What to Pack
Lance's
suggestions for a first time nocturnal photographer:
by Lance Keimig
- As for EQUIPMENT, you will need at a minimum, the following:
- 35mm
or medium format camera with manual controls and a bulb or
time setting - (no point and shoot or automatic cameras,
no pinhole cameras) - if you wish to work with a view camera,
be prepared for very long exposures (up to 20 minutes to
an hour in the City, and 1-3 hours in more remote spots with
400 speed film.)
- Sturdy tripod
- Locking cable release
- Penlight or other small flashlight
- Digital watch or other
timer - you can get a nifty digital kitchen timer (pocket-size)
with audible alarm at Walgreens for less than $10.00
- Extra
batteries for your camera
- Plastic bag and rubber band to cover
camera in case of fog
- Lens tissue or chamois (same reason)
- Paper and pencil for
exposure notes (CRITICAL)
Film:
We recommend one of the following: (at first, it is best to stick to
one type of film)
- Ilford Delta 100 or TMax 100 for B&W
(TriX and HP5 and Delta 400 are ok, but not TMAX 400)
- Ilford XP2 C41 process B&W film - great for contrasty
lighting, and people who don't have time to process their
own film!
- Fuji NPS or NPL - (NPL comes in medium and large
format only) for color negative
- Fuji NHG and Kodak PMC are good choices for fast
color negative film. Please avoid amateur films, such as Kodak
gold
- For slides or transparencies, bring Fuji RTP or Kodak
EPY (tungsten)
- For heavily moonlit exposures (in which the moon
is the primary source of illumination), you could also bring
Kodak E100S, or E200 (daylight)
Other things that might be helpful are:
- Lens hood to prevent flare - can be a big
problem at night
- Powerful,
focusing flashlight - such as a big MAG Lite
- Portable, battery
powered flash and extra batteries (Vivitars are great)
- A handheld
exposure meter
- Small colored gels or filters (bright colors)
OR if you want to try:
- Color correcting filters, 85A or 85B, 20,30, 40, 50
Magenta, Red or Blue can all be useful.
- Thermos of coffee or hot
chocolate
ALSO:
Lots of enthusiasm, an eagerness to look at the world from a different
perspective, very warm clothes, and some chocolate BROWNIES!
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