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

[djdister]

Written checklist?...

A list/checklist app on your smartphone would be better and could record details about the shot too...

[Ben Calwell]

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.

[jnantz]

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 !

[j.e.simmons]

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.

[Ziealdez]

Written checklist?...

I sometimes forget to check the checklist, lol

[Kino]

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.

Then the neighbors will KNOW I am crazy! So far, I thought I had them fooled, but this should settle any doubts...

[j.e.simmons]

I long ago quit worrying about what the neighbors think.

[John Layton]

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?

[AuditorOne]

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.

[Jim Noel]

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