HABS/HAER/HALS DOCUMENTATION
Thomas Carr has extensive experience with medium and large format archival film photography that is required for state and federal historic preservation documentation programs. This includes the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), Historic American Engineering Record (HAER), and Historic American Landscape Survey (HALS). Over his 40-year career he has documented hundreds of historic sites. Since starting his own consulting business in 2016, he has conducted almost 50 documentation projects. Mr. Carr's experience as a photographer, archaeologist, and historic preservation specialist make him especially qualified to conduct work of this nature. HABS/HAER/HALS is the highest level of archival documentation and involves the use of large format film cameras. A historical context typically accompanies the negatives and prints, which are then archived at the United States Library of Congress. The process for this documentation is described as follows. The location, viewing direction, and a description for each image are recorded on a log sheet. Additionally, GPS coordinates are recorded for each location. The log and GPS data are then used to create locator maps. The photographs are made using a large-format 4x5-inch film camera on black and white film. The film is hand processed to archival standards, including a hypo-clearing agent rinse. The film negatives are then individually scanned at 1200 dpi in full frame and saved as uncompressed Tagged Images Files (TIF). The TIF files are then used to produce digital contact prints scaled 1:1 on Epson Ultra-Premium Presentation Matte archival print paper using Epson Ultrachrome carbon pigment inks. The film negatives are individually labeled with the HABS/HAER/HALS project number in the negative margin using a 0.2mm permanent archival ink pen, and placed in archival paper sleeves labeled in pencil. All procedures and deliverables follow the guidelines provided by the National Park Service, Heritage Documentation Programs.
