[Leica] Cataloging negatives

[paul at paulhardycarter.com (Paul)]

Try different systems until you find something that works for you. If 
you're getting behind with cataloguing, or you can't find negs quickly, 
or you can't be bothered to use the system, then it's not working for 
you!

For what it's worth, this works for me:

Each roll has a ten digit code, for instance 0509181538. It's simply 
the year, month, day, hour, minute when the film was loaded. This 
number is written on the canister and entered in my log book at the 
time of loading, or as soon afterwards as possible. When things are 
happening fast I have ways of keeping track for short periods of many 
films, but I catch-up as soon as there's a lull. The log book also 
records film type, camera used, film speed, location and anything else 
that is relevant including, later, where and when the film was 
processed.

That is the only reference for that film, and if someone else gives the 
film a number for any reason then I make sure I cross-reference.

All films are contacted once developed, and the films and contacts are 
stored in separate folders in number order. I keep the whole film in a 
single page neg storage sheet. If someone needs a single neg for a 
while, I cut that one out and when it's returned it goes back into the 
storage sheet, or into a separate little bag taped to the front.

Individual frames are referred to by the frame number, for instance 
0509181538/28. All prints have this number written on the back, all 
scans use this number as the file name.

Because the system in time based, I can find things easily. For 
instance, if I'm looking for a picture of Bucharest I look in my diary 
to see when I was there, then pull the contacts, locate the picture I 
want, and then pull the film. Although usually, if it's a good picture, 
it'll already have been printed, so all I have to do is read the number 
on the back of the print.

It works for me but probably wouldn't work for anyone else!

P.

*******
Paul Hardy Carter
www.paulhardycarter.com
*******

On 16 Sep 2005, at 08:33, feli wrote:

> I realize this is a big subject, but can anyone give me an insight in 
> to how they
> log and keep track of their negatives? After several years of 
> shooting, the
> rolls are starting to add up to a significant number, and finding 
> shots is becoming
> problematic.
>
> Right now I'm labeling everything by date and roll number, and filing 
> it in sequential order.
> But how do you keep track of what shots are on what roll?
> Anyone out there using a database? A log book?