*** Warning Long(winded) Post***
Figured with Lee and Jeremy hitting their 2000th post, would get around to introducing myself with my 2000th post.
Hi, I'm Mike Castles (photomc to most of you). Interest in photography started back in the 60's with those copies of Life magazine that showed up in the mailbox each week....interest is not right, fell in love with B&W photography. Growing up we did the normal vacation/holiday shots with one of Kodaks latest (for me it was an Instamatic - with those great little flash cubes). Did not get a 'serious' camera until I was in the Army around 74, a nice little Canon TLb, and added a 2 step zoom with visions of becoming the next big name in nature photography. After my hitch in the Army was up, moved back home to Ft. Worth, TX and like most found a job and started college. In 77 took a photo class, and saw Adams 'Photographs of the Southwest' show at the Amon Carter...what a year. Not long after this life started to get in the way, and the camera gear slowly went in to dis-use.
For the next several years, the camera(s) came out from time to time - would shoot some color (prints/slides) let someone else do the processing. Did try my hand at processing some E-6, using some of the Kodak Hobbie Paks (now gone with most of Kodak). Did the camera club thing for couple of years in the late 80's but burned out pretty quick on that front.
Interest seemed to be as much about equipment as process .... but then the wife and I started talking about building a new house, and being the "best wife in the world" she told me we should include a darkroom in the plans. So, after looking at more houses and plans than I care to think about, we found one that with some major re-drawing would fit us (we have since learned you don't get it right the first couple of times you do this). So there it was on the blueprints - "DARKROOM", the house was completed in Feb 2002, had found an enlarger (23CII) on ebay, and a nice darkroom sink that was only a couple of hours away - also on ebay, buy it now - so I did. The cabinets, and countertop were in place by the end of fall 2002. First films out of the darkroom were processed that summer...nice roll of Plus-X, in some ID-11, printed on some Ilford MGIV. Could not remember the times, sequence or anything....but somehow managed to get the negatives and a print out.
At this point I realized, how little I really knew about photography. Other than a couple of friends at work, and a brother (who was more into reenacting than photography) there was no place to turn. The book collection had started to grow, a couple of workshops (Nikon School and a Great American Photo Weekend with John Shaw), but these were 35mm, mostly color slide types of programs - and were not filling the bill so to speak. A couple of MF cameras had found there way into the fold, as well as a Crown Graphic - which I knew nothing about how to use. So the internet became my tutor - then in 2003 I found this really cool website - APUG. Spent a few weeks reading the information, looked like a good place so became a member.
Since post number 1, things have really changed for me. For starters, APUG feels like home...it is where I belong. The help and kindess that have been shown by the members here is a real gift. It has not been so much the good advice given (and it really has been good advice) but the way it was offered. Won't name any names, but there are several people here that are most giving of their knowledge and love of photography that I admire more than I can say. What is most amazing, is the professional level many here are at...I mean, look in the galleries and at the websites of some of these people - they are top notch photographers and artist - and they are willing to help anyone - even me. So, what have I learned in 2000 post? Know the difference between just exposing some film and understanding how it will look when processing is complete. Have learned how little I do know, but have picked up a few things that have improved my work.
There are way too many people to say Thank You to here one on one...but hope you all know how important you are to the site and to those of us that really do listen to what you say (Ok, not the stuff in the Soapbox...and sometimes not everything you say...)
So Thanks APUG, here's to many more dumb questions, grumppy reply's and just some basic 'doh!!' once in awhile.
Figured with Lee and Jeremy hitting their 2000th post, would get around to introducing myself with my 2000th post.
Hi, I'm Mike Castles (photomc to most of you). Interest in photography started back in the 60's with those copies of Life magazine that showed up in the mailbox each week....interest is not right, fell in love with B&W photography. Growing up we did the normal vacation/holiday shots with one of Kodaks latest (for me it was an Instamatic - with those great little flash cubes). Did not get a 'serious' camera until I was in the Army around 74, a nice little Canon TLb, and added a 2 step zoom with visions of becoming the next big name in nature photography. After my hitch in the Army was up, moved back home to Ft. Worth, TX and like most found a job and started college. In 77 took a photo class, and saw Adams 'Photographs of the Southwest' show at the Amon Carter...what a year. Not long after this life started to get in the way, and the camera gear slowly went in to dis-use.
For the next several years, the camera(s) came out from time to time - would shoot some color (prints/slides) let someone else do the processing. Did try my hand at processing some E-6, using some of the Kodak Hobbie Paks (now gone with most of Kodak). Did the camera club thing for couple of years in the late 80's but burned out pretty quick on that front.
Interest seemed to be as much about equipment as process .... but then the wife and I started talking about building a new house, and being the "best wife in the world" she told me we should include a darkroom in the plans. So, after looking at more houses and plans than I care to think about, we found one that with some major re-drawing would fit us (we have since learned you don't get it right the first couple of times you do this). So there it was on the blueprints - "DARKROOM", the house was completed in Feb 2002, had found an enlarger (23CII) on ebay, and a nice darkroom sink that was only a couple of hours away - also on ebay, buy it now - so I did. The cabinets, and countertop were in place by the end of fall 2002. First films out of the darkroom were processed that summer...nice roll of Plus-X, in some ID-11, printed on some Ilford MGIV. Could not remember the times, sequence or anything....but somehow managed to get the negatives and a print out.
At this point I realized, how little I really knew about photography. Other than a couple of friends at work, and a brother (who was more into reenacting than photography) there was no place to turn. The book collection had started to grow, a couple of workshops (Nikon School and a Great American Photo Weekend with John Shaw), but these were 35mm, mostly color slide types of programs - and were not filling the bill so to speak. A couple of MF cameras had found there way into the fold, as well as a Crown Graphic - which I knew nothing about how to use. So the internet became my tutor - then in 2003 I found this really cool website - APUG. Spent a few weeks reading the information, looked like a good place so became a member.
Since post number 1, things have really changed for me. For starters, APUG feels like home...it is where I belong. The help and kindess that have been shown by the members here is a real gift. It has not been so much the good advice given (and it really has been good advice) but the way it was offered. Won't name any names, but there are several people here that are most giving of their knowledge and love of photography that I admire more than I can say. What is most amazing, is the professional level many here are at...I mean, look in the galleries and at the websites of some of these people - they are top notch photographers and artist - and they are willing to help anyone - even me. So, what have I learned in 2000 post? Know the difference between just exposing some film and understanding how it will look when processing is complete. Have learned how little I do know, but have picked up a few things that have improved my work.
There are way too many people to say Thank You to here one on one...but hope you all know how important you are to the site and to those of us that really do listen to what you say (Ok, not the stuff in the Soapbox...and sometimes not everything you say...)
So Thanks APUG, here's to many more dumb questions, grumppy reply's and just some basic 'doh!!' once in awhile.
