Hey from Portugal!

Silence · Mar 26, 2010

Hi everyone,

I'm a 27 year old girl (woman?) from Portugal and I've been an analog photography autodidact since I was 19, although after checking this community I realize I know *nothing*...

I'm not wealthy so I only have one camera: a Canon F-1 that my father bought in Japan in 1971. For less fortunate reasons I ended up inheriting it and I cherish it dearly.

I joined APUG a couple of days ago and the first thread I read top to bottom was "Darkroom Portraits"... Sigh... now I pray even more to win the lottery...

I hope that one day I can be as wise and knowledgeable as all of you

Btw, I just made a 3 months subscription. I wish I could help more but I'm on minimum wage...

Mariana

P.S.- Sorry for my poor english.

Mats_A · Mar 26, 2010

Welcome Mariana.
Nice to have you here.
If you have been shooting film for 8 years you know a lot more than you think you do.

Don't let the "Darkroom portraits" let you down. If you want to you can get an enlarger for almost nothing today. And any room can be a darkroom.

Again, welcome. We need more women here. Just us men is boring.

r

mats

geek · Mar 26, 2010

Greetings Mariana

Welcome to theforums, and as shmoda said, no worry about darkrooms. The stuff I have in mine did cost a fortune decaes ago, I again got almost everything for next to nothing, from my 3 enlargers for example, one was free, one 5€ and the ther 15€. I frequently check flea markets and talk with the local photo store owners and sooner or later, something interesting pops up. Sure you will find something that way too.

Maybe even here. Good Luck

Markus

belalan · Mar 26, 2010

Welcome Mariana
I too am new here and it's a wonderful place you have come to. The people here are so very friendly and will help with any questions you have.
Have fun
Alan

arigram · Mar 26, 2010

Hi there Mariana.
(I've lost almost all my portuguese language skills, so I won't even try)
The great thing about film photography is that you can grow slowly according to your resources at the time.
You don't need much really. One camera, one lens and a trustworthy lab is all you need to begin with. At some time in the future maybe you will find some space to put an old enlarger in and maybe later you will risk your first film in mysterious tanks. The rest will come slowly when the time is right. It might be in a decade, or longer, but in the end what matters, is that you get to make photographs.
And of course, come to APUG for its collective wisdom and madness.

Jeff Kubach · Mar 26, 2010

Hello Mariana and welcome to APUG. I also have a old Canon F-1, it is a excellent camera.

Jeff

wclark5179 · Mar 26, 2010

Welcome Mariana!

I was just like you, starting out poor with not much else than desire and determination. I bought my first nice camera when I was in the military, a Nikkormat that I still use today.

Now that I'm old & had a nice career I now have a collection of film cameras I could never have bought when I was your age.

Just keep pecking away and try to get better and better each and every day.

APUG has a bunch of nice people.

We are here to help each other.

Best to Your Success.

papagene · Mar 26, 2010

Mariana - hello and welcome to APUG from western Massachusetts USA. That F-1 is a great camera. As everyone has stated, you may be able to piece together a darkroom real cheap... just be patient and it will happen.

And your English is sooooooo much better than my non-existent Portuguese.

Good luck and have fun.

gene

Canelas · Mar 26, 2010

Hello from Portugal right back at you!

Hi Mariana (Olá, neste caso)

I'm from Portugal too, Lisbon to be more precise. I run a kind of comunity darkroom here, with prety much everything that anyone needs to get started in developing and enlarging. 16 enlargers from 5x4 to 35mm, lens, the 'regular' chemistry, dryers, bla bla bla. And its preety much for free. Just bring your paper.

If you're around Lisbon give we can arrange something for you.

Best regards
Ricardo Canelas

fotch · Mar 26, 2010

Hi Mariana, welcome to APUG. Your English is just fine and the photos at you web link look really good.

wclark5179 · Mar 26, 2010

Welcome to APUG Ricardo.

Portugal has fine wines! Many nice reds. I like Red wine!

A toast to you and Mariana!

Have a wonderful 2010.

Chazzy · Mar 26, 2010

Welcome Mariana and Ricardo. I have always wanted to visit Portugal.

Silence · Mar 26, 2010

shimoda said:
Welcome Mariana.

Don't let the "Darkroom portraits" let you down. If you want to you can get an enlarger for almost nothing today. And any room can be a darkroom.

mats

Hey mats!

I've been looking for enlargers on eBay, but most of the sellers offer "local pick up" only, due to the size/weight. The ones I find on Portuguese websites are a rip off (i.e. a basic Meopta that you can find on eBay for 20 bucks, I find for 200 Euros from Portuguese sellers).

I also share an apartment, so I have yet to fight for my right to steal the bathroom for my darkroom needs

And I've always gotten along better with men than women, so I hope to feel right at home here

Silence · Mar 26, 2010

geek said:
Greetings Mariana

I again got almost everything for next to nothing, from my 3 enlargers for example, one was free, one 5 and the ther 15.

Markus

Markus,

where do you get free enlargers? I always hear people telling those stories, but no one ever offers me anything

Seriously though, I have just moved and am still not familiarized with the shops around here. I'm sure that when I really start looking, something will come up

Silence · Mar 26, 2010

Then we're both welcome, Alan

People here seem *great*! I'm eager to involve myself deeper in this community.

Mats_A · Mar 26, 2010

Silence said:
Hey mats!

I've been looking for enlargers on eBay, but most of the sellers offer "local pick up" only, due to the size/weight. The ones I find on Portuguese websites are a rip off (i.e. a basic Meopta that you can find on eBay for 20 bucks, I find for 200 Euros from Portuguese sellers).

I also share an apartment, so I have yet to fight for my right to steal the bathroom for my darkroom needs

And I've always gotten along better with men than women, so I hope to feel right at home here

Did you notice that member Canelas offered to let you use a communal darkroom in Lisbon? You could look in to it maybe.

r

mats

Silence · Mar 26, 2010

arigram said:
Hi there Mariana.
(I've lost almost all my portuguese language skills, so I won't even try)

Arigram,

firstly I'd love to see you try some portuguese... must be as bad as my greek (kalinixta and mythological names are all I know)

I'm not in a hurry to build a fancy darkroom... I know it takes time (and money) to invest in that sort of thing. I'm sure those spectacular darkrooms that can be seen in this community were the culmination of long awaited projects, perhaps some even lifelong.

I've had the same camera and 2 basic lenses for 8 years and really don't feel the need for more. I've gone through the developing/printing process before, but I still really suck

Thank you for making me feel welcome here. It feels really nice!

arigram · Mar 26, 2010

Silence said:
firstly I'd love to see you try some portuguese... must be as bad as my greek (kalinixta and mythological names are all I know)

Não falo Português!

I'm not in a hurry to build a fancy darkroom... I know it takes time (and money) to invest in that sort of thing. I'm sure those spectacular darkrooms that can be seen in this community were the culmination of long awaited projects, perhaps some even lifelong.

Definitely. You should have seen my first one. It probably looked like one of those makeshift darkrooms photojournalists used to come up with in the middle of a war.
Actually, I have been lucky as I found the space and a not-very-old enlarger waiting for me.
The dark room is not just a work space, its a statement. It says: I am deadly serious about my film photography and I am not moving from this place any time soon. Its kinda like buying a home after getting engaged I guess (I wouldn't know for sure though).

I've had the same camera and 2 basic lenses for 8 years and really don't feel the need for more.

No, you don't. No one really does, its just the call of the hardware sirens...
Of course, it depends on what kind of photography one does, but if you never wanted a new camera or a lens, you never needed it.
The camera and lens is your eyes to the photographic world, so one doesn't need to change them too often or ever, if you've found the ones that work with your mind.

I've gone through the developing/printing process before, but I still really suck

Unless one has had an extensive formal training with a teacher, most film photographers, especially nowadays, learn by the internet, books and lots and lots of trial and error. Even though many photographers are greatly regarded for their artistic vision, very few are skilled darkroom workers as well. So, most, even if they don't admit it, suck in one way or another.
You'll improve. Just keep doing it.

Thank you for making me feel welcome here. It feels really nice!

Just stay out of the Soap Box!
(don't say I didn't warn ya)

geek · Mar 26, 2010

Silence said:
Markus,

where do you get free enlargers? I always hear people telling those stories, but no one ever offers me anything

Seriously though, I have just moved and am still not familiarized with the shops around here. I'm sure that when I really start looking, something will come up

The free one was a pretty small Durst one, I think 20x30 max size, and only with a filter tray for the multigrade filters. Someone saw me taking photos with my old FM2 and asked me if I want one

The 5 one is a ancient Durst U70 from a flea market, a heavy large 6x9 format enlarger. Again needs the multigrade filters, but since I have a nice stock of single grad paper.

The 15 one is a "modern" Durst M670 with color head (and I later got for another 10 the 6x6 kit for it), the way I got it was a kinda sad story, a photo store in my grandmas town had to shut down, knowing I do darkroom stuff, he saved it for me.

Hope you get lucky some day too (Luckily in a cheap/free enlarger, not a closing photo store)

Markus

Silence · Mar 26, 2010

I never tried any other analog SLR camera so I have no terms of comparison... But it has served me very well so far

Black Dog · Mar 26, 2010

Welcome to APUGland!

Silence · Mar 26, 2010

Hey Gene,

I know it requires patience and determination... It's just that feeling you get when you see something pretty and you go like "muuuust have"!!!

Thanks for the warm welcome!

Christopher Walrath · Mar 26, 2010

Welcome to APUG, Marianna.

Silence · Mar 26, 2010

Ricardo,

that would be awesome! I'll send you a private message for the details

Silence · Mar 26, 2010

fotch said:
Your English is just fine and the photos at you web link look really good.

Oh, I hope no one gets offended by my photos on that website... They're not so good, but you gotta start somewhere, right?

Hey from Portugal!

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