[pure-silver] Re: Getting Organized

Getting Organized
It is important to be organized. Here is what I do.
Every negative gets a number that is put on the negative envelope. When, in my early year, I worked in 35mm, every roll of film got a number, and the contact sheet of that roll received the same number. Individual pictures were identified by their position on the contact sheet. Third row, second picture over on the 119th roll would be: 119-3-2. I didn't have to read the little number on the edge of the film. I just looked at it, and counted up to six. 

Individual negatives get a negative number: Example: 82-0905-13
That would be 82 for format (8x20) Year, Month, Negative in the month.
If the negative is part of a trip or project that encompasses at least more than one month the number would be like this: 82-0905-13/157. That would mean the 13th 8x20 negative in May, 2009 and the 157th negative of the trip or project.
If there is a significant project, like my recent commission to photograph Chicago, I would out a letter in front of it the number. As in C82-0905-13/157.
All rolls of film, and all individual sheet film negatives are filed strictly chronologically, unless the photographs are for a specific project, and then they are filed chronologically within the project.
All mounted prints have the negative number on the back and are filed chronologically. Unmounted prints do not get marked, but they also get filed strictly chronologically. I can find any negative I ever made, or any print, mounted or unmounted, in the time it takes me to walk over to the area where it is stored and reach for it. Usually about 10 to 15 seconds.
For negative storage I use archival paper that I make into a folder (no glued seams). I can make printing notes on the folder and I can write the negative number on the folder. You cannot easily do that with clear plastic folders. 

The negative boxes and print boxes are stored chronologically.
Some people file their negatives by subject. Since I remember what I did when, I find it easier to file everything chronologically.
Next: I deal with every negative I make before I make any more. I either print it or discard it. In this way I learn from my work. And since I know what I have done I do not repeat myself. At least it is easier not to repeat myself when I know what I have done. A major problem that many photographers have is that they do not deal with their negatives. Ansel Adams had 40,000 unprinted negatives when he died, which is why, I contend, that after awhile he just repeated himself. Edward Weston, on the other hand, printed every negative, or he discarded it. He kept growing as a photographer.
As far as working in various processes goes: Don't do it until you are dissatisfied with what you are doing. Pick a film and a film developer, a paper and a paper developer and use only that until you are dissatisfied.
Do not keep bad prints. Or failed experiments, once you have learned the lessons that have to teach. These things only take up valuable space.
And about taking up space: I use two-ply mount board and two-ply overmats. I can store twice as many prints in a given space than if I used four-ply. Few people have enough space. For exhibition, I substitute a larger four-ply overmat. 

Hope that helps.

Michael A. Smith
At the risk of revealing too much about my worst habit, the lack of habits, I'm going to ask if anyone else has the same problem I'm having. Two years into photography, I now have sheets and sheets of negatives, prints experimenting with every sort of technique or paper or developer, and no order to any of it. I'm at a point now where it's getting hard to move forward with any photographic project without looking for something under something else... I'm going to assume I'm not the only one who has an obsession with this craft and is also very busy (with paying work). I've got some ideas of how to dig out, straighten up and fly right, but I'm curious how some of you have dealt with putting your house in order? Not only about storage and retrieval, or record keeping, but about anything pertaining to managing current projects and planning future projects. I could use some inspiration, and some good ideas. 

Elias
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