New to forum

[Ritchie]

Looks like I need to post five times before I can start a thread etc. Mostly interested in posting to sub-forum (Toronto) but won't let me?

 

[Ritchie]

Number two post. I am a retired photographer with extensive darkroom experience. First discovered the magic of seeing images develop in 1970.

 

[HiHoSilver]

Welcome, Ritchie. That was about the same time I first pictures from soup. I'm somewhat of a refugee from the digital overbaked look & the images & skills here have been most rewarding. 'Glad to have yours in the mix now.

 

[frank]

Welcome Ritchie! I'm a young'n and didn't get started with darkroom until 1979.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Welcome to APUG

 

[mrred]

Welcome aboard.

 

[ManicPixie]

Welcome!

 

[MattKing]

Welcome to APUG.

For the life of me, I cannot locate a Toronto sub-forum or Group, but if it is a Group, then I think posting privileges are more extensive in the Group areas for paid subscribers.

That may change with the pending upgrade to the software.

You may see this thread moved to the "Introduce Yourself..." sub-forum. Don't take it personally .

Hope you enjoy it here.

 

[Ritchie]

Thanks for the warm welcomes.

 

[Ritchie]

I still cannot post my whole intro- likely because of the five post requirement. This makes number four.

 

[frank]

You can do it!

 

[Ritchie]

For number five I will state that I have always been a Tri-X fan, with side excursions to Ilford films, T-Max and a few years tryst with Kodak Infra-red b&w. I used many formats but always preferred 35mm for my style of work.

 

[fotch]

Hello Ritchie and welcome to APUG.

 

[Ritchie]

Thanks for the warm welcomes! I also have become totally jaded with digital photography, but that is likely a common theme here so I won't dwell on it.
I should fill in a few things here, and will paste the original copy that I tried to post to the regional forum:

I am new to this forum so allow me to introduce myself. I am a retired photographer/printer. I had many darkrooms in my career, each one more elaborate and better equipped. I started printing b&w in 1970 and continued until approximately ten years ago, when I developed eyesight problems.

I always thought that better vision would come along but now must face the reality that even after cataract surgery I will not see with the sharpness necessary for detail work.

I printed through the many changes of technology- Cibachrome, variable contrast, RC paper etc. At the end I was proofing on VC Rc paper and making final prints on double weight fibre VC paper, hand processed in trays. I used selenium toner and processed to archival standards.

Because I printed for other people too, I acquired a selection of lenses and neg carriers to accommodate all film formats from 35 mm up to 4x5, including a masking device for odd ball sizes. I even purchased a second 35mm carrier that I filed out the edges of to be able to print negs with a black edge out to the sprocket holes. Yes, that was the trend for a while.

I have decided to clean, catalogue and photograph the gear then pack it up and sell it, once I get an idea of the value. I would like to sell complete all the equipment but no fixtures will be included as they are all built in.

The enlarger is a Saunders/LPL Super Dichroic 4500 II with regulated power supply, LPL ET-500 digital timer and three lenses: 50mm EL Nikkor f2.8, 80mm EL Nikkor f5.6 and Scneider Componon-S 135mm f5.6.

It will be sad to see the darkroom go but I haven't been using it and I'd like to see it go to a good home. I will post a for sale notice here first once I get the prelim work and research done. If no takers here, I will post to Kijiji, CL etc.

Perhaps you forum regulars could direct me to the best place to post my equipment? I wanted to use the regional forum of Toronto because that is the nearest large centre (I live in rural Ontario). Due to the bulk and weight of all the equipment shipping would be prohibitive, particularly cross border. Thanks all for any advice.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Ritchie, now you should put your location and camera formats in your profile so that we can see the information every time you post.

 

[frank]

I'm a bit north of Toronto in Uxbridge. Where are you?

 

[Ritchie]

Hi Frank, I'm in SW Ontario, Elgin County, near Lake Erie- Ontario's south coast!

 

[frank]

Hi Frank, I'm in SW Ontario, Elgin County, near Lake Erie- Ontario's south coast!

Hello! I've been to Port Dover.

 

[Ritchie]

Ritchie, now you should put your location and camera formats in your profile so that we can see the information every time you post.

Trying to find where to edit my account.

 

[MattKing]

Thanks for the warm welcomes! I also have become totally jaded with digital photography, but that is likely a common theme here so I won't dwell on it.
I should fill in a few things here, and will paste the original copy that I tried to post to the regional forum:

I am new to this forum so allow me to introduce myself. I am a retired photographer/printer. I had many darkrooms in my career, each one more elaborate and better equipped. I started printing b&w in 1970 and continued until approximately ten years ago, when I developed eyesight problems.

I always thought that better vision would come along but now must face the reality that even after cataract surgery I will not see with the sharpness necessary for detail work.

I printed through the many changes of technology- Cibachrome, variable contrast, RC paper etc. At the end I was proofing on VC Rc paper and making final prints on double weight fibre VC paper, hand processed in trays. I used selenium toner and processed to archival standards.

Because I printed for other people too, I acquired a selection of lenses and neg carriers to accommodate all film formats from 35 mm up to 4x5, including a masking device for odd ball sizes. I even purchased a second 35mm carrier that I filed out the edges of to be able to print negs with a black edge out to the sprocket holes. Yes, that was the trend for a while.

I have decided to clean, catalogue and photograph the gear then pack it up and sell it, once I get an idea of the value. I would like to sell complete all the equipment but no fixtures will be included as they are all built in.

The enlarger is a Saunders/LPL Super Dichroic 4500 II with regulated power supply, LPL ET-500 digital timer and three lenses: 50mm EL Nikkor f2.8, 80mm EL Nikkor f5.6 and Scneider Componon-S 135mm f5.6.

It will be sad to see the darkroom go but I haven't been using it and I'd like to see it go to a good home. I will post a for sale notice here first once I get the prelim work and research done. If no takers here, I will post to Kijiji, CL etc.

Perhaps you forum regulars could direct me to the best place to post my equipment? I wanted to use the regional forum of Toronto because that is the nearest large centre (I live in rural Ontario). Due to the bulk and weight of all the equipment shipping would be prohibitive, particularly cross border. Thanks all for any advice.

To sell equipment here you need to be a paid subscriber. That will give you seller's access to the Classifieds.

I'd really suggest you add your location (SW Ontario Canada will do fine) to your profile. Otherwise you will get shipping enquiries from Europe and Asia.

Very few people seem to focus on the regional forums - most just review the "Recent Posts". So it probably won't help to concentrate your posts there.

 

[Ritchie]

Thanks Matt. Profile updated. I will likely subscribe and stick around here even after selling my gear. Will look around the forum and focus on some areas of interest.

 

[frank]

And share some of your work! Have you got a website?

 

[Sirius Glass]

Thanks Matt. Profile updated. I will likely subscribe and stick around here even after selling my gear. Will look around the forum and focus on some areas of interest.

 

[Ritchie]

And share some of your work! Have you got a website?

No website. I am in the process of digitizing my work, but have a dilemma to face; most of my finished prints are on 11x14 or 16x20 paper. They usually have a wide margin and are difficult to scan on my V700. I can scan my negatives and slides easily enough, but then have to dodge/burn in PS to make them look near as good as the prints. Alternately I can remove scanner lid, scan print in sections and then stitch and adjust densities to match- again, a lot of work.

How do you do it?

I was going to attach a few samples here, but I note that there is a 1.2 meg limit on jpg's. Will need to re-size as all mine are larger files.

 

[Ritchie]

Frank, I looked at your web site and see that we have a few things in common. Love of b&w of course, vintage motorcycles (although I ride modern now) and I also took a very long motorcycle journey through the US and Canada (20,000 km). You mentioned Dover- do you ride there? Meet for ride next year? I could show you around here, we have some nice roads.

Please excuse off topic, will take it someplace else if needed.