The Never-ending Saga

It’s been a while since my last update, but my photography journey is constant! Over the past few weeks, I’ve participated in a couple of Church Craft Fairs and have one more fair coming up at the UNH Memorial Union Building on December 5th. These events have been a great way to share my work and connect with others who appreciate the art of photography.

On the academic side, I’m in the final stretch of my UNH Darkroom Photography Course, and my final project is something I’m really excited about: creating New Hampshire silver print images in the style of Ansel Adams. To achieve this, I’ve been working with a mix of film cameras—my Nikon N80, Minolta Maxxum 400si, and a Busch Pressman large format (4x5) camera. This assignment is due December 4^th.

The Challenge of Large Format Photography

Large format photography is a completely different experience compared to shooting with 35mm film. Instead of rolls, the film comes in individual sheets, which are loaded into cassettes that hold two sheets—one on each side. My Pressman, like most large-format cameras, is fully manual which means every step requires my full attention.

Here’s the process:

• Meter the Light: I use the Photo Light & Exposure Meter app on my phone to get the correct exposure settings. A quick screenshot helps me remember the details.

• Load the Film: This part is done in total darkness—no safelights allowed! Each cassette has two slides with colored tabs (dark and light). When loading, the dark tab faces out.
• Compose and Shoot: After mounting the camera on a tripod, I set the exposure on the lens, focus on the ground glass, insert the cassette, pull out the slide, and take the shot. Once done, the slide goes back in with the light tab showing, marking the film as exposed.

Sounds simple, right? In reality, keeping everything straight is the hardest part.

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Lessons from the Field

Last Thursday, I headed north with seven cassettes—14 potential shots. According to the tabs, I thought I had exposed all the sheets. But when I got into the darkroom (again, no safelights), the reality was different:

• 3 cassettes had only one sheet of film.
• 3 sheets were either unexposed or accidentally exposed to light.
• 2 double exposures.
• 4 good exposures—though two stuck together when I brought them home.

On top of that, I shot two rolls of film—one color, one black and white, and I had another exposed roll of B&W. I developed the color roll as black and white (a technique that’s supposed to work), but I’m still unsure if the results will be usable.

I’m looking forward to seeing this project come to life. The plan is to have ten 8x10 prints on fiber photography paper, all ready by December 4. Hoping everything goes smoothly with the printing process.

What’s Next?

Along with class deadlines and the upcoming show, there’s also still a lot of processing ahead for events that I’ve not completed. I have enough to keep me busy until Spring Semester starts on January 20^th. Stay tuned for updates!

Did you find your way here after a hike where Kate was the volunteer photographer? Perhaps you've enjoyed her images or seen her byline on one of many environmental websites. Kate is a naturalist and largely self-taught photographer with a passion for capturing the beauty and urgency of the natural world. Having photographed hundreds of environmental events for nonprofit organizations—entirely self-funded—she is now asking for your help to upgrade her equipment. Your support will allow her to continue providing high-quality, impactful images that support conservation efforts. Ways you can help:

• Share this campaign with friends, family, and nature lovers at GoFundMe. https://gofund.me/4cff87b7e

• Follow Kate on social media to see the journey unfold at https://hodgepodgeimages.blogspot.com/2025/09/the-hodgepodge-images-project.html

• Connect Kate with organizations that might benefit from my photography. You can check out the HodgePodgeImage Portfolio website at https://HodgePodgeImages.com

Thanks!