Hello out there

Hello everyone. I just thought I'd introduce myself after browsing the forums for a few days.

I live in ontario, canada, and have had an interest in photography most of my life, though I've only really gotten into it more seriously recently. I took a couple of courses in highschool, but only recently got myself a decent SLR camera to work with, (I now have my very own Minolta xg9, and am loving it!), and am working mostly with ambient light at the moment.

I'm an amateur, though I have an goal to one day be able to do this on a more professional level. I lean more toward more artistic photography, including both landscapes and portraits, though I haven't done many portraits due to lack of willing models.

If anyone is interested in checking out some of my stuff, I have a deviantart account (some of my postings are taken with my digital camera, and some are purely digital artwork, as I only recently got my SLR) the address is Dead Link Removed

welcome from "The Cape" You're heading in the right direction (ie, film) and don't forget..ambient light is the best light!

Welcome from Hawaii. You found the right place; it seems that every day we are getting someone who is leaving digital for film - a positive step, IMO.

Well, I'm not sure if I'd say I'm "leaving" digital, but I do prefer film overall. I still use my digital camera for some experimentation, and for idle fooling around, but for serious stuff, I've always thought film was the better way to go.

Just wait until you try Large Format.

Drew B. said:

welcome from "The Cape" You're heading in the right direction (ie, film) and don't forget..ambient light is the best light!

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That's what I was taught in the classes I took back in highschool. We never used anything in the way of extra lighting. It was all done with manual settings of the camera and the ambient light. I loved it, and have so wanted to get back into it. 14 years later, and I was finally able to afford to pick up an SLR of my own (I used my mom's way back then).

roteague said:

Just wait until you try Large Format.

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I've never had any experience with medium or large format. Does it make a big difference?

AeisLugh said:

I've never had any experience with medium or large format. Does it make a big difference?

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Mainly to your bank balance , if you are in a relationship you also get lots of questions as to exactly WHY you need ANOTHER camera.

More seriously once you use MF the 35mm starts to get less use, but it's good for fast shots and telephoto work. I have not yet tried LF since my MF experience is only about 6 months- once you're on this board it seems to be a matter of time though !

Welcome from Cannock Chase, in the English midlands.

digiconvert said:

Mainly to your bank balance , if you are in a relationship you also get lots of questions as to exactly WHY you need ANOTHER camera.

More seriously once you use MF the 35mm starts to get less use, but it's good for fast shots and telephoto work. I have not yet tried LF since my MF experience is only about 6 months- once you're on this board it seems to be a matter of time though !

Welcome from Cannock Chase, in the English midlands.

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LoL, well, thankfully my wife is moderately interested in photography herself, though nowhere near to the degree I am (of course, that could just be lack of opportunity). She's being rather patient with me regarding all the extra equipment i want to pick up beyond the base SLR (lenses and lighting stuff mostly) so as long as I don't end up spending a fortune every other month I don't think I'll have a problem

AeisLugh said:

I've never had any experience with medium or large format. Does it make a big difference?

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Yes, it is a whole different mindset, and a different way of thinking.

With my 35mm, I can just point the camera and press the shutter - presto, I've taken a picture. With a LF camera, it can take me 10 minutes just to setup the camera, and get ready to take the picture. This means that I think about the image first, before I even take the camera out of the bag. When I pull the dark cloth over my head, it is just me, with an upside down image to look at. I'll use my focus finder to focus the camera on the ground glass, taking special care with the corners - since I like extremes of depth of field, I may use a back-tilt, which takes a bit of care, focusing the image, tilting the back, refocusing, until everything is in focus. I'll look at what I am shooting, decide whether I need any filtration, if I need to use a split neutral density grad, then it is back under the dark cloth. Afterwards, I need to check my meter for the correct exposure, making sure I take into account any filter I use. Then load the film holder, close the lens, cock the shutter (perhaps even a test fire of the shutter). Pull the slide, fire the shutter, and replace the slide.

Why do I go through all this just to take an image? Because it is an experience, I really see what I am shooting and I think about it. For me, it isn't only about the image, it is about the whole process. Landscape photography is about making order out of chaos.

AeisLugh said:

I've never had any experience with medium or large format. Does it make a big difference?

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Medium format makes a big difference too - but you will appreciate it most if you do your own printing or have custom prints made.

Welcome, from the west coast of Canada

roteague said:

Why do I go through all this just to take an image? Because it is an experience, I really see what I am shooting and I think about it. For me, it isn't only about the image, it is about the whole process. Landscape photography is about making order out of chaos.

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Wow, that sounds really involved, ritualistic almost. I'm not sure I'd have the patience for that kind of set up. Who knows though, maybe in the future I might get an interest in that kind of thing. I DO approach artwork (and my photography is an art for me) with a very spiritual outlook, so perhaps it'll be something for me to look into.

MattKing said:

Medium format makes a big difference too - but you will appreciate it most if you do your own printing or have custom prints made.

Welcome, from the west coast of Canada

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Unfortunately, I don't have regular access to a darkroom. There's a place down in Cambridge, ON (an hour or so's busride away) that will rent me darkroom time, but it's been so long since I've worked in a darkroom I'd need a refresher, and I'm not sure he's set up to do medium or large format processing.

AeisLugh said:

Wow, that sounds really involved, ritualistic almost. I'm not sure I'd have the patience for that kind of set up. Who knows though, maybe in the future I might get an interest in that kind of thing. I DO approach artwork (and my photography is an art for me) with a very spiritual outlook, so perhaps it'll be something for me to look into.

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It is, that is why I went into detail on the process. However, that in itself can be quite liberating. It is a totally different mindset from shooting 35mm, and especially from shooting digital. I think what I find most satisfying is that the process is a mental process; I have to be able to see in my mind how I think the image will appear on film, when I get it right, well there is no better feeling in photography. The first time you see a large format transparency or negative on a light table, it just makes you realize how inadequate seeing an image on a computer screen can be.

roteague said:

It is, that is why I went into detail on the process. However, that in itself can be quite liberating. It is a totally different mindset from shooting 35mm, and especially from shooting digital. I think what I find most satisfying is that the process is a mental process; I have to be able to see in my mind how I think the image will appear on film, when I get it right, well there is no better feeling in photography. The first time you see a large format transparency or negative on a light table, it just makes you realize how inadequate seeing an image on a computer screen can be.

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I'll keep that in mind. Right now though, I want to concentrate on relearning all the tricks with SLRs, and learn the ins and outs of lighting techniques. LoL, not to mention, it looks like large format cameras can be pretty pricey, so it'd be awhile before I could get one anyway lol