Analyzing a Test Strip for Prints

Video Transcript

"So now that I've gotten my test print out of the water, I'm going to look at it and analyze it so to speak. The three factors in me looking a print, looking at a test print are: my filter, what my timer is at, what my F-stop is at and sometimes what kind of paper I'm using. But right now, I just want to look at the exposures, okay? So that was 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 45, 60, 75. Now really looking at this print, it's looking like 75 is about the best. Maybe somewhere between 60 and 75. But I want to see the detail in the dome and I want to see the detail in the flags. So this is where experience really the more you do it, the better you get at it. And again, discipline and slowing down and really looking at something and going okay, how do I get the most detail and information out of this negative? It's pretty important stuff. If you're going to take the time to do this, it's important to do it right. It's one of the hardest lessons I had to learn. So now I'm looking at 75, looks okay to me. It's a little contrasty so that means I might drop my filter down but I'm not going to do that until I make a straight print at 75 seconds."