Arizona Treks

Looking back at the trip, I learned a lot about how I work and what I need to work effectively.  As well as how I respond to unexpected situations.  During the trip we were met with several unexpected and undesirable circumstances.  The light was poor most of the trip, the broken lens forced me to use other lenses that are not as familiar to me as 210 and are not of the same exceptional quality.  The issues with the trailer were distracting.

Overall I took more digital photos that any other format.  But there are multiple images for most photos and with digital most people tend to take more photos than with film.  Some of the digital photos are quite good, about the ratio I expect.  

Next in quantity was 35mm.  Not really surprising, I shot about 5 1/2 rolls of 35mm film during the trip.  The thing that surprised me was, I like very few of the B&W photos but several of the color.  In trying to sort this out, I think it is because the B&W was mostly shot while getting to know an area.  The type of shooting I was doing with the 35mm was different for me, entirely.  So I will see over time how that works out.  The ratio of good photos to total is lower than for the digital, but once more I think it was because of the new situations that I kept putting myself into.  

4X5 was the lowest number of photos taken, 113 B&W and 25 color total.  The distinction is, there is a much larger ratio of good photos than either of the other formats.  

I have printed a couple of the 35mm color photos a few 35mm B&W and several of the 4X5 B&W.  None to a final print status, just getting a feel for them at this time and learning the new enlarger.  It is my wish to have some to look through and see which ones I want to print and mount soon.

We worked through the trailer issues with minimal disruption to the trip, I worked through losing my favorite lens.  We worked through the horrible light and still made some good photographs.

I experimented quite a bit with filters and ways of shooting.  The trick sitting in the back of the truck worked out quite well.  I am actually thinking of putting a camper shell on the truck and setting up a shooting platform on top of the camper.  It worked for Ansel.

It was a good trip and I have enough decent negatives that it will take years to get them all printed.  I surprised myself in many ways but mostly in the ability to accept the horrible light and work through it.