sevo
Fokutorendaburando
One in a hundred rolls, maybe, when it comes to works I'd put into a retrospective exhibition...
tlitody
Well-known
so it would be pretty unrepresentative of your work then
Sounds more like you want an exhibition of your best pictures ever.
DNG
Film Friendly
1-8 on a 36x
Because I may shoot up to 3 of the same capture, if time allows
Because I may shoot up to 3 of the same capture, if time allows
dmr
Registered Abuser
Mcary
Well-known
If someone believes their getting 5 keeps per roll and that if by shooting a 100 rolls they'll get 500 keepers they're either kidding themselves or they've decided that mediocre is good enough for them. The question we as photographers need to ask ourselves is mediocre good enough? If the answer is no, then one needs to judge their work on an ever increasing critical scale.
robert blu
quiet photographer
It's difficult to give an exact answer for me. Sometimes I shoot just to have a visual record of what interest me (a place or an event or a moment which makes me happy and I desire to remember in future ) and in this case I dare to say that 8-12 shots from a 36 film are good.
But when I shoot for a personal project, when I desire to develop an idea that I have most of cases the "real" good one are between 1 and 3 each 36.
And in some cases it does not always happen in every film I shoot.
Experienced teachers say that editing 3/36 id a good starting point.
robert
But when I shoot for a personal project, when I desire to develop an idea that I have most of cases the "real" good one are between 1 and 3 each 36.
And in some cases it does not always happen in every film I shoot.
Experienced teachers say that editing 3/36 id a good starting point.
robert
emraphoto
Veteran
i'd say a conservative rate, based on images i will print/file/sell, would be 1 image for every 3 rolls.
Brian Legge
Veteran
So for those at the 1 in 36 shots is worth keeping, what didn't work in the other 35 pictures?
My standards are evidently on the extremely low end. When it comes to shots I feel are worth scanning, touching up and sharing, I probably average around 6 per roll. I've had a few rolls of 0 and a few where a large number of the pictures - 20+ - were keepers. The lower count rolls are often rolls where I'm trying to get inspired again or where the moments are more than I can figure out how to capture with a photograph.
If the keeper means 'pictures that sell' or 'pictures you print', I haven't shot a keeper in 12 years.
My standards are evidently on the extremely low end. When it comes to shots I feel are worth scanning, touching up and sharing, I probably average around 6 per roll. I've had a few rolls of 0 and a few where a large number of the pictures - 20+ - were keepers. The lower count rolls are often rolls where I'm trying to get inspired again or where the moments are more than I can figure out how to capture with a photograph.
If the keeper means 'pictures that sell' or 'pictures you print', I haven't shot a keeper in 12 years.
akremer
Established
39 keepers per roll of 35mm.
igi
Well-known
Usually 5 keepers
januaryman
"Flim? You want flim?"
By "keeper" I'm using a definition other than my own "keeper" screening process that accepts all in focus, non-insipid shots that were nearly or perfectly exposed. I keep all these to examine and look back on, deleting those hopeless cases I discover after much futzing with
- but by KEEPER standards here, I mean those shots I find that have a "Wow" factor or are good enough to print and/or display proudly, I picked the first, 1-8/36. Sometimes I get zip, sometimes I get a handful. It all depends on subject, weather, locale and my mood. Sometimes even an accidental shutter press gives me an image I like. Not necessarily enjoyed by anyone else, but a happy accident.
- but by KEEPER standards here, I mean those shots I find that have a "Wow" factor or are good enough to print and/or display proudly, I picked the first, 1-8/36. Sometimes I get zip, sometimes I get a handful. It all depends on subject, weather, locale and my mood. Sometimes even an accidental shutter press gives me an image I like. Not necessarily enjoyed by anyone else, but a happy accident.
ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
Hammerklavier
Member
I would say 0-3 per roll and I am happy if there is at least one per roll.
I think this keeper rate really depends on your competency, what you are shooting, the definition of "keeper" as others had mentioned and perhaps, your personal expectation of what qualifies as a keeper.
I love to shoot street and a lot goes to the bin due to my own inanticipation of the scene and undeveloped photographic eye.
I think this keeper rate really depends on your competency, what you are shooting, the definition of "keeper" as others had mentioned and perhaps, your personal expectation of what qualifies as a keeper.
I love to shoot street and a lot goes to the bin due to my own inanticipation of the scene and undeveloped photographic eye.
RichC
Well-known
Depends on what I shoot - I tend to shoot still lifes for personal projects, and then it's a 100% hit rate - I usually take half a dozen shots to be on the safe side but usually the first shot suffices. Ditto for my commercial work - again. usually set up.
If it involves random moving stuff over which I have no control - passers by, for example - then my hit rate can go down to 1-2 per 36 (a guess - I've never used film).
If it involves random moving stuff over which I have no control - passers by, for example - then my hit rate can go down to 1-2 per 36 (a guess - I've never used film).
andreios
Well-known
Curiously enough, more keepers from a roll of 120 than from a roll of 35mm... And when shooting 4x5 about 2-4 from one "session" (or standing) using 4 or 5 film holders.
ChipMcD
Well-known
This is exactly my thought. I think it may be true. That's probably because most of us have to slow up considerably when using 120. I started off with an old TLR in high school and was parsimonious with shots because of the cost/shot. It inadvertently taught me to slow up and think before letting fly.
Trooper
Well-known
Nearly everything I shoot is a keeper--but I have incredibly low standards.
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redisburning
Well-known
5-10?
I like to take pictures of tall buildings that Ive scoped out beforehand in golden hour with a lens that is a known quantity to me. It artificially pushes things up. While Im there I have time to walk around, pick my angles beforehand and then take some shots.
When I take pictures of people (the other thing I like) then it tends to be much lower.
To me a shot that is a keeper is one that I can look at and say, "well, it's not horrible". my cut off for horrible is probably higher than most people's good though.
I like to take pictures of tall buildings that Ive scoped out beforehand in golden hour with a lens that is a known quantity to me. It artificially pushes things up. While Im there I have time to walk around, pick my angles beforehand and then take some shots.
When I take pictures of people (the other thing I like) then it tends to be much lower.
To me a shot that is a keeper is one that I can look at and say, "well, it's not horrible". my cut off for horrible is probably higher than most people's good though.
