How did photographers change film quickly in the field

[SeAnCoLd]

Hi all, I'm curious how wedding and event photographers change rolls of film quickly out in the field. Can any veterans enlighten me?

I had this issue recently on a casual outing, and had to look for a darker place to change a roll. Being cautious, I changed it under a shelter as it was darker than the shade provided by trees. Will the shade provided by a tree be enough though?

 

[catchlights]

Hi all, I'm curious how wedding and event photographers change rolls of film quickly out in the field. Can any veterans enlighten me?

I had this issue recently on a casual outing, and had to look for a darker place to change a roll. Being cautious, I changed it under a shelter as it was darker than the shade provided by trees. Will the shade provided by a tree be enough though?

I use camera with winder, manual winder camera also no issue to me,
assuming the camera already rewind the exposed roll completely.

take out a new rolls, hold it in your left hand palm,
half squat, place the camera lens down between your thighs, use your thighs to hold the camera,
open up the camera back, take out exposed roll with either hand, bring it to your mouth, use your month to hold the exposed roll,
the other hand hold on to the camera,
slot it the new rolls into the chamber, put the leader to the take up spool,
make sure it is set in the right place, close the back and your are done.

remember than at any time one hand is holding to the camera,

and if the is no shade, turn your back toward the sun, you will use your body to make a shade, that is good enough.

lastly keep practise practise practise.

 

[azzurri]

One phrase - "Practice makes perfect"; especially for manual cameras. It's a lot easier for automatic cameras or those winders.

What some photographers do too is to have more than one camera. For professionals, they may not use right up to the last shot too. They may have a few shots left but would change to a new roll when they've time.

If there's no shade, I'll usually use my body to shade the film. So far no problem.

 

[Nikonzen]

Different cameras are different. Some are easy to load and unload others are a PITA. Most are manual load some are automatic loaders. Different photographers have there different habits and practices concerning how they handle their rolls of film and it greatly varies. Then of course there are those times when you rush things and then after you have just spent a few days making shots with your newly loaded roll you realize when you go to rewind it that you didn't get the the film started properly so every thing was for not...yeah that sucks...

 

[SeAnCoLd]

Yeah, I can imagine how that would ruin the day.

I have a range of SLRs. I do agree that modern cameras are easier to load. Canon's FT-b is pretty easy to load too

Different cameras are different. Some are easy to load and unload others are a PITA. Most are manual load some are automatic loaders. Different photographers have there different habits and practices concerning how they handle their rolls of film and it greatly varies. Then of course there are those times when you rush things and then after you have just spent a few days making shots with your newly loaded roll you realize when you go to rewind it that you didn't get the the film started properly so every thing was for not...yeah that sucks...

 

[SeAnCoLd]

Thanks bro. I'm using an EOS film camera. Easier to load.

One phrase - "Practice makes perfect"; especially for manual cameras. It's a lot easier for automatic cameras or those winders.

What some photographers do too is to have more than one camera. For professionals, they may not use right up to the last shot too. They may have a few shots left but would change to a new roll when they've time.

If there's no shade, I'll usually use my body to shade the film. So far no problem.

 

[SeAnCoLd]

Thanks for the detailed description! I'll try that out. Good to know a slight shade will do

I use camera with winder, manual winder camera also no issue to me,
assuming the camera already rewind the exposed roll completely.

take out a new rolls, hold it in your left hand palm,
half squat, place the camera lens down between your thighs, use your thighs to hold the camera,
open up the camera back, take out exposed roll with either hand, bring it to your mouth, use your month to hold the exposed roll,
the other hand hold on to the camera,
slot it the new rolls into the chamber, put the leader to the take up spool,
make sure it is set in the right place, close the back and your are done.

remember than at any time one hand is holding to the camera,

and if the is no shade, turn your back toward the sun, you will use your body to make a shade, that is good enough.

lastly keep practise practise practise.

 

[jfoo]

couple of tips

1. i usually prep my film by reeling in the excess film into the canister leaving only about an inch outside. this makes it less of a fumble when you place it in the camera.

2. after placing new film canister into the camera, i will hold the film canister in place with my left thumb while my right hand pulls the film across the back.



like all the others, practice make perfect. some shade is better than no shade. even your own shadow is good enough.

 

[SeAnCoLd]

Yup. Thanks bro. Will practice!

couple of tips

1. i usually prep my film by reeling in the excess film into the canister leaving only about an inch outside. this makes it less of a fumble when you place it in the camera.

2. after placing new film canister into the camera, i will hold the film canister in place with my left thumb while my right hand pulls the film across the back.



like all the others, practice make perfect. some shade is better than no shade. even your own shadow is good enough.

 

[anuar ahmad]

here's how I do it...it may not be fast or perfect but that's how I do it during event...loading...

without motor-drive...

[video]https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10204142692540872&l=4756348566454845711[/video]


much easier with motor-drive...

[video]https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10204142714021409&l=1874895197556316515[/video]

 

[Nikonzen]

What some photographers do too is to have more than one camera. For professionals, they may not use right up to the last shot too. They may have a few shots left but would change to a new roll when they've time.

I would like to add I suppose many pros or at least the elite pros had assistants who would do all of this and pass cameras to the man.

Watch the movie Blowup from 1968 (fascinating photography oriented movie whose main character is loosely based on David Hockney) and you will see this demonstrated.