OK, here I am!

[unohuu]

I have had cameras since my first Kodak folding camera right through to the P&S digital my wife bought me for my birthday last year. She thought I would spend less on chemicals and development.

I am still an untrained eye, with a growing astigmatism that makes focusing difficult at times. I have loved using interchangeable 35mm, but thought it was time to try something I have longed for since I bought the Yashica Mat 124 G and the 44 about 3 1/2 years ago. They sat in my closets until recently. I now practice shooting self-portraits, still lifes and an occasional wedding for friends. I am constantly in search of a workshop I can afford (and that my wife will let me attend).

The most recent purchases have been the Mamiya M645 and 645J with prism and waist level finder. Only one lens to date, but I want to do mostly portraits and still life anyway.

Favorite artists are Cindy Sherman, home town hero Gordon Parks, Dorothea Lange, Dawould Bey, and glamorous Annie Leibowitz...how she gets those stars to do the outrageous is beyond me. I can hardly get anyone to smile or to relax. Looking forward to hearing your stories and learning and sharing with you all.

Luke

 

[Foto Ludens]

Welcome, Luke.

Yeah, I can relate to the focusing difficulty. I attributed it to astigmatism as well, until I found out I have spasms in the focusing muscles of both my eyes. What can I say, except get a good focusing screen for your TLRs!

Good luck with your self portraits, I'm certainly glad I did mine... Once you can bear to be in front of the lens, you can work with other people much more easily, at least that's my experience. It sure ain't easy, though...

Anyway, welcome, and post your work!

André

 

[bjorke]

Welcome again then!

Gee, I always thought of Gordon Parks as a New Yorker -- no idea he lived in Mpls until you described him as "home town"

Annie L? *and* Dawoud Bey? Their purposes seem quite antithetical -- Bey the egalitarian, Leibowitz the sycophant...

I have a 124G too -- got it in Mpls in my high school days, still keep it around.

 

[Aggie]

Welcome! For the focusing problems, I bet you find yourself in the future going to LF. Bigger screen to focus on. What type of workshop are you looking for? Many here have taken workshops and might be able to direct you to one that would suit your needs.

 

[unohuu]

Gordon and Annie L

Gee, I always thought of Gordon Parks as a New Yorker -- no idea he lived in Mpls until you described him as "home town"

Born in Kansas, but lived quite a bit of his life here in Minneapolis.

Annie L? *and* Dawoud Bey? Their purposes seem quite antithetical -- Bey the egalitarian, Leibowitz the sycophant...

Those yin and yang sides of my personality. Annie is able to do some amazing things photographically. I think of her as the Martha Stewart of commercial photography.

I have a 124G too -- got it in Mpls in my high school days, still keep it around.

 

[jd callow]

...Leibowitz the sycophant....

HeHe he

 

[anyte]

Hello, from one Minnesotan to another.

 

[papagene]

Welcome Luke. Make sure you keep your 124G, it's a fun camera to use. Sold mine to be able to afford my Fuji GW670II, which I like very much, thank you. But that Yashica sure was a lot of fun to use and I do miss it!

gene

 

[Max]

Hello from another APUGger in MN - I've been here for ten years, but I can't call myself an Minnesotan...

 

[bjorke]

Hello from another APUGger in MN - I've been here for ten years, but I can't call myself an Minnesotan...

Been away over 20 years and still say "uff da"

(Actually, the ghost of Miss Plotnik at St Anthony Village High School reminds me that one should never refer to one's self as "an Minnesotan," it's improper use of the definite article)

 

[Max]

Oops - I edited that a few times, and didn't correct the article when I changed what followed it...

 

[mark]

Those yin and yang sides of my personality. Annie is able to do some amazing things photographically. I think of her as the Martha Stewart of commercial photography.

Damn that's funny. I wonder how Leibowitz would like that description.

Bey is my favorite portrait artist. I love his 20x24 polaroid composits.

 

[anyte]

one should never refer to one's self as "an Minnesotan," it's improper use of the definite article)

Yah, you betcha. But I still like to say Minnesotan.