Keeping track

[andre_bosmans]

Dear all M-lovers,

 

How do you keep track of your films when shooting with different

cameras in order to be able to constitute a chronological order,

especailly when travelling or shooting weddings? Taking notes?

Dictating machine? other?

[Rob F.]

Good question, Andre. Both methods you mention are practical. I used to be able to remember, but now that I'm older, my memory is not as good. Another issue to tackle is is how to file and catalog slides for fast access.

[jay_.]

Wife with total recall.

[albert_smith]

I use a sharpee marker and annotate the lid of my used film cans as to the subject and roll number. I can decide later what I need developed first by checking the lids.

[fotografz]

Well, in my experience weddings are pretty self expainatory. As far as

travel, I usually process the film right away while the experiences are

fresh.

[preston_merchant]

When traveling, before I leave I place a little label (cut address label or large dot) on each roll and number it. After I shoot each roll, I note the number and the contents in a notebook. I also note if I need to push the film. Of course, the numbers are all out of sequence, but the notebook sorts everything out and each roll is accounted for.

[andrew1]

I carry a roll of white artists tape in my bag. If and when I have

time when changing film, I put a piece of tape on the camera

bottom. Using a sharpie, I write film type, ISO used and brief ID

info- a name or roll number, maybe notes on exposure or

subject- whatever seems most helpful for the situation. When I

finish the roll, I wrap this piece of tape around the film cartridge

and start again. Admittedly this takes time- it was a habit I got

into when just using an M3 and changing film was time

consuming anyway. Working like that taught me to be very

conservative with my film- do I really want to make this

photograph, or save my film? Is this shot really good? Really

important? Does it tell the story? What's about to happen? How

many frames do I have left? So I shoot carefully, get more

keepers, and wait for a quiet moment to change film. When I do,

I know enough specific info. is all carefully recorded and

attached to each roll so thatwhen it comes time to process the

film, I know exactly how to do it and where each roll belongs in a

time frame or what-have-you. Plus, the tape serves to protect the

bottom plate- a nice bonus.

 

Now that I use the M6 more I get lazy with this. Since the M6 has

faster loading I often don't want to take the time to fiddle with the

tape and sharpie. So I let the ISO dial on the camera remind me

of the speed (and thus hopefully film type if I've forgotten) and I

write a number on the film cartridge with the sharpie. When I

have those quiet moments during or after a shoot, I write the

corrosponding notes for each roll into a small notebook and

refer to this later when processing and ordering film.

[albert knapp md]

Andre: Everyday, while on vacation, I use my sharpie and date

those exposed that day. It works quite well.

[furcafe]

I use a PalmPilot program to keep track of my exposures (& the

film, camera, etc.).

[tse_sung_wu7]

<i>I use a PalmPilot program</i>

<p>

Christopher,<br>

Which one?

[furcafe]

I use FotoLog, but there are other applications out there . . .

 

---------------

 

I use a PalmPilot program

 

Christopher,

Which one?

-- Tse-Sung Wu