Seattle area meetup at the Georgetown steam plant May 9th, 2026 10am

[aconbere]

MTGSeattle and I thought it would be fun to see some photrio faces.

The plant is full of interesting industrial sights and is open to the public May 9th 10-2.

Mike and I will be there from 10 until noonish (or until folks feel done) then walk over to All City Coffee for a snack.

Mods: I’d love to know if this is the best place to post this. I don’t see an appropriate regional forum.

Moderator addition: Georgetown Steam Plant (Seattle Area) info: https://www.georgetownsteamplant.org/

 

[MattKing]

This is a good place to post this.

 

[aconbere]

Great! A small success.

 

[MattKing]

If there is any internet information about your destination, it can help to include a link.
So I've helped you out here by adding it to your opening post.
I've also added the name to the contents of your opening post - for those who might miss the thread title.
Wishing you a good outing!

 

[aconbere]

If there is any internet information about your destination, it can help to include a link.
So I've helped you out here by adding it to your opening post.
I've also added the name to the contents of your opening post - for those who might miss the thread title.
Wishing you a good outing!

Thanks! Excellent advice!

 

[MattKing]

Our Darkroom Group arranges things like this regularly.
In simpler times we could consider planning cross-border outings to similar destinations.
Sigh....
You also might reach out to the venue ahead of time - sometimes it is possible to arrange special access, or a keen volunteer, or special dispensation if they have rules about photography.

 

[farpointer]

Count me in! MTG texted me about it earlier.

 

[farpointer]

Our Darkroom Group arranges things like this regularly.
In simpler times we could consider planning cross-border outings to similar destinations.
Sigh....
You also might reach out to the venue ahead of time - sometimes it is possible to arrange special access, or a keen volunteer, or special dispensation if they have rules about photography.

We should come up to BC on Amtrak sometime. The times are more complicated but it makes human connection more important than ever

 

[aconbere]

We should come up to BC on Amtrak sometime. The times are more complicated but it makes human connection more important than ever

My god, trains AND cameras? You couldn’t keep me away.

Matt, great point about talking to the folks who run it. I’ve been a few times informally and with formal groups but it will be a kindness to check in.

 

[MTGseattle]

I've "crashed" the public Saturdays with my 8x10. I simply tried to alternate my wanderings with that of the tour group. There is almost no way to tell whether there will be a large or small amount of people in attendance.
There are niche groups that do attend; steampunk at the steam plant comes to mind. I also met a group of scale steam engine guys there once too.
Maybe checking in is the polite thing. Ha ha.

 

[aconbere]

Yeah I’ll give them a shout today, easy to do.

 

[MTGseattle]

I did a quick "warning" submission through the online contact us page. It's an odd format for a heads up, but so be it.
Thank you @MattKing for the mod help.

 

[aconbere]

Amazing, then I will not spam them

 

[Bruce Butterfield]

This is great! I’ve always meant to visit the steam plant but never got around to it. I’ll be there.

Any particular issues with tripods? I imagine light levels are pretty low in there…

 

[aconbere]

I’ve been with both a tripod and handheld. I’d recommend a tripod if you’re using an aperture narrower than … f2? Handheld with a 35mm camera and a 1.4 lens felt okay but a lot of what’s there is in shadows that typically call for stabilization.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

Thanks for the invitation! I will try to join you all (y'awl). I will bring a light tripod and, maybe, a Rolleiflex with 400 film.

 

[MTGseattle]

I got a reply from a helpful person at the company that manages the steam plant as a location. We call all discuss that stuff when we meet as it would warrant a separate thread.

As to steam plant site issues; if it is sunny, there is a good mix of diffuse daylight and incandescent inside. There will still be some dark corners and good shadows ( good zone system practice).
A tripod generally helps in there. Whether a tripod is a problem depends a bit on overall attendees; I've been there when there were maybe 10 people total and I've been there with maybe 30. Some folks act as docents/ tour guides, and if there is a tour group rotating around, I find it easier to counter rotate as it were. I had an 8x10 exposure going while a tour group ended up essentially circling the camera (I didn't rotate properly) and I was hoping for some Linda Conner style "ghosts," but that didn't happen, zero people on the negative.

 

[MTGseattle]

which camera/s to bring, which camera/s to bring....

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

If things were normal, I'd love to come down...

 

[MattKing]

If things were normal, I'd love to come down...

Some Canadian content:

 

[Kodachromeguy]

which camera/s to bring, which camera/s to bring....

Hasselblad with normal plus wide lenses? Or go simple with a Rolleiflex and it's 75mm lens? Leica and a 21mm Biogon? Tri-X 400?

 

[aconbere]

which camera/s to bring, which camera/s to bring....

What’s maximally inconvenient?!

 

[Bruce Butterfield]

Not sure if it's a good idea but I'm going to bring my Pentax 6x7, or as I refer to it, "The Beast." I'm not in love with the camera but it can make some pretty pictures.

 

[aconbere]

WOO! Great success everyone! Sorry I had to run without saying goodbye, we have a little trip later today and had to boogie. Really nice to see everyone. Thanks for coming out!

 

[Bruce Butterfield]

We should do something similar again, it’s great to meet and shoot with other forum folks. Thanks for organizing this!