...BWGirl suggested I introduce myself here. I have had a lifelong affliction with photography, but only in the last 3 or 4 years have I had both the time, money, and freedom in life to pursue it seriously. I am presently working my way through a Community College photography program, which fortunately for me is headed by a former student of Ansel Adams. So traditional photography (read black and white film, wet printing on FB paper), and the Zone System are stressed. It is pretty cool to hear the instructor say "Ansel said (fill in the blanks)" and realize that the instructor actually heard Ansel say it with his own ears.
Although I sometimes shoot color in digital, manipulate in Photoshop, and make inkjet prints, and enjoy shooting a wide variety of subjects, true pleasure for me is derived from finding a landscape or other natural image and exposing it onto black and white film through my old Hasselblad 500CM using the Zone System, developing the film, then striving to make a fine art print in my home darkroom.
My job is with a fire department, hence my username. I've done it for most of my adult life, and frankly am burned out (pun intended) and ready to do something else for a living, hopefully including photography. Haven't quite figured out the economics of this plan yet, but I'll keep working on it. Anyway, this looks like a place full of kindred spirits and I'm hoping to get to know many of you here.
It is never too late to be what you might have been. - George Eliot
Although I sometimes shoot color in digital, manipulate in Photoshop, and make inkjet prints, and enjoy shooting a wide variety of subjects, true pleasure for me is derived from finding a landscape or other natural image and exposing it onto black and white film through my old Hasselblad 500CM using the Zone System, developing the film, then striving to make a fine art print in my home darkroom.
My job is with a fire department, hence my username. I've done it for most of my adult life, and frankly am burned out (pun intended) and ready to do something else for a living, hopefully including photography. Haven't quite figured out the economics of this plan yet, but I'll keep working on it. Anyway, this looks like a place full of kindred spirits and I'm hoping to get to know many of you here.
It is never too late to be what you might have been. - George Eliot