Hello from Port Elizabeth, South Africa

[BasilA]

Hello, I am a retired photographer & photo lab owner. I started off in the 60's with a Graflex 4x5 and worked my way through the Hasselblad's, a Mamiya twin lens and RB67, then as film quality improved went onto Nikon 35mm. I did all my own processing starting with black & white then AgfaColor: 7 baths if I remember correctly. Progressed through to Kodak RC37 then Kodak RC74 and finally just 2 baths to make prints. First films were of course C22 then C41. Slide was E2,to E6, with Agfachrome thrown in for good measure. These were initially done in a Colenta One Shot processor until we became automated with dip & dunk and continuous processors. I ultimately ended up owning 5 labs, one of which was a ProLab catering for professionals.

I retired before digital took over, although I do dabble a bit with it. Amazing when I think back to waiting 35 min to see a print (still wet) when I first started. Now it is instantaneous.

I made many friends at Kodak South Africa, many of whom came here from the USA. All wonderful gentleman. I sure do miss those days.

 

[mooseontheloose]

Hello Basil, Welcome to APUG! We're glad to have you here!

 

[Buje]

Hi, Basil, Welcome to APUG. Glad to have you here.

I remember PE with great fondness having spent time there in '75, '87 and several more visits in the '90's and 200-07. One of my best sunrise photos was taken on the road to Uitenhage in 1975. Miss those days, for sure.

Paul

 

[Ricus.stormfire]

Hi Basil, and welcome to APUG.

Good to see another South African here.

Ricus

 

[M.A.Longmore]

.
Welcome Home Basil !

Ron
.

 

[Jeff Kubach]

Hello and a warm welcome to APUG! Looks like you got plenty of experience!

Jeff

 

[Sirius Glass]

Welcome to APUG!

Steve

 

[papagene]

Basil - hello and welcome to APUG!

 

[Aristophanes]

In 1995 I was backpacking SA and on my meandering way from Bloemfontein south, my Nikon F was stolen while I had a catnap on a combi bus.

I picked up a used camera from a store in PE (an Olympus RF) and it lasted the rest of my trip and few years after that.

I wonder if it was one of your stores if that was what the lab was attached to? I recall it was within walking distance to the museum by the beach. From PE I went to J Bay, then Tsitsikamma and the Garden Route. Awesome trip.

 

[BasilA]

Thank you

Thank you to all of you for your kind words of welcome. Aristophanes, mine were only labs, no camera sales except for the disposables. I know exactly which store you are talking about though... not there anymore.

 

[alessandro2011]

...I sure do miss those days.

Hello, however now i think you are more free time now, so i think you can enjoy better take interesting shot.
Do you think that now you restart at take some shoot even with the LF (large format) camera?
Or, despite the digital revolution, you haven't never stop to take analogic stuff?

 

[Diapositivo]

Welcome Basil, what makes this site very interesting is the contribution of experienced photographers like you, I hope to read many useful posts of yours in the future

 

[Chazzy]

Welcome to APUG, Basil.

 

[AezranHakim]

Hello and Welcome to APUG!