Newcomer from Wisconsin

[Corey Fehr]

Hello!

My name is Corey, and I joined this forum because I'm a non-traditional student, and this is my first film (35 mm) photography class I've taken, although I have a decent background knowledge of foundations like exposures and such.

That said, the class is largely geared towards younger students who had the luxury of having darkrooms in high school (which was never an option for me), and thus, have a background to work off of.

I'd like to find a community where I can ask questions or gain clarification without being judged or condemned and further my growth in the field.

Thus far, macro photography is of high interest. I've kept tarantulas for over ten years, and they're one of my favorite subjects to photograph.

I look forward to everyone's posts!

 

[MattKing]

I'll repeat my post in your other thread: Welcome to APUG!
I think you will find that, for the most part, APUG is very welcoming.
And lots of us really enjoy helping others.
We would love to see the results of your film photography efforts with tarantulas. Many of us can help with questions about close focus film work.
You may want to consider becoming a paid subscriber, as that will give you full access to the galleries and allow you to start threads in the classifieds. But even if you don't, there is lots that unpaid members can gain from (and contribute to) APUG.
One caution: APUG is focussed on the non-digital side of the photographic world. Off topic ("digital") subjects are discouraged.

 

[keenmaster486]

Hey, good to see you here and I'm sure your class is a ton of fun!

Maybe you'd like to get into medium format photography! It's pretty easy, you can find box cameras or simple folders for cheap on eBay or antique stores/thrift shops.

Warning, stupid question follows: what is a non-traditional student?

 

[Corey Fehr]

The majority, if not all, of my questions, will be non-digital related. We're all good there!

A non-traditional student is essentially someone who isn't coming into a college/tech/etc. straight from high school. For example, I'm 29, and went back to school 2 years ago. It's a been a royal pain in the butt, and I can't wait to graduate.

I'm so thankful for the welcome. A lot of art forums are incredibly snooty and judgemental. Who has time for that? Life is short.

 

[keenmaster486]

A non-traditional student is essentially someone who isn't coming into a college/tech/etc. straight from high school. For example, I'm 29, and went back to school 2 years ago. It's a been a royal pain in the butt, and I can't wait to graduate.

Aha. Makes sense... yeah I bet that is a pain

 

[winger]

Welcome to APUG! This is really the best place on the web to get good info about shooting film and printing from it. Also a bit of an enabler in adding more cameras. When I found APUG, I shot primarily 35mm and a little medium format. Now I've added 4x5 and bigger. And I think (I hope this is true) I've gotten better along the way, too.

 

[Corey Fehr]

Oh good. Then I can pose to you this question...

I want a macro lens for my Canon AE-1 program.

What would you suggest?

 

[mooseontheloose]

Hi Corey - welcome to APUG! I can't help you with your canon question (I'm a Nikon gal), but I do understand your situation. I was 30 when I took my first darkroom course, and had various issues with some of the students, and my instructor, who had just gone digital at that time and was clearly not interested in teaching darkroom work at that time. And, like Matt has said, would love to see some of your tarantula photos someday!

 

[removed account4]

hey corey
can't help you with a LENS suggestion ( i use pentax, and my digithing is a nikon )
but there was a seller on ebay that i bought both step up/step down rings and a
whole collection of diopters that i use for close up work.
they aren't fancy, and no doubt not like canon glass ( high quality ) but they
offer a shipped-from-china, ultra-cheap-alternative ( which is great if you are on a budget ).
your public library probably has "the henry hornstein's book" it is a great reference for processing/printing-- there's even a section
that common processing/printing errors ( PHOTOGRAPHS OF THEM )
what they were caused by and how to fix them.

have fun!
john

 

[Kino]

Oh good. Then I can pose to you this question...

I want a macro lens for my Canon AE-1 program.

What would you suggest?

Corey,

Welcome to APUG!

This is a relatively inexpensive Canon Macro 100mm from KEH:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Canon-100mm...521709?hash=item43ff72c9ed:g:g2kAAOSwTM5Yvv4V

This would be easier to use on a subject that tends to move around a lot and has the advantage of directly determining exposure with your camera's meter.

You could also look into a set of extension tubes or a macro bellows for your F1. They can be harder to use than a true macro lens (often manual exposure calculations and a very shallow depth of field, you would have to get real close to the subject), but they tend to be a lot cheaper.

Examples: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Spiratone-M...-Lens-Macrobel-Bellows-FD-Mount-/262846480102

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Set-of-Thre...286277?hash=item1c7d7ad545:g:j4sAAOSwtfhYqy6N

In any event, good luck!

Frank

 

[darkosaric]

Welcome to APUG !

 

[bvy]

At 29, I was also a "non-traditional" student finishing my degree. I felt so old, but looking back, really wasn't. Anyway, welcome to our funny little world!

 

[tezzasmall]

At 29, I was also a "non-traditional" student finishing my degree. I felt so old, but looking back, really wasn't. Anyway, welcome to our funny little world!

I've never heard this expression but I must have been a "REALLY NON-NON traditional" student when I started my degree a couple of years ago, which I started at aged 52! LOL

 

[Rick A]

Welcome to the party! I was in my mid 30's when I went to uni for the second time(I was 16 and fresh out of HS the first time)I really felt out of place, and had more real world experience than my profs, that was an eye opener.

 

[MattKing]

Hey, when I went back to university at 24 for a second degree, I lived in student residences for the first year.
You want to talk about feeling out of place?

 

[Sirius Glass]

Welcome to APUG again

 

[Corey Fehr]

Thanks everyone! I just bought the lens from KEH. Oddly, when I went on their website, they didn't have any in stock, but they do on their eBay store. Huh.
I'm glad I'm not the only non-trad student in existence. It sure feels like it sometimes!

For now, I've decided to mellow the heck out and start with the basics. Glad I have a community to ask questions to, though.

 

[Truzi]

Look at it this way - If you look at the history of college/university (not back to Plato's time, though), it was something a large number of people would do after first working for a while. They would go to school to get more "rounded." Going to college right out of high school was not as common as it is now.

So, in a way, you are a "traditional" student. I am a "traditional" student in a similar manner to you. It can be difficult to adjust at first, especially in subjects you had first-hand experience with. It can be tough to remember the school is teaching general theory to people who were not already in a very specific area of practice; this is not truly a conflict, but can feel like it at times.

 

[Corey Fehr]

I find the overall dynamic is completely different. It wasn't that long ago, but I tend to like the hands-off approach in terms of socializing. No group projects, no attendance, no push for socializing-it was essentially your college career and you had control over it. That's all changed, and personally, I don't care to socialize with teenagers.
I'm also finding out high schools are more plentiful with their technology and have way more advanced than when I went. Most of these teenagers had dark rooms at their high school and prior experience. We had a freaking art room with some paint and easels! Do I sound like an old fart yet? One room school house style?