Just joined APUG - Tasmania Australia

Geoffrey Swan

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Joined
Dec 3, 2016
Messages
48
Location
Tasmania Australia
Format
Multi Format
Greetings all... 48 years ago I had my first darkroom in my parents laundry complete with a home made wooden enlarger. Having recently turned 60 I decided it is time to finally indulge my passion with the benefit of age and the reality of knowing it is all about finding just one good image!

Through choice I have not subscribed to Digital however I appreciate it has a time and place. To me the real joys of photography are in the darkroom.

In the past 6 weeks I have equipped myself with an excellent collection of darkroom equipment, taken my Canon film camera and lenses from storage, purchased an excellent Mamiya RB67 Pro SD system with lots of goodies.. and just placed an order for a quantity of chemicals - metol, thiosulphate, bromide, ferricyanide etc.

I have devoured a collection of second hand books received in the past week from Amazon to include Ansell Adams books the camera, negative and print and some excellent books on chemistry and film. I also long to get back into some ortholith printing.

Hopefully there are some Australian members in APUG.. maybe even Tasmanian - love to hear from you.
 

Kevin Caulfield

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Aug 3, 2004
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Melb, Australia
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Hi and welcome from Melbourne. I believe there are a few Tasmanian members here. Good luck with your return to the darkroom.
 
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Geoffrey Swan

Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2016
Messages
48
Location
Tasmania Australia
Format
Multi Format
Kevin Caulfield said:
Hi and welcome from Melbourne. I believe there are a few Tasmanian members here. Good luck with your return to the darkroom.
Click to expand...

Many thanks Kevin... I am a bit like a kid in a candy shop at the moment.. just finding my way around APUG... found Vanbar already and they seem pretty good for stuff.
 

Ozxplorer

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Joined
Aug 29, 2004
Messages
229
Location
Gold Coast, Australia
Format
Multi Format
G'day... From the Gold Coast! Seems you're all set to go! Enjoy... Passing my way? Please feel free to pop in to say hi... My darkroom is listed on the Ilford Local Darkroom site at http://www.localdarkroom.com & also available to any wishing to do some work while travelling. Fred
 
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Geoffrey Swan

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Joined
Dec 3, 2016
Messages
48
Location
Tasmania Australia
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Multi Format
Man

Many thanks Fred - just had a look at your darkroom.. looks pretty impressive indeed. I have just acquired an LPL 7700 Pro and schneider lenses from a lady who is 90 in NSW.. and she still shoots but these days digital due to eyesight. Anyway the enlarger and other darkroom stuff is like new.. it has been so well looked after.. user manuals, tech sheets for almost every film and paper etc.. I am so very lucky.. cannot wait to get it up and running. I am in the deep south of Tasmania - 5 acres rural beside a river.. maybe I can make the same offer one day..
 

Mick Fagan

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Joined
Sep 13, 2005
Messages
4,421
Location
Melbourne Au
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Multi Format
Welcome from another Melburnian. Sounds like you are doing bulk chemistry mixing, if so, it's another wonderful way to do photography. Also, you may wish to include your 120 format into your profile.

Mick.
 

Sirius Glass

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Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,380
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format
Welcome to APUG
 
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Geoffrey Swan

Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2016
Messages
48
Location
Tasmania Australia
Format
Multi Format
Thanks Mick.. just changed to multi fromat as you have suggested... though to be honest still getting my teeth around my new Mamiya RB67 - it is a wonderful beast
 

Leigh B

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Joined
Jan 17, 2011
Messages
2,059
Location
Maryland, USA
Format
Multi Format
Hi Geoffrey, and welcome to APUG.

It's always nice to have youngsters join the forum, as the future of the hobby lies in bringing in new blood.

I remember when I was your age, a few decades ago...

- Leigh
 

Lanthanum

Member
Joined
Jun 27, 2014
Messages
54
Location
Australia
Format
35mm RF
Hi Geoffrey, welcome from Hobart! Great to hear another Tassie darkroom being set up and best of luck with it all, if I can help in any way (sounds like you are pretty self-sufficient) let me know, cheers
 
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Geoffrey Swan

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Joined
Dec 3, 2016
Messages
48
Location
Tasmania Australia
Format
Multi Format
Thanks Leigh for your mirth... I only wish I was even younger with the wisdom and knowledge one gains as time moves on... but, lucky to be still kicking and able to get back into the Darkroom.
 
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Geoffrey Swan

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Joined
Dec 3, 2016
Messages
48
Location
Tasmania Australia
Format
Multi Format
Thanks for the link to large format web site Marc.. and good to see some other darkrooms. I just measured up my garden shed that is about to transform and I have a "generous 3.5m x 2.4m.. just about perfect for what I am planning.. just need to plumb some hot and cold water - which is close by and already have power.. plus insulation (gets a bit cool down in Southern Tassie ).. but good for keeping chemistry and stuff fresh.


Marc![/QUOTE
 

Helios 1984

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Joined
Aug 4, 2015
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1,847
Location
Saint-Constant, Québec
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35mm
Welcome Geoffrey, I hope you'll soon share pictures of Tasmania with us
 
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Geoffrey Swan

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Joined
Dec 3, 2016
Messages
48
Location
Tasmania Australia
Format
Multi Format
Good to hear from you Lanthanum... I am down Lonnavale way - 30 minutes out of Huonville. I do have knowledge from my youth and I am reading everything I can find at the moment - but certainly would not proclaim at being a master of anything at this stage - but the passion is strong.

Where do you source your chemistry, film and papers please - Walch Optical I have found and Lewis Farrell is a great young guy with knowledge. Also Vanbar and B&H. Tassie appears to be pretty quiet on the photo front...
 

Black Dog

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Jul 21, 2003
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4,291
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Running up that hill
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Multi Format
Hello and happy APUGging! John Blakemore's Black & White Photography Workshop is a fantastic book to have by the way if you can find a copy.
 
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Geoffrey Swan

Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2016
Messages
48
Location
Tasmania Australia
Format
Multi Format
Hello Black Dog... I am a voracious reader and love books... just had a look for John Blakemore's book - thankyou.. it does look excellent but cannot find any sellers prepared to ship to Australia - so just dropped a note to Amazon. Just finished Ansell Adams camera, negative and print books - good on technical so Blakemores will give another perspective
 

Lanthanum

Member
Joined
Jun 27, 2014
Messages
54
Location
Australia
Format
35mm RF

Lonnavale, to the west if I recall, nice area. It sounds like with your earlier experience and reading you'll be well ahead soon enough. I share your passion for the craft side of picture making, with a busy professional life it is such a pleasure to head into the cool quiet of my darkroom and make something.

Yes, all of those and recently tried filmphotography.com.au, chemicals sent promptly and with a hand written personal note. So there are plenty of sources. I use the Net to source a lot of stuff as well.

Just met a keen young bloke today in Hobart with his M6 and know of a couple of others, large format and 35mm, so they are out there. Happy for you to contact me anytime if you think I can help, cheers.
 
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