Making notes of your camera settings? (Page 2): I use a voice recorder with picture number. Much faster than writing it down.

Bill MN Loc: Western MN

I use a voice recorder with picture number. Much faster than writing it down.

warrior Loc: Paso Robles CA

F11

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

I keep detailed notes of spot meter values, shutter speed, f stop, etc, when using my view camera because they are needed for development, but not with medium format or digital cameras.

Al FR-153 Loc: Chicago Suburbs

Still take notes. Carry a spiral top notebook and pencil in the bag (and a flashlight) all the time. As said earlier in this post, if I run into a situation where I try something and want to remember exactly how and where I was shooting, it will show info that the metafile doesn't give you. Example, I have used a tree to brace the camera for some waterfall shots. My notes will remind me of that, the metafile won't.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

One more note for those who don't realize it. The amount of EXIF data stored by a particular camera can vary WIDELY!!! Some DSLRs don't record meta data AT ALL! If one wants to have a clue as to exactly how a shot was taken and what lens was used at what zoom, then you need to be aware of exactly what metadata your camera does retain and what it does not. If there is something you would like to know that is not retained, a simple little pocket notebook is the simplest answer. If you don't care to find out how you got that shot that amazes you later, then don't bother with notes as you wouldn't refer to them anyway.

George H Loc: Brooklyn, New York

carolb wrote:

Does anybody still do this? I suppose one could grab information from the metafile after the fact and I will figure out how to do this when my Photoshop Elements 10 book comes in, but I wonder if people keep a log or other way of keeping track of what they are shooting and how. Once I went to manual settings, I really started experimenting and working shots, but now I want to know how to keep track of the process.

Thanks. Great forum, wonderful wealth of expertise and ideas here.

Carol,
It is one of the things I tell all those who are new to photography or Digital Photography. This just makes sense since you begin to learn how your camera works and what it's quirks are. First off date it and put in the purpose of the shots. Then number them, try to include everything not just the camera settings but also time of day, direction of light, cloudy or clear, heavy or light shadow, anything you can think of. Good Luck.

George

carolb

Carol,
It is one of the things I tell all those who are new to photography or Digital Photography. This just makes sense since you begin to learn how your camera works and what it's quirks are. First off date it and put in the purpose of the shots. Then number them, try to include everything not just the camera settings but also time of day, direction of light, cloudy or clear, heavy or light shadow, anything you can think of. Good Luck.

George[/quote]

George - I think this is exactly what I needed to hear, although I appreciate the range of responses. Thank you!

davejann Loc: Portland Oregon

carolb wrote:

Does anybody still do this? I suppose one could grab information from the metafile after the fact and I will figure out how to do this when my Photoshop Elements 10 book comes in, but I wonder if people keep a log or other way of keeping track of what they are shooting and how. Once I went to manual settings, I really started experimenting and working shots, but now I want to know how to keep track of the process.

Thanks. Great forum, wonderful wealth of expertise and ideas here.

After spending time and gasoline on fining the perfect vantage point, I will record the GPS coordinates.

Dave

ole sarg Loc: south florida

IMO I have come to agree

russelray wrote:

The camera is way smarter than I am, so I let it do its thing wherever and whenever.

Bill MN Loc: Western MN

Now days whats a pencil and paper my grandaughter would ask.

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

frederdane wrote:

Very rarely. Only if it's a special situation. Generally I think I could make an educated stab at reconstructing it, but I would never fake something if a magazine required it. Most do show that for their published shots from contributing photographers.

Assuming they can't actually remember, most professionals I have ever met will make up plausible exposure data if pressed. Some will admit to doing it (as I do, in print, when I do it) and some won't. But I've never met one who notes every exposure. Only a very few note even the difficult exposures.

Cheers,

R.

Quickflash Loc: Loganville, Ga

Roger, a photographer such as yourself probably has much less use for notes than someone like me who recently took the camera off auto. Your notes are mental, ingrained in your mind with your years of experience. Us newbees sometimes need a cheat sheet.

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

Quickflash wrote:

Roger, a photographer such as yourself probably has much less use for notes than someone like me who recently took the camera off auto. Your notes are mental, ingrained in your mind with your years of experience. Us newbees sometimes need a cheat sheet.

Sort of true, but even when I started (in the days of film in the late 1960s) I found that taking too many notes got in the way of taking pictures. I found that having to think, "Oh, grief, what did I do wrong THIS time?" was more productive than trying to consult notes.

It must be true, too, that a great deal depends on personality. Things I find invaluable, someone else may find useless, and vice versa. This is why I always caution people to beware of gurus, and to shun those who are convinced that they always know best. From http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/ps%20ignore%20gurus.html --

From time to time, you will find that your work takes a real leap forward. Sometimes this is because you suddenly understand something you didn't understand before. Other times, there may seem to be no reason at all: just an unexpected blessing from the gods of photography.

It is these leaps that can give rise to guru-worship. Either you work something out for yourself, or you try something that someone else has recommended, and it works so well that there is little sense in trying anything else. You therefore decide that you have found the One True Path, and either set yourself up as a guru teaching that path, or sing the praises of the guru who taught you.

Cheers,

R.

randymoe

@R

I reread Siddhartha at least one a year. I find it calming.

Adirondack Hiker Loc: Southern Adirondacks

I use a digital recorder to state location, weather conditions, filters used, which images for HDR set, which are bracketed. The rest of the data I get after downloading.