New comer here...

[Alexz]

Hello community.
I cannot believe my eyes running upon a photography forum that still talks analog.. , seems like a science fiction nowadays..

I'm still analog guy, neither intending to "betray" for a "dark side" in any foreseable future, which doesn't mean I hate digital.
Moreover, just a few months ago I stepped into my liong-term dream - Medium Format. In fact, I grateful to digital era allowing to all these who just kept dreaming about MF not being able to afford it to make the dream true.

So besides of my Canon EOS-3 with all the stuff, I own Bronica GS-1 (6x7) with a standard 100/3.5 PG lens so far.

I really hoping to learn and soak any useful MF shooting experiences and knowledges you share here.

Meanwhile, it's my pleasure to invite all of you to my personal site:
www.zabrovsky.com
where you will see my galleries, few articles and for these among you curious "who is this guy" there is also About Us chapter...

Sincerely, Alex

 

[Dave Miller]

Welcome Alex.

 

[clogz]

Hello Alex,
I'm sure you're going to like it here where we talk analogue and sip Rodinal.

 

[SuzanneR]

Welcome! I recently started using a medium format camera (Mamiya 7) purchased used, and so far love it! At least the used market has grown in this area! Anyway, still learning how to use it. Hope to see another newbie MF'er in the galleries soon.

 

[Alexz]

Thank you all for your welcome.
Frankly, I never used wet darkroom, neither got interested in such (shame on me, I know...). In fact, I hate chemicals from the school.
However film shooting is my passion.

 

[mikeb_z5]

Thank you all for your welcome.
Frankly, I never used wet darkroom, neither got interested in such (shame on me, I know...). In fact, I hate chemicals from the school.
However film shooting is my passion.

Alex,
I was of the same mindset when I first found this site. Stick around here long enough and I suspect you may have a change of heart(I did)

Mike

 

[Alexz]

Xmm, there might be some truth in your words. In some past a thoughts about trying myself in photo chemistry has visited my mind, but each time thery were defeated by the mental barrier of my wife who threated me as soon as I begun talking about utilizing our bathroom...

Besides, another thing I wouldn't feel comfortable about once talking to a passinate photographer is the fact that I almost never shot a real B&W, can hardly image a B&W appearance in my mind which lead to a dissmision of a wet processing.

I enjoy looking at high-quality scans and prints look great out of files, but I suspect a real, carefully done manual print would look even better..

Regards, Alex

 

[FrankB]

Thank you all for your welcome.
Frankly, I never used wet darkroom, neither got interested in such (shame on me, I know...). In fact, I hate chemicals from the school.
However film shooting is my passion.

Hi Alex, welcome to the community.

Wet darkroom suits some, leaves others cold, and isn't a requirement in any way shape or form! Be warned, though; it's a slippery slope... I started an photography evening course with the same opinion as yourself and three months later bought a secondhand darkroom. Four years later it's a toss up whether I'd rather print or shoot! :rolleyes:

I started off on colour print, migrated to colour slide when I realised how much I preferred the quality of the results and now shoot almost totally monochrome. If you're interested in moving more towards monochrome (again, in no way a requirement) then a look around the galleries here is a good first step, but not a patch on seeing real traditional fine fibre prints!

Whatever your preferences, enjoy, and I look forward to seeing your work in the galleries and your thoughts in the forums!

All the best,

Frank

 

[papagene]

Hey Alex, welcome to the site. If you start shooting B&W, you'll want controll of the process, and then it will be slip-slidding away to a darkroom.
Enjoy your new Bronica first and let the process dictate your direction. But if you ever need help with any decisions on equipment and process, this is the place to be.

gene

 

[Alexz]

Thank you guys for your support, yet another warm an helpful forum to enjoy and learn from.

BTW, just back from a sunset session at the sea shore where I've tryed to shoot both my Canon and Bronica - what a tough experience.. :-0
The sun was sitting down so quickly, I was rushing to shoot both systems off tripod of course, + filters - feels like am army training.
Small things fall out of my hands, I'm sweating like a horse...

BUT, I was amaized the difference in appearance of the scene between a tiny finder of 35mm (though the finder of Canon EOS-3 isn't bad either) and the wonderful and huge one of Bronica ! It was so pleasure just to look through it - like seeing the real, life scene without popping your eyes out ...
In the whole rush, and being so used to teh swift AF of my Canon, I just forgot to focus my Bronica :-(( (automatically, without thinking assumed AF will pop it in with release button...).

How, I learnt a tough and very important lesson - never try to shoot important and quickly dissapearing scenics by both systems trying to capture by 35mm and Bronica.
Next time I'll be smarter - once a fine landscape is targetted, the Bronica will be my main tool only, no rush, no mess swapping between the cameras on the tripod, filters and so on....

 

[BWGirl]

Welcome Alex!!
Sounds like you would like to have a few more arms! I know we have all experienced this many times.
Nice website! Beautiful baby!!
Jeanette

 

[Joe Symchyshyn]

Welcome from Canada!

joe

 

[Alexz]

Thank you Jeanette, Joe for your warm welcome.
Glad you liked the site Jeanette, my cutie is indeed our pride .

 

[unohuu]

...and another relative newbie from Minneapolis, with M645, M645J, Yashica 44 and 124G. I am already stocking up on B&W film in 120, 127 and 220 formats.

 

[Flotsam]

...and another relative newbie from Minneapolis, with M645, M645J, Yashica 44 and 124G. I am already stocking up on B&W film in 120, 127 and 220 formats.

Hi unohuu. Belated welcome.
I just noticed your intro tacked on to the end of Alex's. I see that you are doing MF B&W, how about some more info in the "introduce yourself" forum? Looking forward to seeing your' posts and photos.

 

[jd callow]

unohuu,
Greetings!
Minneapolis can be a very photogenic town...
Dead Link Removed

 

[bjorke]

...and another relative newbie from Minneapolis, with M645, M645J, Yashica 44 and 124G. I am already stocking up on B&W film in 120, 127 and 220 formats.

A "newbie" with FOUR MF cameras? Ahem.... welcome!
kb
(formerly of mpls too)

 

[unohuu]

I have had the two Yashicas sitting in a closet for 3-4 years, because my kids were young and took up too much energy with daycare and school and soccer and such. But I want to capture some real moments in their lives. I spent most of my time with manual focus Minolta 35mm cameras. Now I am ready to see those larger negs and take some risks from the P&S kind of photography I have been doing!

 

[AndrewH]

Agreed on Minneapolis

Mr. C:
I like Minneapolis a lot, but cannot recommend Murray's ;-)