Hello from the state of Maryland

Greetings to the APUG community. I am a new member from the banks of the Elk River in Elkton Maryland.

As a life-long photog, I stumbled into a darkroom at the age of 13 - while at boarding school, circa '63 - and have never kicked the habit.

After recent years in the digital doldrums, taking nothing away from my wonderful Canon bodies and lenses, I have found myself - once again - shooting film. A couple years ago, a relative gave me his unused Canon AE-1 Program - which has morphed into a small collection of film cameras - from a leica M3 to a hassy 500CX, an EOS-1n & nikon FE. lots of fun.

Now I find myself cluelessly watching endless reviews of the new Intrepid II - wondering how 4x5 negs will scan and process & looking for guidance on how to sensibly start my journey into large format - as I seem unable to resist the impulse. imagine.

While I've been lurking about for a few months, my interest is growing - so perhaps it's time to participate.

Looking forward to learning much...

Dale

hi Dale! Thanks for "coming out".

I have a few days a week that i am in the area each week, and have wondered if there are nice compositions along or nearby Elk River. I have not had opportunities to explore - only see it when i cross over while driving up and down I95.

I am going to look into some access opportunities at the Principio Furnace to explore with my 4x5. I hang out in Harford during the week for work, spend most of my time in Susquehanna SP and HDG photgraphing. Never bored in that respect. My very next project is to get a good photograph of the Stafford Furnace. It will take some help, but i will get what i aim for, i think.

I have no scanning capability, other than photographing negatives on a light box with a unmentionably digital camera, or prints (which i don't make much of) with natural light. Maybe others here can offer some advice or re-direct on this topic...

I love large format! My only medium format uses TLR, but i have especially had some fun with that most recently, here in Harford County. And again here in Harford, i had some good fun last year with 35mm at APG and Susquehanna, and HDG. Never bored.

>michael

Welcome to APUG

You use Hasselblads so you must be very wise.

Hello from Jakarta, Indonesia!! lets learn together

Hello and Welcome from a former Marylander; grew up in Silver Spring and lived in Rockville and Germantown for many years before moving north for 18 years, then across the country.

I think you'll enjoy LF! Like MF is a big step up from 35mm, likewise LF is a big step up from MF; unless shooting 6x9 MF which is getting pretty close to LF. The Intrepid 4x5 would certainly be a great place to start. Get a good, reasonably priced 150mm lens (considered normal length for this format), a few film holders, and other related paraphernalia and start shooting. Once you feel comfortable with the format, consider other lenses and/or moving up to a more capable camera body.

I will warn you, though, that it's a slippery slope! After years of shooting 4x5, you may start to think...hmm, I wonder what 8x10 would be like!! Trust me...it's wonderful!!

Welcome Dale

Hi Dale, from Washington DC. If you're looking for Large Format advice, I'd be happy to help. I teach large format classes at Photoworks, in Glen Echo, Maryland (just inside the Beltway along the Potomac River). To briefly answer some of your questions, 4x5 negatives scan very easily and beautifully (any further discussion of this specific topic is out-of-scope for APUG), and they print/enlarge even nicer.