12th January 2009, 01:42 PM
Things you need for taking photographs (other than cameras). Photo boards and north arrows appear to have become extinct, and it doesn't look at all pleasing in the report when the beautiful Roman kiln is accessorised with the site code and context number written on the back of a context sheet, and a trowel pointing north. Has anyone any thoughts on the best kind of photo board? I know of three kinds: the peg-board, the hymn-board and the blackboard. The peg-board, generally black, into which you peg little white letters and numbers, is terrifically practical in all weathers and conditions until the pegs snap off the letters, at which point it becomes useless, particularly if the snapped-off pegs get jammed in the holes. The hymn-board, made of plywood, into which you slot the letters and numbers, is sturdier and you can make it yourself; the main drawback is that the numbers are generally printed on cardboard covered with sticky-backed plastic, and tend to blow away. The tiny oblong of blackboard (you can get these as children's toys) is versatile and fits neatly into the camera box, so you don't have to drag it around separately, but is pretty much useless in the rain, and chalk dust in the camera box is looked on with disfavour by those in charge of servicing the cameras (yes, I know this is what old 35mm film cases are for, but there's no telling some people...).