P3D Museum Shooting Advice from John, 6/99

[Bruce Springsteen <bsspringsteen@xxxxxxxxx>]

Sorry to take so long replying to Abram's request that I post advice I got
from John Baird on shooting in a museum (specifically dioramas behind
glass).  I have chosen to post two responses together, edited, with my
questions left in, for a taste of John's personality as well as the
particular advice I received.  

*******

On June 3, 1999:

hi bruce!!    i saw your p3d post about shooting museum  exhibits in 3d
and that i'd answer it along with a more in depth answer to your earlier
post to me!!

>>What film should Mick take?  What speed?  Print or slide?  Or both?<< 

i'd say 100 asa chrome in all cameras!  fuji sensia is my favorite! if
he later wants to make stereo views, prints can be made from the slides!

use the realist format cameras for the outside work and the slr for the
interior diorama shots! use an 80a filter to correct for the tungsten
lighting and let the camera meter the scene on auto! shoot at 5.6 in
aperture priority or stop down a little more for more depth of field!
a slide bar would be handy but you can simply drag the tripod 2.5 inches
sideways for the pair!  keep one leg of the tripod 90 degrees from the
camera shooting axis and just pick up this leg only for the slide
sideways! i would keep the separation a little less for the smaller
dioramas! using just the slr for the interior shots will simplify the
shoot and you won't have to get filters for the 5p cameras! plus, having
full frame slides to work with will be great! dupes and prints will be a
lot easier from full frame and why not use the biggest format for this
ideal "cha-cha" subject!! these could also be cut down to fit realist
format slides! 

>> Which film in which cameras?  Should he shoot the small dioramas with a
normal base or try to use a reduced base to "scale them up"?  What would
you do? Any pitfalls to watch for?<<

it should be pretty much straight forward! he might want to do a 24 exp
test roll to make sure he's getting good results before going back to
finish the shoot!!

(...)

Then more on June 3:

hi bruce!!   it looks like most everyone is saying no flash!!  bthwy, ek
tungsten is 160 asa!! but why pay $8-10 or more a roll when you can stay
with sensia 100 at $3-5 and just buy an 80a filter $8-10 once and use it
over and over again???!!

>> Good suggestions!
I'm hoping to follow Bob H's idea of using the available light with
tripod to avoid the flash reflection issues Greg described, and to take
advantage of that dramatic light on the museum dioramas.  Hopefully I
can make those painted panoramic back walls look like they are simply
beyond the range of stereo acuity - if I avoid showing where wall and
floor meet.<<

i'd say stop way down and focus mid scene so the background will wind up
sharp!  let your camera determine the time exp and then sometimes double
that time on manual!  these overexposures can really be majic sometimes!
i don't see wall/floor seems being a problem!!  it'd be kind of hard to
convince anyone that these were taken anywhere else anyway!! ;-)

>> The tungsten slide films are generally in the neighborhood of 60 ISO - 
if I'm remembering right.  Has anyone experience with faster
tungsten-balanced films?  Is Kodachrome with a correcting filter a
better option in any way?<<

kr 64 would be fine, sept yu'd have to double the shutter times!  i've 
had better results with the e6 sensia 100!!

>> Are there color negative films designed for tungsten?<< 

yup! it's big bucks too!!

>> Am I just asking for grain problems if I try faster films - how good
are the new ones really?<<

yup again!  i can still see grain in kr and ek 200 asa!!!!

>> As to greasy kid-marks on the glass, I'm not above sneaking in a teeny
spritzer of glass cleaner and a cloth.  It's pretty deserted there on
Sunday mornings.  I'll leave the squeegee at home, though.  ;-)<<

great idea!  but i bet if you shoot available light moderately smudged
glass wouldn't be visable!! maybe the museum would pay you for cleaning
costs! :-)

bthwy! i shoot all the exhibits for the kc museum in 3d with my rbt and
this is how i do it!! except with two, 80a's!!   do you have a slide bar
or are you going to try my, "slide the tripod" trick!!

you should be getting our kcmpa newsletter next week!!  let me know what
you think!!!

tooDDDeloo!!   janni bearDDD!!



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