Talking Tech - Workflow

I briefly mentioned in an earlier post about workflow.

Workflow is one of those things that we all fall in to doing.  It is the set routine we have when we get to a location.  It’s the way we set up our gear; the way we alter our camera settings.  It’s our little rituals.  We all have them.

Digitally, this is relative simple.  Using film and in particular pinholes is a bit of a different story.

For a start off, with the pinholes you can forget using the camera (if it has one) light meter.  There ain’t enough light going in to the camera for it to work or you to see that darn needle!  It’s sunny 16 all the way.

Secondly, the viewfinder ain’t gonna help you compose it darn dark in there!

Thirdly, with such long reciprocity failure of film is going to cause your problems.

So with this in mind I’m going to guide you through my workflow.  For both examples I’m going to assume that the camera is on the tripod and ready and I will refer to my Sunny 16 Chart.

4” x 5”

1. Line the camera up with the subject.  This takes a lot of time!
2. Look around and decide what Lighting Situation is.
3. Read the shutter speed off the Sunny 16 Chart.
4. Check reciprocity chart.
5. Work out shutter speed.
6. Put thumb over pinhole making sure it is clean beforehand.
7. Remove dark slide.
8. Remove thumb while starting stopwatch.
9. After exposure cover pinhole with thumb.
10. Replace dark slide.
11. Turn dark slide over.

That’s one exposure of the 4” x 5” done.  Simples!

35mm Pinhole

My Pracktica MTL3 is an SLR and as a result allows the use of a lens and after a change over a pinhole.  So here is my workflow for this camera.  The ASA of the film is already dialled in to the camera.

1. Put 50mm lens on the camera.
2. Set to f16.
3. Read light meter and set shutter speed.
4. Make an exposure.
5. Read off shutter speed.
6. Change lens for pinhole.
7. Find the f16 shutter speed on the sunny 16 chart.  Move along the row until I am in the aperture column for the MTL3 pinhole.  Read off shutter speed.
8. Check reciprocity chart.
9. Work out shutter speed.
10. Make an exposure while starting the stop watch.
11. Make a second exposure 1 stop over exposed.
12. Make a third exposure 1 stop under exposed of the original.

So that is my work flow for making one image off both cameras.  It’s quite simple just takes a little time.  But that’s the thing with film.  You slow down and enjoy what you are doing.

For a little added help.  Here's a copy of my exposure chart.