Hickory, Taylorsville, Statesville, Wilkesboro?

[jgcull]

I'm in western North Carolina - Alexander county. Hickory is 30 min. south, Statesville is 20 minutes east, and Wilkesboro is about 25 min. north.

An acquaintance and I are putting out the call for b&w film photographers who would like to meet - perhaps quarterly. We'd like to do darkroom workshops from time to time.

Photographers on any level are welcome.

Anyone on board here from these parts??

Janet

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I have a good friend from college who is from Statesville. I used to read his copy of the Statesville _Record and Landmark_ every week to catch up on all the local beauty pageants. They seemed to have one on the front page of every issue. I visited him and his family down there once years ago, and I remember having good barbecue in Dudley Shoals.

 

[DrPablo]

I've just moved to Greensboro. I moved from Boston, and I'm from Connecticut, but I'm here to stay now. It's about 90 minutes to get to Hickory for me. Things are busy for me, but keep me posted, I'd certainly be interested.

 

[foxyscootie]

Hey Janet, I'd definitely like to join up with you all. I travel home to NC through Statesville at least once every couple of months. We talked about meeting up next time I'm there(on the other board), but I'd definitely be interested in darkroom workshops too. Keep me posted.

 

[Zebra]

Janet,

I am in Asheville. I shoot Pt/Pd and Wet Plate. Couldn't throw a silver print together if my life depended on it but if ya'll are open to the alternative process's I would love to be kept posted.

Best,

Monty

 

[jgcull]

David, We're right between Statesville and Dudley Shoals. I'll bet you went to Simm's Country Bar-B-Q - right? And did you clog???

Paul, if we ended up meeting in Statesville it would be about half an hour closer for you. We're looking for a darkroom large enough for a handful of people. We'll see where that may be and I'll keep you posted.

Val. Hi there! Yep, stay tuned.

I'm encouraged to see some response here.

Janet

 

[jgcull]

Monty, What is Pt/pd? I have no idea, but I'll bet I'm interested. Asheville is a 2 hour drive from where I am, but maybe we could do a one-day meet sometime? Thanks for replying.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

That was it--Simm's. Not knowing how to clog, we enjoyed the music and the barbecue and watching other people clog.

Pt/pd="platinum/palladium"

 

[jgcull]

>>>Pt/pd="platinum/palladium"<<<

Is that something you can do with any format? Interested? I'd say, yes!

David, when we first moved here from Florida we used to take guests there as often as we could. It was a fun place! We didn't know how to clog either, but it didn't stop us. I haven't been for a long time. Makes me want to go again.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Platinum/palladium is a contact process, so it needs a large negative, but you could make an enlarged negative from a smaller negative in the darkroom, if you don't have a large camera.

 

[jgcull]

Large. That must mean 5x7 or larger? Contact means the print will be the size of the negative, right? I'm thinking this through out loud.

How does platinum/palladium look different? I'm thinking I'd need to really like the smaller (120) image a lot to go through the process of making a larger negative... I can't imagine how you would do that, but it sounds like a real challenge.

I've not figured out why yet, but mostly my smaller negatives look better (as far as exposure goes) than my 120. I know it shouldn't be that way and I'm working on it with my Hasselblad. I have a few 120 images that I really like, but otherwise those negatives just mostly seem to lack something. In exposure, I think. Of course the large negative is nicer, but something else is wrong. I don't mean to wander to another issue... just thinking about having a negative I like enough to dig so deeply as making a new negative.

Most of the images I love came from my little old Nikon FG.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Platinum, palladium and platinum/palladium prints can have a long smooth tonal scale, and with the right negative are really beautiful. When done right, it's also one of the most archival processes.

6x6cm contact prints can be like little jewels, so I wouldn't rule them out.

The basic way to make an enlarged negative with an enlarger is to make an interpositive on ortho film like Ilford Ortho Plus, which can be handled under safelight, and then contact the interpositive to another sheet of the same film to make the internegative--an involved process, but when it all works, it's worth it.

 

[jgcull]

Tonight we had a first "organizational/brain-storming" meet at The Spilled Bean in Taylorsville. I was *delighted* and surprised by the turnout. We expected 5 or 6, including me. We had over 10! We will meet once a month, aiming for the 3rd week. Next meeting is March 27, 5:30-7, and everyone will bring 3 prints. A few will be offered up for critique.

People expressed interest in shooting assignments, outings, critique, somebody better than us coming at some point to speak, and darkroom work (though nobody but me has one. we're working on that as mine's too small to share). David, maybe down the road might you do a workshop on something alternative? I know it's a good distance for you, so I'd understand if you couldn't.

Any of you could be the "better" one to come share with us. I haven't seen anybody's work yet, but they all said they're novices. I don't know if that's so or if they're mostly being humble. Anyway, I'm excited. I've got some new photog. friends and they're right here! Wahoo!

Janet

 

[Zebra]

Janet,

I travel quite a bit for work and don't know if the 27th will work out but possibly. As an aside I do alternative process in sizes from 10 x 12 up through 16 x 20 and 20 x 24. David is clearly more experienced but if he can't make it down from the northeast I am over in Asheville which is an easy jaunt over and if you are interested I would gladly help people get started in Platinum/Palladium and/or Wet Plate Collodion. I would be interested in meeting everyone regardless. Sounds like a good group.

All the best however it works out.

Monty
aka Zebra

ps if David comes down don't let him get away without doing some albumen printing--the examples I have seen of his here on APUG are outstanding.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Thanks, folks. Monty's wet plate and pt/pd prints that I've seen on the web at least are very impressive, so if he's in the neighborhood, I'm sure he has a lot to teach.

I'm only particularly experienced in albumen printing. I've seen how some of the other processes work and tried a bit of this and that, but not enough to feel I could offer a workshop in them. Albumen, though, I seem to be going somewhere with. I do have friends down there and haven't been in ages, but maybe at some point down the road after we've moved in May.

 

[jgcull]

Monty and David, it would be so great to meet you at some point and learn from you. I'm warning you, we're just little people... well, not short - but you know what I mean.

Monty, if you do come on the 27th that would be so great but I hope we don't disappoint you in any way. (Why-in-the-world am I apologizing? We are who we are, right?) Come on over!!! We'd love to have you. I'll even buy your coffee!

Janet

 

[Mike Michaelski]

Janet,
Taylorsville from Columbia, SC is a bit of a stretch, especially at 5pm, since I'm not retired (yet). Probably a solid three hours of driving each way. But, please keep the rest of us posted on the events!
Mike

 

[Zebra]

Janet,

i am around more between now and late September. Let me know if ya'll are still getting together--maybe I can make it over sometime this summer. Or if ya'll are in the Asheville, Smoky Mountains for a shoot keep me posted.

best,

Monty

 

[jgcull]

Hi Monty,

Our little gathering has dwindled to 5 of us; 4 who shoot primarily b&w and with some past darkroom experience. I'm not positive, but I think I'm the only one who regularly and only does my own processing and printing. I know I'm the only one with a darkroom.

They are interested in learning about how to get a better negative (by exposure), but the processing & printing is out of their hands.

I really enjoy our time together. I'm hoping some more folks will come in who do work in the darkroom, so I can receive (and give) in that arena.

That's all to say, I'd really *love* to get with you but don't know if we're yet worth your while. On the other hand, if you're in our direction maybe you could inspire us all to reach out for so much better! We did have a man from the Hickory camera club come over to talk to us about basics because most of those who started out coming were snap shooters who so enjoy taking pictures, but having had no elemental instruction. I think it was helpful to those there, but most have dropped along the way.

We're hanging on with these few, and I think they'll stick with us. I'm hoping to see it go more into the printing as well as shooting, but time will tell who sticks and what they're wanting to do & grow into.

Anyway, I'd love it if you came our way and stopped to help & inspire!

I'll PM you contact info.

Janet

 

[veriwide]

Howdy from the High Country. I am just south of Boone and would love to get together with some fellow b/w shooters.

Patrick