Hi to everyone,
I have been skirting the edges of APUG for well over a year now and find myself watching the threads on a regular basis. I thought it was time I properly introduced myself
Just a few weeks ago I moved from Auckland to the shores of Lake Taupo here in New Zealand. I now have the time and the space to set up my darkroom and actively pursue this consuming passion.
My emerging fascination with film has come about over the past two years or so. I suffered a brain injury as a side effect of major heart surgery and just cannot remember how to operate all the buttons and dial on those lovely but complicated digital toys. Photography has played a big part in my rehabilitation. By going forward to completely manual cameras I hope, again, to have my attention more on the composition than on which knob to turn or button to push.
I have a couple of nice old 35mm cameras although my main interest is in MF and 4x5. To be honest, I have not yet taken a lot of photos with the gear I have - yet.
I started out much more a collector than a photographer however that brief interlude has helped me appreciate the technicalities of the equipment without having to deal with the pressure of the moment. More recently I have been shedding gear so that the stuff I have is the stuff I will use.
So far, it has taken about 2 ½ years to get myself to a clear headspace where I can begin to work on my picture taking. I am a bit slow at thinking things through, so more contemplative styles of photography are likely to suit me best. For now, I imagine my subject matter will likely be found in and around the lake, and within the Tongariro National Park. Later in the year I plan a trip to Australia where my brother runs an outback safari tour business from Alice Springs. We intend taking off in one of his trucks and going bush for a while purely to take photographs.
Although I consider myself a novice at this point, I grew up amongst keen photographers so cameras and darkrooms were common in our extended family. My father was a keen photographer who taught at a local polytechnic. I am hoping that, with the help of the APUG community, I will pick it up again quite quickly.
Right now, I am sifting through boxes of accumulated paper, chemicals, and equipment and planning the layout for my darkroom. It will be a 'budget build' based on many of the great ideas I have found on this site. I will keep you all posted as I proceed ....
Thank you, for the wonderful insights I have already made by reading the threads to which you all so generously contribute.
Thank you in advance for the wonderful support I know I will receive.
Cheers
Alistair
I have been skirting the edges of APUG for well over a year now and find myself watching the threads on a regular basis. I thought it was time I properly introduced myself
Just a few weeks ago I moved from Auckland to the shores of Lake Taupo here in New Zealand. I now have the time and the space to set up my darkroom and actively pursue this consuming passion.
My emerging fascination with film has come about over the past two years or so. I suffered a brain injury as a side effect of major heart surgery and just cannot remember how to operate all the buttons and dial on those lovely but complicated digital toys. Photography has played a big part in my rehabilitation. By going forward to completely manual cameras I hope, again, to have my attention more on the composition than on which knob to turn or button to push.
I have a couple of nice old 35mm cameras although my main interest is in MF and 4x5. To be honest, I have not yet taken a lot of photos with the gear I have - yet.
I started out much more a collector than a photographer however that brief interlude has helped me appreciate the technicalities of the equipment without having to deal with the pressure of the moment. More recently I have been shedding gear so that the stuff I have is the stuff I will use.
So far, it has taken about 2 ½ years to get myself to a clear headspace where I can begin to work on my picture taking. I am a bit slow at thinking things through, so more contemplative styles of photography are likely to suit me best. For now, I imagine my subject matter will likely be found in and around the lake, and within the Tongariro National Park. Later in the year I plan a trip to Australia where my brother runs an outback safari tour business from Alice Springs. We intend taking off in one of his trucks and going bush for a while purely to take photographs.
Although I consider myself a novice at this point, I grew up amongst keen photographers so cameras and darkrooms were common in our extended family. My father was a keen photographer who taught at a local polytechnic. I am hoping that, with the help of the APUG community, I will pick it up again quite quickly.
Right now, I am sifting through boxes of accumulated paper, chemicals, and equipment and planning the layout for my darkroom. It will be a 'budget build' based on many of the great ideas I have found on this site. I will keep you all posted as I proceed ....
Thank you, for the wonderful insights I have already made by reading the threads to which you all so generously contribute.
Thank you in advance for the wonderful support I know I will receive.
Cheers
Alistair