Field Notes

Occasional notes on film photography, darkroom work and slow travel.

Metering for shadows on cloudy days

Overcast light is flatter than it looks. Placing the shadows two stops below middle grey keeps texture in the darker areas without blowing out a bright sky.

Developing at 21 °C when the tap runs warm

A water bath and a cheap aquarium thermometer solve most consistency problems. Adjust the time by roughly seven percent for every degree above the standard.

Two weeks with a fixed 35 mm lens

Carrying one focal length forces a rhythm: you move instead of zooming, and the frames start to look like a single conversation.