Dark side to darkroom

[kdanks]

Hi, my name is Kevin and I live in the New Forest in southern England. I've been a camera owner for most of my life, but it took a year with a digital SLR to realise that I wasn't really a photographer. That started me on a search for places to learn, a rediscovery of film, a 35mm rangefinder and a quantity of Ilford HP5. APUG looks like the best (perhaps the only?) resource of its type, so I'm pleased I found it.

About 10 years ago I bought a Jessops darkroom kit and developed 8 or 10 films, but I didn't really know what I was doing and the results were very hit or miss. I'm planning to spend some time learning how to compose and expose a decent negative, then I'll try development, and finally move on to printing (thank goodness for eBay). From what I've seen in the APUG gallery, I've got a lot to learn...

 

[jp80874]

Much of the pleasure is in the learning. You might look for courses at your local college, community vocational school or camera club. This is a good place to discuss specific questions or discuss a concept. The specifics and the concepts mean much more as you expand your general and practical knowledge through general study of photography. One of the benefits of this format is that as you discover a need you can search and find more details. The information is there waiting for you to discover you need it. How does the saying go? When the student is ready the teacher will appear.

Good luck, welcome and enjoy.

John Powers

 

[Dave Miller]

There's no better teacher than practice; enjoy the experiance.

 

[Andy K]

One thing is for sure, living in the New Forest you won't be short of subject matter!

Welcome to APUG,

Andy.

 

[roteague]

Welcome Kevin. It is always great to welcome someone who has discovered the joys of photography. I wish you great success, and look forward to seeing some of your work. I'm sure the New Forest is quite beautiful; I've heard about it, but never been there.

 

[rbarker]

I'm sorry, Kevin, but there is no "dark side" to the darkroom. We're all saintly persons adorned with (amber-colored) halos.

So, welcome back to the un-dark side.

 

[Whiteymorange]

Kevin, I have a wonderful memory of a mystical experience with the horses of the New Forest. I would give a great deal to come back - for the ale as well as the horses, I must admit.

This is the place in the vitual world, however. A better community is hard to imagine. Welcome in.

Whitey

 

[kdanks]

Many thanks to everyone for the warm welcome. The New Forest does offer endless subject matter, the only real problem is knowing where to start. We have woodland, bog, heath and moor, little villages, the ponies and a few million tourists every year, so there's lots to keep me busy. On top of that I work in London a couple of days a week, where I find the rangefinder just the thing to carry in my briefcase.

Ralph, the dark side I've come from was a learning experience, but I'm glad to be here in the (safe) light where I'm sure I'm going to learn a lot more...