Old shooter comes full circle from 4x5 speed graphic to digital and back again with 35mm Rangefinder

Codeman73 · Feb 18, 2023

Steve here from Sudbury, VT.

At 74 I've covered a lot of ground as a photographer and to tell you the truth got pretty jaded about the whole process after I got an MFA in Photography from University of Delaware back in the early 80's. I've always thought of myself as a "fine art" photographer but was never able to feed my family creating art. I know....what else is new eh?

I spent many years in darkrooms. Many years shooting commercial stuff. Many years teaching undergrad and adult ed photography classes. A few years as a photojournalist. Finished out my working years shooting stills and video for a couple of large manufacturers, and totally devoted to digital image making...until now.

I decided to get back into shooting film and getting a simple 35 rangefinder. I think I've settled on a Canon P with a 50 1.4 lens for now and looking forward to getting out there and shooting again. After so many years of being immersed in color imaging, it's going to be interesting to see how my brain re-adjusts to seeing in black and white.

I would like to share my journey as I go with a group of like minded individuals.

To be continued....

Steve

First b&w film pic taken since the advent of digital imaging. In my back yard.

Sirius Glass · Feb 18, 2023

Welcome to ~~APUG~~ Photrio!!

Zathras · Feb 18, 2023

Codeman73 said:
Steve here from Sudbury, VT.

At 74 I've covered a lot of ground as a photographer and to tell you the truth got pretty jaded about the whole process after I got an MFA in Photography from University of Delaware back in the early 80's. I've always thought of myself as a "fine art" photographer but was never able to feed my family creating art. I know....what else is new eh?

I spent many years in darkrooms. Many years shooting commercial stuff. Many years teaching undergrad and adult ed photography classes. A few years as a photojournalist. Finished out my working years shooting stills and video for a couple of large manufacturers, and totally devoted to digital image making...until now.

I decided to get back into shooting film and getting a simple 35 rangefinder. I think I've settled on a Canon P with a 50 1.4 lens for now and looking forward to getting out there and shooting again. After so many years of being immersed in color imaging, it's going to be interesting to see how my brain re-adjusts to seeing in black and white.

I would like to share my journey as I go with a group of like minded individuals.

To be continued....

Steve

First b&w film pic taken since the advent of digital imaging. In my back yard.

Welcome aboard, Steve. As far doing commercial photography to feed your family, even Ansel Adams had to do it.

Alan9940 · Feb 18, 2023

Welcome to PHOTRIO, Steve!

Glad to see more folks from Vermont participating here. I loved in East Montpelier for 18 years, but moved to the desert southwest in 2000. I still miss a lot of things about Vermont, but don't miss the COLD; always loved the snow, though.

I guess my story is similar to yours... I shot film for about 35 years before moving to digital. Shot only digital for about 10 years, but then moved back to my film cameras and rarely touch the digital cameras nowadays. I print both in the wet darkroom and via the desktop so I guess you could say I'm still "digitally involved."

Codeman73 · Feb 18, 2023

Thanks for the warm welcome!

madNbad · Feb 18, 2023

The best part now is, the only one you have to satisfy is yourself. Have fun, welcome to the forum and post a photo occasionally.

KerrKid · Feb 18, 2023

Welcome, Steve. You've had a nice journey. I went through a rangefinder phase myself.

So far, no one has suggested an alternate camera to the one you are choosing. This is nothing short of a miracle.

xkaes · Feb 18, 2023

You'll find on this FORUM that many members have been down your path before you -- and there will be others after you, too. Some old, but many young as well. And everyone has their menagerie of reasons -- all good ones.

That Canon P looks like a good companion -- and don't worry, you'll get plenty of suggestions for "improvements" in due time. But not from me!!!

albada · Feb 19, 2023

Welcome to Photrio!
Your back yard is much more picturesque than mine here in suburbia.

Mark

Codeman73 · Feb 20, 2023

KerrKid said:
Welcome, Steve. You've had a nice journey. I went through a rangefinder phase myself.

So far, no one has suggested an alternate camera to the one you are choosing. This is nothing short of a miracle.

I know....amazing eh? I thought I would settle on a Retina IIIc but after holding the Canon P in hand (which is a serious chunk of metal and glass) I felt I found a soul mate from back in the day. I'm looking forward to a more introspective way of seeing and shooting. Of course I still have my Lumix GX85 that I use for things that just insist I shoot in color.

Nikon 2 · Feb 20, 2023

Codeman73 said:
Steve here from Sudbury, VT.

At 74 I've covered a lot of ground as a photographer and to tell you the truth got pretty jaded about the whole process after I got an MFA in Photography from University of Delaware back in the early 80's. I've always thought of myself as a "fine art" photographer but was never able to feed my family creating art. I know....what else is new eh?

I spent many years in darkrooms. Many years shooting commercial stuff. Many years teaching undergrad and adult ed photography classes. A few years as a photojournalist. Finished out my working years shooting stills and video for a couple of large manufacturers, and totally devoted to digital image making...until now.

I decided to get back into shooting film and getting a simple 35 rangefinder. I think I've settled on a Canon P with a 50 1.4 lens for now and looking forward to getting out there and shooting again. After so many years of being immersed in color imaging, it's going to be interesting to see how my brain re-adjusts to seeing in black and white.

I would like to share my journey as I go with a group of like minded individuals.

To be continued....

Steve

First b&w film pic taken since the advent of digital imaging. In my back yard.

You once were blinded but now you see clearly…!

xkaes · Feb 20, 2023

Codeman73 said:
Of course I still have my Lumix GX85 that I use for things that just insist I shoot in color.

Is it illegal in Vermont to put color film in a Canon P, or has Vermont banned color film altogether? If I'm traveling through Vermont can I use color film that was purchased in New Hampshire? Curious minds want to know!

Nikon 2 · Feb 20, 2023

Codeman73 said:
I know....amazing eh? I thought I would settle on a Retina IIIc but after holding the Canon P in hand (which is a serious chunk of metal and glass) I felt I found a soul mate from back in the day. I'm looking forward to a more introspective way of seeing and shooting. Of course I still have my Lumix GX85 that I use for things that just insist I shoot in color.

Shooting color film with my Nikon f2 gives amazing color that digital can’t compare…!

Nikon 2 · Feb 20, 2023

Codeman73 said:
I know....amazing eh? I thought I would settle on a Retina IIIc but after holding the Canon P in hand (which is a serious chunk of metal and glass) I felt I found a soul mate from back in the day. I'm looking forward to a more introspective way of seeing and shooting. Of course I still have my Lumix GX85 that I use for things that just insist I shoot in color.

Film is the way to enjoy quality images…!

Nikon 2 · Feb 20, 2023

xkaes said:
Is it illegal in Vermont to put color film in a Canon P, or has Vermont banned color film altogether? If I'm traveling through Vermont can I use color film that was purchased in New Hampshire? Curious minds want to know!

This must be a developing story…!

KerrKid · Feb 20, 2023

Codeman73 said:
I know....amazing eh? I thought I would settle on a Retina IIIc but after holding the Canon P in hand (which is a serious chunk of metal and glass) I felt I found a soul mate from back in the day. I'm looking forward to a more introspective way of seeing and shooting. Of course I still have my Lumix GX85 that I use for things that just insist I shoot in color.

I think most of the rangefinders of that type are works of art. Nothing quite like them in my opinion. I have been looking at a Retina IIIc but I think I'll pass, too.

Old shooter comes full circle from 4x5 speed graphic to digital and back again with 35mm Rangefinder

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