Ft. Stewart, GA

[Thelgord]

Greatings everyone! I just found this site and so far I like what I have found. I currently use a 35mm Minolta that is so old it doesnt auto-focus, or auto-anything for that matter but I still love it! I have a couple of lens's for it, and a flash, and that's about it.

I am still new to photography, and figured I had better learn all of the "traditional" methods before they become lost in the sands of time. Never expected to find a site such as this!

As I said I am very much the newbie to all of this, but so far learning has been an experience I am glad to have the oppertunity to have.

 

[MattKing]

Welcome, from British Columbia, Canada.

You'll like it here.

Matt

 

[juan]

Welcome from just down the road in Jacksonville.
juan

 

[Mike Wilde]

dont' fret about using an old camera here

This place is full of those who love old cameras, and the fact that they aren't obsolete because of the latest software update...

There are a few of us who lament the demise of the mercury photo battery, but there are work arounds for those who like using cameras that were made when cameras first started to have battery powered meters in them.

As to old Minolta - there are friends on that count too. I run an x-570, as a replacement to the x-700 that went accidentally swimming with me last year, as my principal colour negative camera, and an SRT101 when I shoot B&W in 35mm. Then there is the Mamiya TLR, the Yashica TLR, the Olympus Trip 35, the wife's point and shoot, the kids always flash p&s.... Around here there is a term for this disease - G.A.S. (Gear Aqusition Syndrome.) It does not even have to cost money if you are careful. More than half of my cameras were given to me when people found out that I liked to use 'old' cameras. And yet by many here's standards they are not old. Wander into the large format section, ands you find people championing lenses that are approaching, or over 100 years old.

Welcome aboard

 

[copake_ham]

Thelgord,

Welcome from NYC. You'll find plenty of users of "vintage" gear here in all formats - and many of us have quite a mix of "old" and "new".

If you search the threads I'm sure you'll find a lot of info regarding your camera and related gear with some good tips etc.

Most important thing is to put that camera to good use by going out and burning a lot of film!

 

[Thelgord]

Thanks for the friendly welcome

Mike: My camera is a X-370s, and I have been unable to find the batteries that it is suppose to take, so I found some watch batteries that fit in the little hole and meet the voltage requirement. I have been using the same ones for around a year now with no problems

My 14yr old son thinks I need to go digital, but I say I need to learn how to good photographs LOL!

 

[Doug Hook]

Welcome from me too, still a little bit of a newbie!

My long term friend is a 1978 Nikon which has become like a pair of well worn jeans I can't bear to be without.

What catches your eye, subject wise?

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Welcome to the group from Delaware.

Chris

 

[Thelgord]

Subject wise I realy like candid photo's of people doing whatever it is that they do. I have a total of three of these hat I was really proud of, unfortunatly the movers lost the box with them in it.

I took a trip out yesterday to try my hand at some nature shots then up to a mueseum and civil war graveyard. I discovered I have no talent for either LOL! I burned up 7 rolls of film and didn't really get anything I really liked. I am still learning that what you see isn't always what you get.

I am also still experimenting with film speeds and DOF, alternating with color and B&W films. So far I really like the iso400 B&W film from kodak, but would like to find some iso200 or even iso100 B&W film to play with. I just purchased some iso200 color kodak and iso400 color HD film to compare the two.

I just cant seem to get what I want in a shot, no matter how many times I shoot the same thing with different settings. I have been keeping a log of shots and the settings I use for each but so far I keep missing. My pictures still end up looking like a snapshot taken on a family outing rather than a good picture. I get close, but no cigar.

 

[Doug Hook]

I can empathize with what you're saying. For me, I need to be motivated before grabbing my camera; inspired in some way, I can't work in a random way. I need to have in mind an idea of what I'm after (which is fairly straight forward as I like to photograph people most of all) but I try not to be too rigid because often one idea leads onto another and then another. That unexpected change in light, for instance, can also open up new possibilities (so having plenty of film to hand is a must, it'll always keep for another time if it's not used on the day).

Sometimes when I press the shutter I can imagine what the finished result will be like and I find myself saying "I'll be burning the sky quite a lot in the top left corner, or I'll print it like this or that". Other times I need to keep an open mind and see what happens in the darkroom which I feel is where further creative work takes place.

Don't be afraid not to take photographs on a particular day, even if you started out with good intentions; I have found that being more discerning in this respect has been helpful but as with all of these things, I can only speak for myself and others will undoubtedly have a different perspective based on their individual experience and what works for them.

I have found commercial film processing and printing is sometimes a lottery. Have you fallen victim to that?

 

[Thelgord]

Actualy yes I have, hence I will never go back to Wal-Mart LOL! I am on fairly good terms with the poeple I currently use for proccessing and "so far" have had really good luck with them. I think it's because I spend so much money in there

I am getting better at composition, it's just taking a little longer than expected. Although, I think I will stay away from nature shots hehe I seem to better with people, and have more fun when I am at it

 

[Silverhead]

Welcome. Just shoot, shoot, and keep shooting. Buy so much film that it bankrupts you, it's the only way you will ever be happy. Hey, it worked for all of us!