey last year for a job in the Bay Area and it worked for him. He's a pilot though, so he may have flown himself.

[schafphoto]

I have a lot of them (started about 50 years ago) and wouldn't know where to find the right accommodations.
One of the best parts of the HABS/HAER/HALS programs is that it all goes to the Library of Congress and all the negs get stored at Fort Meade in Maryland in a climate- and humidity-controlled facility at 25º F and 25% relative humidity. The goal is to have the negatives for a 500-year Life Expectancy (500LE) or more.

On the one hand, this takes the pressure off for long-term storage by the photographer (our LE-Varies) and makes the images more valuable by making them public.

On the other hand, it made me think about how short life really is. Most of the great photographs in the 3H collection are by dead photographers like Jack Boucher. I'll join that list in future decades but the negatives I transmitted to HABS will live on for fifteen generations for our great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, grandchildren.


So at least some of my work won't end up at a flea market like some glass plates of Cathedrals in Europe I found a few years ago which are beautiful documents of history, but stuck in a box in my darkroom.

-Schaf

[phdgent]

So at least some of my work won't end up at a flea market like some glass plates of Cathedrals in Europe I found a few years ago which are beautiful documents of history, but stuck in a box in my darkroom.

-Schaf

These glass plates should kept at the https://www.bnf.fr/fr, where they also keep the photographic documents of the so famous 'Mission Héliographique', the first official mission started in 1851 to document, by photography, the historical and cultural sites in France, which was the very first in history.

The work I was telling about, is till a certain extend a private initiative, although it is done by a group of (retired-) professionals and scholars, and partially subsidised by the local authorities. So we will have to take care of and keep what we have done.

I already made up the needed documents that a part my archives will be legated to the university's library, and the other part to the local Museum for Industrial Archaeology when I depart...

The work I did for the industry will go to the Industrial Archaeology.

In the meantime I am organising and documenting the part of my work that wasn't done for art collections, archaeological cataloguing, university's art and cultural surveys and musea collections, as the latter are already archived these photographic documents.
I still have a large part that wasn't published by them.

BTW, as long as I live, I have to apply the Belgian law on the intellectual property from 30/06/1994 (based on the Berner convention of 24/07/1971) and keep ready all my commissioned work available as I wasn't allowed to 'sell' my photo's as such, only the publication rights for them...