An Ultimate Photographer’s Handbook, Inspired by a 100-Year-Old Find
In 2013, a century-old notebook was found in the summer belt at Cape Evans, Antarctica. It belonged to George Murray Levick, who photographed Robert Falcon Scott’s last expedition to the continent from 1910 to 1913. Restored by the Antarctic Heritage Trust, the notebook was titled “Welcome Photographic Exposure Record and Diary 1910” and contained pages of Levick’s notes, including dates, descriptions, and exposure times.
Inspired by this historical photographer’s notebook, Galaxy has decided to create the ultimate notebook for analog photographers — one that’s based on some of the great handbooks from decades (or over a century) past.
The Galaxy Photographer’s Planner and Handbook contains three main sections. A monthly planner with major world photo events (including their conditions, websites, and deadlines), a log for jotting down notes for your photos, and technical data sheets packed with info that can help you nail the perfect shot.
The log/records section is further broken down into exposure records (writing down technical data), zone system records (for film exposure and development notes), location scouting records, darkroom records, and memoranda (blank slate pages that can be used for various purposes).
In the reference/handbook section, photographers will find a couple of pages of basic photography info about aperture, ISO, shutter speed, and other parameters. There’s also some uncategorized “practical info”, and chemistry info for darkroom processes.
The 256-page handbook features a “universal professional design,” with an elegant leather hardcover that’s available in either “Deep Red” or “Obsidian Black” variants.
The pages inside are thick, durable, and large enough for notes, yet the notebook as a whole is small enough (4×6.25 inches) to fit nicely into most camera bags.
A red elastic band helps keep the notebook closed when it’s tucked away. There’s also an elastic pen holder and bookmark ribbons to mark specific pages.
Galaxy previously launched a Kickstarter campaign for “Hyper Speed” direct positive photo paper. The company is now doing the same for this new photographer’s handbook. A pledge of $35 or more through the new Kickstarter campaign will get you an early notebook if/when it launches in January 2016. You can also find more info about the handbook over on its website.
