Brian recently wrote about writing notes on your film. To a certain degree, this is just part of a larger workflow. Now I’m the first to admit that my post developing workflow is quite possibly the worst example ever: After developing, my rolls hang in the darkroom until I can be bothered to sleeve them. Colour tend to stay uncut in the bag from the lab until I go looking for something I shot a few months ago. Black and white tends to get sleeved more regularly since I can’t leave it in my darkroom and still work in there. Scanning? Yeah…sometimes I get round to doing that.
But pre-shooting/pre-developing workflow? I’ve developed that into an art (so to speak). I’ve spent literally years looking for the right way to do what I do, and I spent a lot of time building the process. How so? Welcome to the point of this article.
Not shown but highly recommend…
…for “new to film” or “new to photography” shooters.
- Diary + pen: When I first started taking photos seriously, I recorded every single exposure. Not only did it force me to slow down, but I learnt about the relationship between light and exposure much quickly than just snapping away. After processing, I went back and matched each shot with the data. For trickier films like infrared and slide, this process can’t be beat.
- Mini tripod +cable release: If you are are opportunist shooter, it pays to be prepared.
- A selection of filters: I used to carry a red, yellow and polariser, but now I mainly stick with just the yellow – which is normally attached to my lens.
Details of the above
From left to right:
– The bag: Just a plain and simple video bag, from a local store. Unassuming and well padded.
- A selection of toy cameras: Represented here by a Kodak Instamatic and the Demekin fish eye. I’ve only got 2 rolls left of 126 so I tend to shoot less of that, but I still have a decent amount of 110 left, so I always carry an extra cartridge. Sometimes a Diana clone will make it’s way in there instead of the Kodak; if I take the Holga I take a fish eye lens for it and the Demekin stays at home.
- Viewfinder: The 12mm Voigtlander lens is one I’m still not familiar with, so I need the viewfinder to frame the image.
- 12mm f5.6: This lens is extremely wide, and slow, but it’s great for tight spaces or creating/accentuating unusual perspectives. Best pared with some pushed HP5+ or Tri-X.
- 35mm f2.5 Color Skopar: Such a tiny lens and a great focal length, it just makes sense to bring it along.
- 35mm viewfinder: A generic Russian one. I’m not so good estimating 35mm field of view.
- Spare film: First the Polachrome. I’m putting together a review of this – it’s basically instant slide film. Expired and rare, I love shooting it at EI25 (it was originally 40ASA). Further over there is some ERA 100. I like the cheap Chinese films for when things don’t matter so much, and I’m just having fun. I always carry a spare roll of colour and black and white. Sometimes an extra roll of black and white for pushing.
- Bessa R3M + 50mm f1.1 Nokton: I just can’t get enough of this camera and lens combo. If I had to have one camera for the rest of my life, this would be it. I never leave home without his camera and lens. I may leave everything else at home, but this camera comes with me.
- Moo cards: (In the right pocket on the side of the bag.) The thin ones. They just have my name and flickr stream on them, but since I normally have a pen in my pockets somewhere, I can always write email/phone number/extra details as needed.
What about you?
As I mentioned at the start, it has taken me years to narrow my bag contents to just this. I used to carry so much other stuff that just never got used. Recently I’ve stopped carrying the diary since I’m more than comfortable with exposure now, and I rarley bring more than a yellow/Y2 filter unless I’m shooting infrared.
I really would have appreciated someone going through what they carry and why when I first started.
So, if you had to pick one tip for bag contents, what would it be?
July 9th, 2010 at 9:36 am
Well… I used to carry a bag, but I tend to leave it behind unless I’m going on a trip or something. I’ll usually carry one or two cameras (one around the neck, one around the wrist), a pocket full of film (3-5 rolls depending on where I’m shooting), my fine tip permanent marker, and moo cards if I remember to bring them.
I guess I just make do with what I have and don’t worry about what I didn’t bring. If I have 2 cameras, I’ll usually bring 2 different focal lengths — either wide+normal or normal+tele. Lately though, I’ve been leaving the 2nd camera behind.
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July 9th, 2010 at 10:12 am
For me, it depends on which bag I bring.
My walk around bag will have just my medium or large format camera, cable release, maybe a second lens, and a little bit of film (can’t fit more than a little bit!). Sometimes my light meter.
My big bag for excursions will have my medium AND large format camera, 3 extra lenses (total for both cameras), about 10 rolls of 120 and 2 or 3 boxes of quickloads, cable release, dark bag, note pad and pen, a couple filters, a spare 120 reel, a flashlight, a light meter and extra batteries, and a roll of toilet paper (I tend towards visiting places with no functioning washrooms).
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Tomas Webb Reply:
July 9th, 2010 at 4:45 pm
When I take my large format, I take my little trolley/box on wheels. It’s too heavy to carry otherwise!
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July 9th, 2010 at 11:27 am
I usually take Holga, sx70 and some 35mm such as olympus xa2 or eximus and of course a bunch of films!
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July 9th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
if I go for a walk, one camera (or three if you count the digital point and shoot and cellphone with camera) then there’s foto walks. either I bring just one camera, to shoot the hell out of it. or I can bring three different cameras for different purposes, this is what I often do when I go someplace new, so I’ll have all options. for photowalks I also bring more film of different kinds.
so I don’t have a camera bag, but there’s always cameras in my bags
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July 10th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
I like posts like this, in that the contents of a bag are so personal, especially when there is a telling recommendation at the end, and an overall evolutionary feel to the selection.
I don’t have a definitive bag. I choose equipment depending on the ‘gig’. I use three lenses for all situations: a wide angle, standard, and portrait. I have three different systems, 645, 35mm SLR, and 35mm rangefinder, all of which I have the three lens options.
My go anywhere camera is a Rollei 35SE for its portability and quality.
My favourite system is the Contax G2, though for ultimate resolution, I love the Contax 645 which is fabulous in every respect. In low light situations, I take along a Contax RTSIII or RX as the 50 & 85 lenses are f1.4.
Recently, I bought a Zeiss Ikonta folding camera which produces beautiful images. A modern camera of this nature would be the last word. (Voigtlander Bessa III or Fuji 667)
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July 11th, 2010 at 12:04 am
Very interesting article, thank you.
As I shoot mainly landscape, my film gear is very simple. Mamiya 645 1000s with two Sekor lens – 45mm and 80mm. Of course tripod, cable release and a couple of filters (polarizer, GND) are neccessary. Also I usually take 2-3 more film rolls (in my case Fuji Velvia 50).
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July 11th, 2010 at 7:02 am
My man purse mostly consists of way more film then I’ll ever need on a given day and some business cards. If I’m shooting with my Leica, there may be a second lens in it as well. If I got my 124G, the second lens is replaced by a light meter.
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July 11th, 2010 at 11:09 am
It totally depends on the day. I have two camera bags and I don’t use either of them. I usually take my Freitag messenger bag and toss 2 cameras in it (whichever I feel like that day). Could be rangefinder, TLR, holga, polaroid, digital… Then I toss in a few diapers and some wipes, maybe a spare roll of film and grab my daughter and stroller and head ou the door…
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July 17th, 2010 at 7:08 pm
When I carry my film camera, it’s a pretty simple set up. My camera is a Pentax A2000 with two zoom lenses: Prospec 28-70mm (w/macro) and Prospec 80-200mm (also w/ macro settings). I love this camera, it’s the SLR I cut my photography teeth on.
I carry a red filter because I like the dramatic landscape/cityscape images it produces, lens cleaner and wipes, cable release and tripod, extra batteries (for auto film advance), extra film, and I used to carry the camera manual with me when I was learning. All that was tucked into the original camera back that had plenty of room for such a small package.
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