New to Analog. Young to Photography

Alisha · Aug 5, 2008

When we are out, he says he is embarrassed by me carrying a vintage film camera!

lol I carry vintage cameras too when I'm out on a trip. I always enjoy having one when everyone else carries high powered Canons/Nikons.

If you are ever in San Francisco, stop in at the Rayko Photography Center. There is an excellent gallery along with great rental darkroom facilities and excellent workshops. Ann, the gallery director, is the person who turned *me* on to Sander. She is always happy to talk about photography and look at pictures.

That looks like a great place to go! I'm still wondering if we have any darkrooms here in Fresno, CA that I can use.

I'm 16[actually will be in a month] and I have been shooting film for a few years.

I'm glad I'm not the only one.

Just remember "There are no dumb questions,just dumb answers".

lol Thank you.

vdoak · Aug 5, 2008

"I've been captured by film and I can't seem to get away from it. I joined hoping ...I can grow in my own."

You've come to the right place.

There is a great deal to be learned here from a good bunch of people (from around the world.) I have been at this for over 30 years and still have a lot to learn and do so here at APUG form both young and old.

There are those who post a lot, those who just read a lot, and apparently, those who do a great deal of both. Good luck in finding where you are comfortable.

I look forward to seeing your images.

greetings from Norway!

AutumnJazz · Aug 5, 2008

Welcome from Neo England.

I'm 16, also. APUG is a very mature community, they don't care about how old you are...all they care about is how civil you are, and what you have to say. Maybe that is because we lack gearheads that must have the next best thing, they tend to think that is the next digital camera, and they tend to be assholes.

Analog photography is by definition, slow, and requires a lot of patience, which is another quality that mature people need to be mature. And understanding, and so on.

I will warn you, get CHEAP film. I spend all of my money on film and film processing...literally.

Anscojohn · Aug 5, 2008

Welcome Alisha from Mount Vernon, Virginia USA. A 17 year old who appreciates the work of August Sander is "ok" in my book. Took me a long time to discover him! You'll do well.

Alisha · Aug 5, 2008

Maybe that is because we lack gearheads that must have the next best thing, they tend to think that is the next digital camera, and they tend to be assholes.

That's what I like about it here. No one's tech savy and has to discriminate you just because you choose to shoot with something different then them.

I will warn you, get CHEAP film. I spend all of my money on film and film processing...literally.

lol I already spend half my money on film and processing. The other half goes to buying cameras.

Welcome Alisha from Mount Vernon, Virginia USA. A 17 year old who appreciates the work of August Sander is "ok" in my book. Took me a long time to discover him! You'll do well.

Thank you.

AutumnJazz · Aug 5, 2008

I'm actually incredibly tech savy, as are a lot of APUG'ers. We tend to be more on the computer and server side of stuff, instead of the camera side.

I buy CD's, not LP's...for example. (No quality gain to be had in one over the other, but there is lots of rare vinyl that is simply not avalable on CD, which is why I also have a record player.)

Alisha · Aug 5, 2008

I'm actually incredibly tech savy, as are a lot of APUG'ers. We tend to be more on the computer and server side of stuff, instead of the camera side.
I buy CD's, not LP's...for example. (No quality gain to be had in one over the other, but there is lots of rare vinyl that is simply not avalable on CD, which is why I also have a record player.)

Yes, but everyone here understands analog and accepts it. Everyone who I have talked to out side of APUG doesn't understand why I would still choose to shoot with film, or hardly understands the traditional manual camera in the first place. I'm glad to be here though because there's others who see things the way I do.

papagene · Aug 5, 2008

Alisha - welcome to APUG from western Massachusetts. Glad you found APUG, a great place to meet and make new friends. Plenty of info here also. Enjoy your time here.

gene

srs5694 · Aug 6, 2008

Alisha said:
I will warn you, get CHEAP film. I spend all of my money on film and film processing...literally.

Click to expand...

lol I already spend half my money on film and processing. The other half goes to buying cameras.

In case you don't already know, some of the least expensive film is available from Freestyle Photo. They have a line of house-brand products called "Arista." The Arista.EDU Ultra products are the current price champs. They're made by Foma. Other Arista products are made by others (including Kodak for some new bulk-loaded 35mm film). Pay attention to the specific name (Arista Premium, Arista.EDU Ultra, etc.). Personally, I rather like the look of the Foma products, although the quality control leaves a bit to be desired.

Speaking of bulk loading, that can be a good way to save money on 35mm film. For instance: a 100-foot bulk roll of Arista.EDU Ultra 400 costs $23.99. That'll give you about 18 36-exposure rolls. Each 36-exposure roll of this film costs $2.39, so 18 rolls would set you back $43.02. You can pick up a used bulk loader on eBay for $10-$30 shipped (sometimes a bit more if the auction includes lots of extras). A new one costs about $30-$50. You'll need film cartridges, but if you load onto cartridges from a minilab these can be free. The bottom line is that bulk loading will pay for itself after just one or two bulk rolls.

Markok765 · Aug 6, 2008

I get around 22 rolls from a 100FT roll of Tri-x, so it comes out to 2.50$ a roll.

I should look into the Arista.EDU. Is that a good enough film for "professional" use? What I mean by that is, is the quality good enough to enlarge to 11x14 or so?

srs5694 · Aug 6, 2008

It's all subjective, Marko. I've got an 11x14 print from a photo made on 35mm Arista.EDU Ultra/Fomapan 400. (Note the "Ultra;" Arista.EDU was Forte, and I believe it's all gone at this point.) I don't find the grain objectionable in this 11x14 print. Others disagree with me; I've seen posts from people who think that Foma films' grain is just too big, and who wouldn't enlarge to 11x14. The only way to know, really, is to try the film yourself.

winger · Aug 6, 2008

APUG is a very mature community, they don't care about how old you are...all they care about is how civil you are, and what you have to say. Maybe that is because we lack gearheads that must have the next best thing,

I think that's true, except that we just have a different type of gearhead. Instead of the "get the new stuff, it's the best", we have "get it all, get it all, it's all good" types.

Christopher Walrath · Aug 6, 2008

Being captured by film rather than the other way around. Welcome to the forum, Alisha.

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