Greeting from San Antonio Texas

[forksphoto]

Howdy,
Long time Medium Format user here now building a Large Format (4x5) kit.
Possibly interested in getting together with other 4x5 (or larger) shooters in the Central Texas area.

My favorite subjects are Natural, particularly the Trans Pecos region of Texas. I own Land near Big Bend and in southern Terrell county if anyone is interested in organizing a Field Trip.

Good to be here
Joe

 

[lee]

Hi Joe,

Where is Terrell county? I live up in Ft Worth. I am in your area some. There are several that are in your area. Mostly in Austin. Also, where is your property near the Big Bend?

lee\c

 

[roteague]

Welcome Joe from Hawaii!! I hope you enjoy being here with us. I'm originally from Texas, San Angelo to be exact, but haven't lived there in years. Now I live in Hawaii - going on 8 years.

BTW, Terrell county is near Big Bend, between Pecos and Val Verde counties.

 

[forksphoto]

Hello Robert and Lee!
The Big Bend property is SSW of Terlingua on the western edge of BBNP. Robert is correct about Terrell county. That property is near the Rio Grande in the extreme southern part of the county (south of Dryden). I believe that one is about as remote as you can get in Texas. About 1.5 hours from Sanderson on paved and then dirt.

I've made a few exposures with the 4x5 so far to see if I could do it, and what do you know, I did it! Exposure looked good on 2 of the 4 shots the same scene (calibrating the hand held meter). Now I just need to get some experience under my belt so I can feel as comfortable with the 4x5 as I do with my other cameras.

Thanks for the warm welcome.
Joe

 

[Jeremy]

Hey, Joe, another D/FW apugger here. I shoot 3x4 and 8x10, but can put the 4x5 back back onto the camera and head down there with that one

Welcome to Apug!

 

[forksphoto]

Let's go Jeremy,
I bet you can carry your 8x10 further than I can carry my 4x5!
I was carrying a backpack full of MF equipment around Mexico last summer, and that lasted about a day. I opted for a day pack with the camera, one lens, and essentials for the duration.

Best
Joe

 

[David Brown]

Welcome, Joe. I'm from Dallas now, but originally from San Antonio! We were actually talking a bit about a Big Bend trip a few days ago. Who knows!

David

 

[Jeremy]

Joe,

There has been some interest about a trip to the Big Bend area by a number of Texas Apug photogs. I for one have always wanted to head out that way and photograph. If you're interested in organizing a weekend trip I will drive down to shoot--nice how being unemployed gives one so much free time

Just got back from a trip to Japan where my backpack (including tripod mounted to the side) weighed in at close to 40lbs. Note that upon returning home I have now switched to a 3x4 camera which is almost 5 pounds lighter and only carry 2 lenses instead of the 5 I had in that backpack. I can now fit everything into a Domke shoulderbag

 

[forksphoto]

Good to meet you David.
I'm up for Big Bend anytime, except this Spring Break I've got a southern Arizona trip scheduled, which will preclude any workshops the first week of March.

I'm going to have to garner some experience pretty quick because 4x5 will my format of choice in the Sky Islands. To add a little excitement and more uncertainty I'm hoping to aquire a couple more lenses in barrel and have them installed in shutters before that trip. Currently I'm limited to a 135mm and a 165mm on 4x5.

I bought that Big Bend property because I was tired of not having a Camp site every time I went out there. The only drawback is it takes 4WD to get in there, but IMO that's actually an advantage

Thanks for the warm welcomes
Joe

 

[forksphoto]

Jeremy,
I think a group shoot will be mandatory at some point if we can work out a schedule. Right now the only thing I have going is the first weekend in Feb at the Terrell county property, and mid march Sky Island tour.

Japan huh? I've got some 50 year old chromes my dad shot when he was stationed in Japan. I was able to get a couple real nice scans from a few of them. I'll have to dig them up when I get a chance.

Best
Joe

 

[Gay Larson]

Welcome from Oklahoma, I'm about 31/2 hours from Dallas but get there from time to time. I've never been to Big Bend so I'd be interested if it is a weekend

 

[wilhelm]

Howdy Joe, I'm a Houston area APUGger, and shoot mostly 4x5, though architecture is my main interest.

Good to see some more Texans on the site!

Will

 

[AllenR]

Welcome Joe,

I think you will enjoy APUG.

The Big Bend area is one of my favorite places to photograph. Been doing it for about 30 years now. I've hauled LF gear over a good portion of the area. Great fun and a fantastic place to photograph. I used to be right down the road from you in Corpus Chisti, but I relocated to New Mexico about 14 months ago. Still about the same distance to Big Bend, though.

Anyway, if y'all are going to put together an outing I'd be interested.

Allen

 

[forksphoto]

Howdy Allen,
Sounds to me like there is a great interest in a Big Bend Trip.
I think we should plan something around either late March Early April looking for Spanish Dagger / Cacti Blooms, or later in the summer looking for the Monsoonal Influence and storms / cloudy skies.

What would be more prefferable for the group?

Best
Joe

 

[AllenR]

Joe,

I think the latter part of March or early April would be the latest I'd want to go simply because it gets too darned hot. I've seen 115 degrees in Lajitas the first week in April and this year is starting off to be a warm one. I was out at spring break in 2004 and it was quite pleasant, however. I've never tried late summer, again because of the heat. I've generally gone out sometime between late October and the end of February, but that's just me. What say the rest of you?

Allen

 

[lee]

I have been there in Aug and that is sorta the monsoon season clouds were spectatular
it was hot we stayed in the Basin motel and ran the heck out of the a/c

lee\c