Photo Notebook
Marcus Kazmierczak, marcus@mkaz.com
I'm always looking for little notebooks that I can carry with me. To take photo notes, jot ideas down, to-do lists, or whatever.
The Moleskin notebooks are great but expensive, I found some really cool Rollbahn notebooks in Japan, oddly I think they're a German brand, but I haven't seen them here yet and I've used up my supply.
So I decided to make my own after reading about the Hipster PDA on 43 Folders; which appears to be a new productivity movement called GTD (Getting Things Done), I personally like Elvis' TCB (Taking Care of Business) motto better.
I've created a few photography related sheets that you can include in your own notebook.
The Night Photography Reference is a set of exposures to help in low light and night photography situations. It includes some common exposures to guide you and reciprocity tables for the three films I use most.
See my Night Photography Tips for more detailed information. To use the reciprocity tables: line up the top numbers, which is the reading from your meter or exposure estimates, with the film you are using. Use the adjusted time for your exposure.
click image to save or print
A sheet to record your shot notes. I normally shoot 120 film so 12 exposures per sheet, use 3 sheets for your 36 exposure 35mm film.
click image to save or print
I also have a sheet of four photo notes on one page.
My Photo Release form is greatly inspired (ripped off) from Douglas Johnston's page. I modified the text for my own release and made it a 3"x5" size, see the related links below for his original text and size.
click image to save or print
I also have a sheet of four photo releases on one page.
I kept these as PNG images so it would be easier for image savvy users to edit. Let me know if you have any problems downloading or printing, I can also post a PDF file of them.
The construction is rather simple. Some 3"x5" cards, a plastic folder and some 1/2" rings. The total cost of supplies for me was $7.00 and I estimate I can make ten notebooks out of it, a 70 cent unit cost. Not too bad.
You'll need a hole punch, scissors and maybe a sticker for decoration.
Take the plastic folder, this is the cover and back. You can use decorative presentation folders or other heavier plastic binders or folders. There is a wide choice at most stationary stores. Cut it down to be a bit larger than the index cards.
I used the fold in the folder to be at the top, but this also means I can't flip the cards up and around like a reporter. So if you want that simple cut two similar pieces.
Punch holes in cover about a 1/2" in from the sides. Use this as a template to punch your holes in the index cards, this makes it easier so everything lines up. Punch holes in index cards.
Put it all together with the 1/2" rings.
Add sticker or anything else for decoration.
- Introducing the Hipster PDA [43folders.com]
- Moleskin Notebooks [Amazon.com]
- D*I*Y Planner Photo Release Kit by Douglas Johnston
- Night Photography Tips [mkaz.com]
- Exposures for Moonlight Photography [mkaz.com]