Helpful Hints (Part I)
by Monte Nagler

Has your meter ever failed causing you to pack it in for the day because you had no other way to determine exposure? Have you ever shot a roll of film, perhaps of a very important event, only to find out afterwards to your dismay that the film never went through the camera?

Well, fear no more. This week, and in my next column, I'm going to share my list of helpful hints for better photographs and pointers to help you keep out of a jam.

If your meter fails, all is not lost. Use the rule of "Sunny Sixteen". Set the camera's aperture at f-16 on a sunny day [hence, sunny sixteen] and the shutter speed at the number closest to the ASA of your film. For example, with Kodachrome 64, proper exposure is yours with an exposure of f-16 at 1/60 second. On a bright- overcast day, use f-11 at 1/60; with overcast skies, use f-8 at 1/60.

Film didn't pass through the camera? Here's a sure-fire way to make sure it never happens again. On manual wind cameras, always watch the rewind crank as you advance the film. If it rotates, there is film in the camera and it's passing through properly. If the rewind lever is not turning, the film is not advancing. It's as simple as that!

Use a skylight, haze or ultra violet filter on all your lenses. They will not warm up colors and cut through haze, but they will also serve as an invaluable protector for each lens.

Tape the label from your film box to the back of your camera [some cameras have slots for this purpose]. This will serve as a reminder of what film you're shooting. If you don't take many pictures or haven't used your camera in a while, it's easy to forget what kind of film is in the camera.

We're all guilty of buying a new product and not taking the time to read the owner's manual. This is true for cameras, too. So shake this bad habit and read your instruction manual! Not only will you have a more thorough understanding of how your camera works, but also you'll find much useful advice to help you take better pictures.

Stay tuned. In my next column I'll give you more helpful hints on taking stronger photographs and keeping out of a jam.