Scanning the slides

Slides

I am in the process of scanning the slides which arrived today (11-4-10).  I am being careful to number the files to correspond with the number on the slide.  I will then be able to go to the sound file that corresponds to that slide to record data and to try to reconstruct what I was thinking at the time.

I use what is called a hybrid approach when I shoot film.  This means that I convert to digital at this point and process the images digitally.  I mentioned previously that my scanner was a weak point in my process.  It is not a pro quality scanner.  It does not focus on the slide so it introduces some softness into the file.  I am, however; satisfied with given how much I use it. 

Another observation and a surprise to me was that the slides seemed more grainy than I expected them to be.  I am not sure what I will do when I go back to process the slides.  I may need to use noise reduction.  I am wondering about underexposure as a possible cause of this.

The scanning is an added step to the process.  It took me about 3 hours to do it and I have made no adjustments to the image files as yet.

I am not happy with my exposures.  I over compensated in the area of exposure compensation.  I underexposed by 1/2 to 1 stops.  I wonder if the graininess in the slides was caused by underexposure.  I did not pull or push developing so that was not a cause.  I told them to use normal processing.  Bottom line, I have much to learn.  I must confess that I liked the color.  I had not shot any Kodachrome since the 1950's.  I don't honestly see a reason for me to shoot film.  If I did, I would.

Shooting finished!

Roll finished!

I have finished shooting the roll of Kodachrome 64, 10/29/10.  I shot the last two frames without the benefit of exposure checking on the digital camera.  I did bracket.  It has been fun shooting the slide film but I do not want to go back to shooting film.  I greatly appreciate the immediacy of shooting digital.  I bring my image files into my “digital darkroom” and process them upon my return from the shoot.  Even with my careful records it helps me to have the shoot fresh in my mind.  My memory is not what it used to be

The mailer

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I suppose that there is one question in my mind which I need to answer.  Can I use smaller apertures to gain deeper depth of field without sacrificing detail and sharpness as I do with my digital camera?  I will examine the slide frames carefully.  I think that diffraction is a digitally created phenomenon. 

I do sacrifice sharpness with my “hybrid” approach to shooting film.  My scanner is a weak point in the process.  I may discuss this in a later blog.

The lack of immediacy is a big deal to me.  I want to know immediately if I have made an error.  I go back the next day to try to correct the error.  Things are seldom the same because nature is never static.  I do get things corrected some of the time.  Of course, the best strategy is to shoot it correctly the first time.  I want to improve in this area.