Hi all

[FrankB]

Greetings. I happened across the site thanks to Ailsa's pointer in the B&W Photography editorial (thanks Ailsa!) and thought it'd be polite to introduce myself.

My background is in computer programming and IT support. I currently run a 24/7 help desk team with an additional role in QA auditing. I started getting interested in photography about four years ago, first with a compact then (to get more control) my Dad's fully manual 35mm Pentax S1a. After a while I got the basics down but my shots were nowhere near as good as I wanted.

The problem wasn't the camera but the idiot holding it. So, I signed up for evening classes and read a lot. I've now migrated to a Nikon F80 with a few lenses and have also become addicted to wet B&W darkroom work.

Favourite subjects are... ...er, well, diverse! <g> I seem to do best with landscapes and flower macros, but sometimes surprise myself with people shots. Favourite materials are Fuji E6 for colour work (mainly Velvia) and FP4+ / Delta 400 / Delta 3200 for B&W with Ilford Multigrade WT RC.

My ambitions are to improve my skills and the quality of my work. I'd like to have some shots published in a magazine (sending some in would probably be a good start!) and ultimately exhibit some somewhere.

Anyway, that's me. See you around in the forums sometime!

Frank

 

[Sean]

Welcome to the site Frank

 

[bmac]

Frank, welcome to APUG! Where do you live?

 

[Donald Miller]

Hi Frank, Welcome aboard. It is good to have you.

 

[Ed Sukach]

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (FrankB @ May 6 2003, 01:08 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> After a while I got the basics down but my shots were nowhere near as good as I wanted.

The problem wasn't the camera but the idiot holding it. So, I signed up for evening classes and read a lot. I've now migrated to a Nikon F80 with a few lenses and have also become addicted to wet B&W darkroom work.

</td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>
Same with me. My shots are nowhere near as good as I want them either. It doesn't end ... one just arbitrarily chooses someplace to stop for the moment and hang a few on the wall.

I doubt that there is an idiot holding the camera. Don't be too hard on yourself. Post a few of your "best" here. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at the comments.

One thing I've noticed in teaching: the average student usually does not recognize the good work that they do. My best advice ... keep photographing. You have a style now ... everyone does ... and its clarity is linked to your own sense of freedom.

Welcome to APUG!!!

 

[FrankB]

Thanks for all the replies.

bmac - I'm based in Northwest UK

Ed - Thanks for the encouragement. I'm happy to say that I have improved in the last four years! Starting on a fully manual 40 year old camera helped enormously.

There are large holes in my knowledge, though; I'm just starting to use FB paper in the darkroom, I'm about to start experimenting with toners, and matting and framing are also completely blank areas for me.

I'll post a few shots in the galleries when I get chance to scan them. I'm attaching one to this message to be going on with (if I get it right!). All comments/thoughts welcome.

Regards

Frank

 

[Les McLean]

Hi Frank,

Welcome to the forum, it's good to have yet another Brit.

You're not a million miles away from me, I live in the Northumberland National Park near the Scottish border, perhaps we should arrange to meet when I visit the Lakes, usually in the heart of winter.

 

[FrankB]

Thanks Les. Drop me a line next time you're planning a trip and we'll see if we can meet up.

I reckon I owe you a pint for that article in B&W on split-grade printing; I have a print of Scaleber Force in Yorkshire that wouldn't have worked without that technique!