Back on the continent.

Hello all,

I have just registered on APUG. First of all I have own up to the fact that I too, am involved in D******, and not just in the printing out process.

For a boy growing up in the '60's the camera was an increasingly ubiquitous
instrument of recording. It was not until I was about 16 that I began to see
photography as a potential medium of self expression and acquired my first
SLR. The few interesting images I have captured happened almost
accidentally. And there were many moments marred by poor technique. I also
became discouraged with the quality of my medium, 35mm, and lack of access
to better equipment and material (I spent much of my childhood in very
remote rural areas and small towns). So now, 34 years later, I am reviving
my old hobby with the ambition of taking a more thoughtful approach.
I have recently aquired (I'd like to think "invested in" - at any rate justified by a hopeful 10 year amortization) the Leica Digilux D2. My first digicam experience doesn't merit mention. The Leica D2 is another story but not here at APUG! I too, fine it refreshing to have found a forum for disscussing and sharing apects of film photography, and avoiding the circular debate of d****** v.s. film. For me there is no versus, they are difference ways of approaching an outcome, whatever it might be for you or your audience/market. I like the Digilux as a "point and shoot". I have
a feeling though -that I will experience the most satisfaction from images recorded/made from the 4x5 system that I am beginning to put together.
A primary immediate goal is to aquire some good images in 4x5 B&W. I am considering using injet 8.5x11 internegatives to contact print on Kodak Azo silver emusion. When I can dedicate more resources, I would like to experiment with various emulsions and processes on fine Printing Out Paper. I am also interested in working with color transparencies. I love my first attempts with Fuji Astia. The anticipation of picking up my color transparencies at the lab... Many opportunities in New Mexico. I am contemplating landscape, some architectural studies (many of the oldest structures in North America in New Mexico). I am a bit shy in some social settings so it will be a challange to work with the "street" genre. It will be interesting to experience subject reaction to my Speed Graphic. Gramatic magazine and Albuquerque under the Southwest sun should be a fun combo!

Welcome... I'm looking forward to seeing your large format work in the galleries. I'm fairly new here, too, but you'll find there is a lot of great information in the forums and galleries. I've recently started shooting medium format after years of just 35mm. I'm still struggling with it, but I think, for me at least, it's more fun than tackling digital photography. I just like getting my hands wet, and the magic of the materials.

Again, welcome, and good luck with your photography!
-Suzanne

Thanks for the well-wishes Suzanne

I am not a complete stranger to wrinkly wet hands and the smell of fixer. And I will still be doing the kitchen sink developing of B&W negatives. Not sure when, but I see myself leaning over the edge of the bathtub, watching for the pull time of developing prints. The main hinderance to setting up a darkroom was/is my lack of space to dedicate to an enlarger. I'm in the hybrid mode. I believe a good film negative gives me the most information to work with. I have yet to see if wet process on silver and other emulsions can mask the use of a "digital enlarger". I have seen some interesting posts on this forum today, and would appreciate any advice on options towards making good color and B&W prints from scans with the equipment I have.
It has been a couple of years since I aquired PS and a decent scanner. I chose the Epson Perfection 2450 because of its reputation for decent scans of 4x5 format in its price range. I can get some near instant feedback of the recorded image using Polaroid 55 P/N and scanning and digitally printing. Just did the first one last Tue.
In B&W, I print with MIS Quadtone inks on my old Epson Stylus Color 740. I get decent prints -not what most people would consider "Fine Art", but very usable as viewing size proofs at full sheet, and I still have a negative for fine printing at a custom lab or contact prints. It will take a while to replace some items I left behind in my move from Hawaii, but I hope, in the not to distant future to be contact printing 4x5 and mounting with a generous mat border.
I feel one can get serviceable color prints with the proper inkset/paper combination from scanned transparencies. Again, seeing the image at a decent viewing size; i.e. 8x10, 11x17, I can better judge which images qualify for a better quality custom lab print. I am currently printing color with the Epson 1280 and the Epson inkset on Ilford's Gallerie Classic Pearl finish giclee paper. It is a resin coated paper with an amazing tonal range and claims (not Ilford's) of 20 year fade resistance. I have to admit that the leaning curve for these processes are pretty steep. User forums like APUG have been immensely helpful. In a venue where so many aspects of equipment and technique are changing so rapidly, one cannot have too many teachers.

So much to look forward to! Got a week off to re-visit some areas I had scouted out the last couple of years. I hope to bring back something to post.

michael