RE: [Leica] Shooting question - an Operating Room

["bdcolen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net>]

The one thing I would add to Ted's sterling advice, is beware the hot
spots! You will find 'interesting' exposure balancing issues as the
light in the room itself will probably be quite good, but then there
may/will be quite intense light on the operating field...

Also, in addition to not letting your clothes, gear, etc. touch any
personnel, do NOT let them brush against the drapes over the patient,
the tables holding the instrument trays, or any other surface with cloth
on it.

B. D>

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
[mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us] On Behalf Of
tedgrant@shaw.ca
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2003 11:00 AM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: Re: [Leica] Shooting question - an Operating Room


Steven Blutter asked:
>>>Shooting question - an Operating Room

> Hi everyone,
> I've been given an assignment to shoot a surgeon in action in the O.R.

> (which I've never done)
> 
> Other than the obvious (scrubbing in etc.), what other problems
> should I
> anticipate?
> 
> -Do I have to have the equip. sterilized?  Bagged?  (if so what
> bag - how do
> you change rolls?)
> 
> I have a meeting coming up & don't want to be completely unprepared.
> 
> Thanks in advance,
> Steven Blutter<<<<<

Hi Steven,
You don't have to scrub as you're not operating on the patient. All you
should have to do is change street clothes to greens or blues or
whatever colour the OR clothes are.

Given this is your first time doing this don't worry about your clothes
other than knowing you'll strip down to your skivvies and into OR garb.
They'll guide you with the clothes and over booties to cover your shoes.


No you don't have to do any sterilizing or covering your camera gear and
changing film is just the same as normal.  You may find you'll have to
leave your bag outside the OR, maybe, however sometimes you just plunk
it down inside the door and that's OK. If the bag and what to do with it
hasn't come up ask the head OR nurse or the doctor what you can do with
it.

Usually head OR nurse will tell you what to do and kind of guide you
through a couple of what to do and what not to do.

But the most important thing is:
"DO NOT TOUCH THE SURGEON NOR ANYONE ELSE INVOLVED DIRECTLY AT THE TABLE
WITH THE PATIENT." And I mean don't get close enough for your clothes to
touch them!!!!!!!! Even though you're in greens or you could find
yourself in deep do doo and out the door. O any of the small tables used
to hold the trays of tools and bits&pieces.

Apart from common sense of not touching anything in the room or trays on
roll about tables, just be comfortable. Best bet, stay away from the doc
doing the cutting and use longer glass to reach in for whatever it is
you need. 

If you need a little height there are small metal stools about to stand
on. If you don't see one ask the "Run about nurse" as I call them, you
wont miss her or them as they're on the move keeping all the bits and
pieces flowing during the operation.

I'd not worry too much about anything as the OR head nurse will explain
things to you and all you have to do is, what she says. And before you
move any time, look around yourself to see that you are not going to
touch or bang into anything. You may find yourself walking a bit
sideways to slide between things, but move carefully and you'll be cool.

If you're shooting B&W use Tri-x or Tmax @ 800 and you'll be flying with
available light as it's highly unlikely you'll neeed flash at any time.

Colour might be a bit different, but I'd shoot Fuji 800 negative
whatever it is and you can do available light, as long as you know
you'll have some colour balancing to do in photoshop.

But in all my years of shooting in OR's about the world I've never used
a flash at anytime... cause if you can see it, you can shoot it. And
trust me you'll see it quite OK ! :-)

I hope this helps, just stay relaxed and cool, as it'll be a neat
experience.

ted




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