pesphoto
Veteran
No, I dont dother now. Way back when I was first learning photography my teacher had me write everything down as I shot as a way to learn what different combos of fstops, shutter speeds can do. Now it's just shoot and move on to the next spot.
ed1k
Well-known
I wish I did 
Sometimes I make notes using cigarette box or some random paper I easily misplace later - but only if I have with me a few lenses with close focal length when I swap them. I do write on paper wrap for negatives: film type, camera body used, date of processing, developer, temperature/time, lenses used and sometimes date of shooting and frame numbers near the lens it was taken with (if it's not obvious due to focal lenght). But I do it at home when processing the film.
Did not find an option for me in poll, so didn't vote.
Cheers,
Eduard.
Sometimes I make notes using cigarette box or some random paper I easily misplace later - but only if I have with me a few lenses with close focal length when I swap them. I do write on paper wrap for negatives: film type, camera body used, date of processing, developer, temperature/time, lenses used and sometimes date of shooting and frame numbers near the lens it was taken with (if it's not obvious due to focal lenght). But I do it at home when processing the film.Did not find an option for me in poll, so didn't vote.
Cheers,
Eduard.
rncamero
Established
On a trip to the Philippines last year I forced myself to try and keep detailed notes on aperture/shutter speeds, shooting conditions, body, lens, and film speed on each roll. I had 70+ rolls of film with me, and couldn't develop until after the trip. All my gear were non-CLA'd early 1960s or older used equipment, and I wasn't sure if they'd work consistently under tropical conditions.
Luckily the gear held up, and having the shot info made developing a much easier job. Starting with the earliest roll I was able to evaluate my results and make appropriate changes in developing times and methods.
I no longer really need to note down aperture & shutter info, but I still log shooting conditions, body & film speed. Comes in handy because I always manage to maintain a developing backlog of 10 rolls at any given time. My memory sucks, so if I didn't have this info I wouldn't know how to develop my rolls.
-Raymond
Luckily the gear held up, and having the shot info made developing a much easier job. Starting with the earliest roll I was able to evaluate my results and make appropriate changes in developing times and methods.
I no longer really need to note down aperture & shutter info, but I still log shooting conditions, body & film speed. Comes in handy because I always manage to maintain a developing backlog of 10 rolls at any given time. My memory sucks, so if I didn't have this info I wouldn't know how to develop my rolls.
-Raymond
jan normandale
Film is the other way
yes I do but don't get that much out of it... in my opinion.
I usually keep a roll of masking tape in my bag, I will write the film/exposure/frames and details on the masking tape which I put on the bottom of the camera plate. When I'm done I remove the cassette and peel the tape from the camera and put it on the cannister.
This works because I use a limited number of lenses, usually 28, 35, or 40/50 and the time aperture combo is usually only two variables ie f4.0 or f 5.6 at 1/4 or 1/60th : or daylight f11.0 or f16 at 125th or 250th.
I usually keep a roll of masking tape in my bag, I will write the film/exposure/frames and details on the masking tape which I put on the bottom of the camera plate. When I'm done I remove the cassette and peel the tape from the camera and put it on the cannister.
This works because I use a limited number of lenses, usually 28, 35, or 40/50 and the time aperture combo is usually only two variables ie f4.0 or f 5.6 at 1/4 or 1/60th : or daylight f11.0 or f16 at 125th or 250th.
Graham Line
Well-known
It made a lot more sense to record settings when shooting sheet film, when I could do individual development or something, or was using sawings and tilts. Most of the time now, it's one lens, one body, at pretty much the same speeds and apertures. The recorder is handy for locations on train-shooting chases or some specific projects, but more for location and lighting data.
leica M2 fan
Veteran
Recording data
Recording data
I actually use a voice activated small recorder and dictate aperture and speed and any little nuances about the scene. I also have at the ready a little pad that I write on if needed. Overkill, maybe, but I can learn an awful lot this way.
Recording data
I actually use a voice activated small recorder and dictate aperture and speed and any little nuances about the scene. I also have at the ready a little pad that I write on if needed. Overkill, maybe, but I can learn an awful lot this way.
Ash
Selflessly Self-involved
Moleskine's are awesome.
I refused to write down a single piece of photo data when I was doing AS Photography, and the teacher hated it. Fact is, good photo's are often candid. you dont have time between 3 or 4 shots to write it all down.
I usually stick with a similar shutter speed/aperture selection most of the time, so I can guestimate what they were when I upload on here.
I refused to write down a single piece of photo data when I was doing AS Photography, and the teacher hated it. Fact is, good photo's are often candid. you dont have time between 3 or 4 shots to write it all down.
I usually stick with a similar shutter speed/aperture selection most of the time, so I can guestimate what they were when I upload on here.
akptc
Shoot first, think later
This also works for me. I have a small "pen" digital recorder that hangs on my shirt collar, and when I feel the need to record info, I just talk - easy, and painless.leica M2 fan said:
uhligfd
Well-known
If/when I see the pics, I usually note under- or overexposure: This teaches me to rethink my exposures in certain situations. Specific exposure data would not help at all with this, I think.
I also note shake unsharpness: I make mental notes not to go under ... sec with that lens.
Then I may notice weird focus or short DOF: again just a mental note to be more conscious works for me.
What good do the recorded numbers do? Especially if one does not record the exact focus distance also? And the filter used, and the exposure compensation such as + 1 or -1/2 from the lightmeter reading, etc etc ?
I think the data is all in the picture anyway, for the experienced eye, that is.
I also note shake unsharpness: I make mental notes not to go under ... sec with that lens.
Then I may notice weird focus or short DOF: again just a mental note to be more conscious works for me.
What good do the recorded numbers do? Especially if one does not record the exact focus distance also? And the filter used, and the exposure compensation such as + 1 or -1/2 from the lightmeter reading, etc etc ?
I think the data is all in the picture anyway, for the experienced eye, that is.
rbiemer
Unabashed Amateur
I write on the film canister which camera I used. Beyond that, not a lot of other notes. With the exception of first roll with a "new" lens or film. I've tried to minimize variables by using(predominantly) one camera and one lens for each roll.
I don't "chase the meter" too much so any changes I might make for fstop or shutter speed are generally minor.
The other exception to this is if I'm shooting pinhole. Then I usually have time after I've opened the shutter to note what "speed" I'm using--though at a minute (or longer, some times much longer) exposure, "speed" seems like an oxymoronic way to phrase it--filter or not, any special effects I might be trying,length of the "lens" or any thing I think I'll want to be sure to recall later.
Rob
I don't "chase the meter" too much so any changes I might make for fstop or shutter speed are generally minor.
The other exception to this is if I'm shooting pinhole. Then I usually have time after I've opened the shutter to note what "speed" I'm using--though at a minute (or longer, some times much longer) exposure, "speed" seems like an oxymoronic way to phrase it--filter or not, any special effects I might be trying,length of the "lens" or any thing I think I'll want to be sure to recall later.
Rob
mjflory
Accumulator
Lately I've thought about trying my tiny voice recorder again, but I'm afraid I've fallen into the habit of scribbling on the back of the last receipt I stuffed in my shirt pocket. (The recorder was handy but transcribing was a nuisance.) I try to record speed & aperture for every shot and compare notes with prints and negs later, but for me much of the enjoyment of RF photography is in testing and fiddling with equipment anyway.
By the way (and I know it's a little off-topic), it took me several posts and a Google search to figure out what a "moleskin" is; I had no idea what a legendary status the Moleskine-brand notebook has! There's really no brand of notebook that prominent in the US. Ironically, I read and enjoyed Bruce Chatwin's writing years ago, but I missed all of his praise of the Moleskine notebooks.
By the way (and I know it's a little off-topic), it took me several posts and a Google search to figure out what a "moleskin" is; I had no idea what a legendary status the Moleskine-brand notebook has! There's really no brand of notebook that prominent in the US. Ironically, I read and enjoyed Bruce Chatwin's writing years ago, but I missed all of his praise of the Moleskine notebooks.
jorisbens
rff: penguins know why
I don't do that, and I don't see a reason why you should do it, unless you are learning how to correctly expose or are testing a lens at different apertures. But if you shoot like me (and I'm not a genial photographer) all my exposures give at least printable negatives, and after development, no changes to composition and point of view can be made.
R
rpsawin
Guest
I'm inconsistant with recording info. When I'm shooting with a rf I generally carry a micro-recorder. I find it a bit less cumbersome than a notepad and pen.
Bob
Bob
kmack
do your job, then let go
Yes I do, but:
35mm I will only record at what ISO I shot the roll. If I have more than one camera going I will place a piece of masking tape on the bottom of the camera with the film type and the ISO I am shooting. When the roll comes out of the camera the tape goes on the roll.
Sheet film I record everything as it is shot.
I keep records of every roll and sheet I develop, (time, temp, developer, EI, dilution, agitation, ambient temp).
35mm I will only record at what ISO I shot the roll. If I have more than one camera going I will place a piece of masking tape on the bottom of the camera with the film type and the ISO I am shooting. When the roll comes out of the camera the tape goes on the roll.
Sheet film I record everything as it is shot.
I keep records of every roll and sheet I develop, (time, temp, developer, EI, dilution, agitation, ambient temp).
pvdhaar
Peter
I used to painstakingly log the info when I started doing photography.. But after a while, I felt I didn't learn anything from it. The circumstances are never really twice the same, so every photo is a venture on it's own. That's when I gave up..
sjw617
Panoramist
I record f stop, shutter speed, ISO, film, filters, lens, camera, location and date. But I have the time since I do landscapes and night shots.
hth
Well-known
I used to, but I felt it took too much time and I did not learn much about it, so I quit. Nowadays I do not always know which lens I used...
/Håkan
/Håkan
c.poulton
Well-known
DMG said:
Yes, that is what I would worry about - too much time spent writing details in a notebook when "the shot of a lifetime" is in-front of you!
Although saying that, I often look back on my negs when I eventually find time to scan them in and wonder what exposure I used. (Sometimes it's even hard to remember what camera I used!)
Pepe
Established
almost every pic I take is wide open at the slowest I dare, so I don't bother.
When I do take a photo during the day, I see no reason to log ... I always trust my aperture priority AE with a bit of +/- compensation when I deem it necessary. (metered manual would be great, alas my poor baby doesnt have it)
When I do take a photo during the day, I see no reason to log ... I always trust my aperture priority AE with a bit of +/- compensation when I deem it necessary. (metered manual would be great, alas my poor baby doesnt have it)
dostacos
Dan
I need to start writing down what LENS I am using, too many posts of "X lens pics only please" I can guess, but it would be nice......