New Member Here

[Jim Hobson]

Hi all. My name is Jim Hobson and I'm from Vernon, New Jersey. I've been involved in photography in one way or another for about 50 years now. Still shoot 4x5, 6x7 and some 35mm and digital. I've done Illustrative Advertising, Weddings, Portraits and Portfolio work. Owned a photo lab (Church St Photo) up until 2 years ago when our building was sold and we closed. Hope I can learn something here and maybe help a few others on the way.

 

[markjwyatt]

Welcome, Jim. Sounds like you have a lot to teach us! Was your lab a pro lab, 1 hour, other?

 

[Dusty Negative]

Welcome!

 

[Trail Images]

Hello Jim and welcome to the Photrio site. Sounds like you've really earned your strips in the analog photo world. Glad you've found the site.

 

[Jim Hobson]

Welcome, Jim. Sounds like you have a lot to teach us! Was your lab a pro lab, 1 hour, other?

The front of the shop was a 1-hour lab. Noritsu machines that did C-41 35mm and 120 and RA-4 prints to 8x10. The back was a wet darkroom. We did color and B&W from 110 to 4x5 and B&W printing to 16x20. In the middle of the shop were two digital work stations. We catered mostly to the general public and amateurs. About 5% were pros.

 

[Jim Hobson]

Welcome!

Thanks.

 

[Jim Hobson]

Hello Jim and welcome to the Photrio site. Sounds like you've really earned your strips in the analog photo world. Glad you've found the site.

Thanks. I knew Paul Ron from years ago and wondered what happened to him so I googled his name and this forum came up. Lol, I've been around a while, not the smartest tool in the shed but I've been around,

 

[Trail Images]

Thanks. I knew Paul Ron from years ago and wondered what happened to him so I googled his name and this forum came up. Lol, I've been around a while, not the smartest tool in the shed but I've been around,

LOL......Jim, it is such a small world. 20+ years ago I sold Paul Ron a very early Mamiya RB67 Pro body only. We stayed in contact off and on for years but I too lost track of Paul. As I recall he was a New York or New Jersey resident at that time? Again, small world.

 

[markjwyatt]

The front of the shop was a 1-hour lab. Noritsu machines that did C-41 35mm and 120 and RA-4 prints to 8x10. The back was a wet darkroom. We did color and B&W from 110 to 4x5 and B&W printing to 16x20. In the middle of the shop were two digital work stations. We catered mostly to the general public and amateurs. About 5% were pros.

While in college, I worked for a couple 60 minute places (mainly one). One used Copal machinery the other Noritsu. This was the early 1980s, so probably a generation before yours. In the mid-1970s I worked in a rental darkroom. That was pretty fun. I would not mind seeing more of those popping up close to me.

 

[Trail Images]

Noritsu

Mark, another small world item for me in this thread. As a long time telecommunication manager in So Cal. one of my customers was Noritsu photo processing machines located in Buena Park, Ca. just off Beach Blvd. as I recall.

 

[markjwyatt]

Mark, another small world item for me in this thread. As a long time telecommunication manager in So Cal. one of my customers was Noritsu photo processing machines located in Buena Park, Ca. just off Beach Blvd. as I recall.

Small world wise, I live 10 miles North of you in Chino Hills! I would love to find a way to get in to shoot Prado dam someday (the old one) before it fades to nothing. I got this from a moving vehicle.

I was working for individual labs in San Diego County at that time. I maintained the chemistry, ran and measured test strips, printed (on the machine), etc.

I think I still see the Noritsu building off the 55 fwy sometimes. Same place?

 

[Trail Images]

Same place?

Yes, sounds like it. Is there a Yamaha sign there too?.....they were also a customer of mine. We installed and maintained NEC digital PBX telephone systems.

 

[Jim Hobson]

While in college, I worked for a couple 60 minute places (mainly one). One used Copal machinery the other Noritsu. This was the early 1980s, so probably a generation before yours. In the mid-1970s I worked in a rental darkroom. That was pretty fun. I would not mind seeing more of those popping up close to me.

Yeah, I'd like film to make more of a come back. I love B&W film. What surprised me was how the cost of film cameras and lenses have gone up! Not so long ago I paid $25 for Nikon a FG, one or two lenses a flash and bag. I'd reseal and clean them and sell them to photography students. On facebook marketplace they are asking $100 - $150 for "Vintage Camera". Mamiya RB's are up (and so are the lenses) and Speed Graphics are also up. I never had a rental lab near me, I had to build a darkroom each time I moved.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Welcome to APUG Photrio!!​

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Welcome, Jim!

 

[markjwyatt]

Yes, sounds like it. Is there a Yamaha sign there too?.....they were also a customer of mine. We installed and maintained NEC digital PBX telephone systems.

I do believe you are correct, but it is the 91 not the 55. Kind of rings a bell too (Yamaha). I notice the Noritsu sign more than the Yamaha.

https://www.google.com/search?tbs=l...!1u2!2m2!2m1!1e1!2m1!1e2!2m1!1e3,lf:1,lf_ui:2

 

[SchwinnParamount]

Hi Jim!! Where've you been for the last 15 years? We've been waiting for you to finally come home to us!

 

[markjwyatt]

Yeah, I'd like film to make more of a come back. I love B&W film. What surprised me was how the cost of film cameras and lenses have gone up! Not so long ago I paid $25 for Nikon a FG, one or two lenses a flash and bag. I'd reseal and clean them and sell them to photography students. On facebook marketplace they are asking $100 - $150 for "Vintage Camera". Mamiya RB's are up (and so are the lenses) and Speed Graphics are also up. I never had a rental lab near me, I had to build a darkroom each time I moved.

B&W film has always been one of my favorites, and I shoot it a fair amount today. I convert some digital to B&W and sometimes it is good, but still, B&W film is better. Color film is also very nice, but digital is good for a lot of color work.

I have acquired a few nice 35mm cameras since kind of restarting in 2018 (after a hiatus), and fortunately I kept my Mamiya TLR outfit from the 80s, so I am in decent shape for film cameras (and lenses ). I have a Speed Graphic and a Graflex RBD, but both need a fair amount of TLC. It is on the list, but not at the top.

 

[Trail Images]

I do believe you are correct, but it is the 91 not the 55. Kind of rings a bell too (Yamaha). I notice the Noritsu sign more than the Yamaha.

https://www.google.com/search?tbs=l...!1u2!2m2!2m1!1e1!2m1!1e2!2m1!1e3,lf:1,lf_ui:2

Exactly. The map shows both of those sites. Although it was the 91 & not the 55 and also Knott Ave. and not Beach Blvd. I'd also mention in that same area we had another one of our phone systems at Knott's Berry Farm too. So many years ago now for me.....

 

[bsdunek]

Welcome, Jim! Sounds like we have something in common - I have been doing photography for more than 70 years. That includes all the darkroom work. Looking forward to seeing your photos and having discussion.

 

[Jim Hobson]

Hi Jim!! Where've you been for the last 15 years? We've been waiting for you to finally come home to us!

Where have I been for the last 15 years?? Sitting here waiting for you to invite me to join! Lol, actually, I was a member of APUG. I signed up back then under my business name. I don't post much on forums. By the time I get to read the posts there are usually 15 answers already. If I can't add something useful I don't respond. Thanks for the Welcome.

 

[Jim Hobson]

Welcome, Jim! Sounds like we have something in common - I have been doing photography for more than 70 years. That includes all the darkroom work. Looking forward to seeing your photos and having discussion.

Thanks for the Welcome. You got me beat by a few years. My dad taught me how to process (still have some of the stuff he used) when I was 12. I became addicted to darkrom, mom thought something was wrong with me being in a room full of chemicals. However, I've never got that deep into the chemicals, processes and cameras as some on here got. I just took pictures with what I had and processed normally.
I added my flickr site if anyone wants to see ay of my photos. It's nothing special, just different periods of my life. A lot of them are digital. Eleven years I've struggled with the automation of digital cameras which always brings me back to my RB, 4x5 or Nikon FG.