Getting back into Film after 33 years

Filmproject · Feb 19, 2025

Hello! I am getting back into Film Photography and Darkroom printing after 33 years. I had a darkroom in my parents cellar for 3 years from 12-15 years old. I used my dad's Minolta SRT202 and taught myself how to shoot and develop. I left photography because life got complicated and now at 47 years old I am able to get back into it. I have gotten a Minolta SRT again and have put together a little darkroom in my home. I have been loving getting back into it again and am learning so much each time I shoot or develop. YouTube has been an amazing resource and it looks like this is a really amazing and thriving community! I don't know exactly how to use the forum set-up here, but I am looking forward to exploring! If anyone has any ideas of things I might be interested in, let me know! Look forward to the community.

Kyle1234 · Feb 20, 2025

Hi!
I am new here, as well. I jumped into film last February, last having touched film over 15 years prior in school. My only regret with film is not having gotten into it sooner! It has taught me so much about myself, my vision, and the technical aspects of photography.

I see you are from Washington. Check out Bruce Barnbaum. He teaches darkroom workshops twice per year in Washington. I participated last year and learned an incredible amount during the week...More so than any university has ever taught me.

mshchem · Feb 20, 2025

Welcome to Photrio!!!!

Filmproject · Feb 20, 2025

Kyle1234 said:
Hi!
I am new here, as well. I jumped into film last February, last having touched film over 15 years prior in school. My only regret with film is not having gotten into it sooner! It has taught me so much about myself, my vision, and the technical aspects of photography.

I see you are from Washington. Check out Bruce Barnbaum. He teaches darkroom workshops twice per year in Washington. I participated last year and learned an incredible amount during the week...More so than any university has ever taught me.

That is awesome! Thanks! I connected with him a couple months ago and might take his workshop this Spring if I can. It sounds incredible from what I've heard, awesome to hear firsthand experience!

Filmproject · Feb 20, 2025

mshchem said:
Welcome to Photrio!!!!

Thanks!!

RalphLambrecht · Feb 20, 2025

Filmproject said:
Hello! I am getting back into Film Photography and Darkroom printing after 33 years. I had a darkroom in my parents cellar for 3 years from 12-15 years old. I used my dad's Minolta SRT202 and taught myself how to shoot and develop. I left photography because life got complicated and now at 47 years old I am able to get back into it. I have gotten a Minolta SRT again and have put together a little darkroom in my home. I have been loving getting back into it again and am learning so much each time I shoot or develop. YouTube has been an amazing resource and it looks like this is a really amazing and thriving community! I don't know exactly how to use the forum set-up here, but I am looking forward to exploring! If anyone has any ideas of things I might be interested in, let me know! Look forward to the community.

welcome back to the dark side.

Sirius Glass · Feb 20, 2025

Welcome to Photrio!

Welcome back to photography. I too had and used a Minolta SRT202 for years. It would go to Europe every summer whether or not it needed to and typically shot 100' of bulk loaded Ektachome film.

Filmproject · Feb 20, 2025

RalphLambrecht said:
welcome back to the dark side.

Thanks! It's a fun place to be!

Filmproject · Feb 20, 2025

Sirius Glass said:
Welcome to Photrio!

Welcome back to photography. I too had and used a Minolta SRT202 for years. It would go to Europe every summer whether or not it needed to and typically shot 100' of bulk loaded Ektachome film.

Thanks! It's a great camera... Super reliable and no fuss!

xkaes · Feb 20, 2025

The good NEWS is -- make that the GREAT NEWS is -- that you can get the lenses of your dreams for your Minolta for little more than the cost of postage. I know I have!!!!

Here's a listing of what was manufactured -- NOT just by Minolta -- (some, of course, are hard to find and expensive)

http://www.subclub.org/minman/gear.htm

MattKing · Feb 20, 2025

Filmproject said:
That is awesome! Thanks! I connected with him a couple months ago and might take his workshop this Spring if I can. It sounds incredible from what I've heard, awesome to hear firsthand experience!

Welcome to Photrio, and welcome back to film.
As for Bruce Barnbaum, by all accounts he is an amazing printer. One caution though - those of my friends who have attended workshops with him he is quite a character .

BHuij · Feb 20, 2025

I'm a big fan of Barnbaum's work and writings. To the point that I paid for a "remote" coaching session/portfolio review with him that involved sending a bunch of straight prints and corresponding "final" prints to him through the mail.

I found his feedback to be pretty useful, but he seemed more focused on the technical aspects of composition than the emotional ones, if that makes any sense.

But yeah, it does seem like there's a rule to the effect of "if you become an extremely good film photographer and darkroom printer, you have to get curmudgeonly and dogmatic about your opinions," and Bruce is no exception I'd still love to do a workshop with him someday. They're pricey but I think it would be worth the experience.

At any rate, welcome to the forums!

Filmproject · Feb 20, 2025

MattKing said:
Welcome to Photrio, and welcome back to film.
As for Bruce Barnbaum, by all accounts he is an amazing printer. One caution though - those of my friends who have attended workshops with him he is quite a character .

Thanks! Ya, I am an ex-dancer and so I have decades of experience with intense artistic leaders and their quirks

Filmproject · Feb 20, 2025

BHuij said:
I'm a big fan of Barnbaum's work and writings. To the point that I paid for a "remote" coaching session/portfolio review with him that involved sending a bunch of straight prints and corresponding "final" prints to him through the mail.

I found his feedback to be pretty useful, but he seemed more focused on the technical aspects of composition than the emotional ones, if that makes any sense.

But yeah, it does seem like there's a rule to the effect of "if you become an extremely good film photographer and darkroom printer, you have to get curmudgeonly and dogmatic about your opinions," and Bruce is no exception I'd still love to do a workshop with him someday. They're pricey but I think it would be worth the experience.

At any rate, welcome to the forums!

Yes, I just replied to Matt... I was a professional dancer for decades,. working in multiple companies around the world, and so I have a lot of experience with artistic minds. They have a way they see the world and I appreciate that and want to understand it, and recognize that I can learn and grow from that understanding and also, their understanding isn't the only one, and I get to jump in and learn and then jump back out

MattKing · Feb 20, 2025

Filmproject said:
I get to jump in and learn and then jump back out

Your experience as a dancer should help with that!

axestrata · Feb 25, 2025

MattKing said:
Your experience as a dancer should help with that!

That's hilarious

axestrata · Feb 25, 2025

I am took the leap to shoot photos strictly on film almost two years ago. I honestly never saw that coming, but I guess one thing leads to another once you become a parent. Actually, I know it was a convergence of wanting to get quality of images of the people I cared the most and wanting to be engaged in the process at the same time.

Getting back into Film after 33 years

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RalphLambrecht

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xkaes

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Filmproject

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axestrata

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Getting back into Film after 33 years

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