Waving from Oakland, CA

[AgX+hv]

Prepared to be astonished... at a half-hearted introduction from a hobbyist in Oakland, California!

Unlike many people here, I cannot even consider myself an amateur. At best I am a dabbler/hobbyist. Years ago, I was really into photography, but I fell away from it because I got busy trying to get through college. Another reason for my falling away was that I never had been able to set up a practical darkroom to do my own prints.

However, I've been feeling to urge to start again for a couple of reasons. At work, I was given the task to take snapshots at a seminar. It was a Nikon point and shoot digicam... the exerience was horrible! My admittedly hesitant rusty eye combined with the shutter lag + pre-flash was disconcerting at best. However, in spite of that, I feel like taking up photography again. The other reason is that with the advent of affordable film scanners, I can do my "darkroom" work digitally yet still use my analog equipment.

I'll probably be lurking more than contributing, since I have a lot of catch up to do. It's been so long that almost all the films I knew are gone or changed names.

I have a family reuninion coming up, so I am using that as an excuse to dust off my manual focus SLR. Fortunately, I maintained the camera and my lenses in spite of the fact I wasn't using them. Hopefully, I can use this event to get me restarted.

R. Chan

 

[roteague]

Welcome from Hawaii. I think you will enjoy this community.

 

[mark]

hello

 

[BradS]

Hey! Welcome from Pleasanton. Take a look around and stay awhile.

Brad.

 

[pelerin]

Prepared to be astonished... at a half-hearted introduction from a hobbyist in Oakland, California!
<snip>

Another reason for my falling away was that I never had been able to set up a practical darkroom to do my own prints.

<snip>
I feel like taking up photography again. The other reason is that with the advent of affordable film scanners, I can do my "darkroom" work digitally yet still use my analog equipment.
<snip>

Hi,
While there are certainly many valid reasons to utilize digital printing technology the inability to build a darkrom in your home need not be one of them. The bay area has many quality rental facilities which would allow you to produce fine prints by traditional means. Another low cost path to darkroom access is taking a community college class. Either scenario not only provides access to complete labs (generally equipped with better hardware than people are willing buy for an entry level darkroom) but also introduces you into a milieu where you will enjoy a community of like minded folks. A few are:

www.raykophoto.com/
www.photocentral.org
www.colorarts-sf.com
http://smccd.net/accounts/csmphoto/index.html
http://www.foothill.edu/fa/photo/index.html

Obviously this is a short and incomplete list and I'm sure others can chime in and give you leads which you may find more convenient. My point is only that, if you want to do it in the traditional way, there are many paths open to you.
Celac.

 

[kjsphoto]

Hello and welcome! Welcome to APUG and you will find friends here that you will have for life. I know I have!

 

[Curt]

Hello, R Chan, so you are like most people here, started photography then found a life and now have the urge again. It's normal theses days, once you see the print develope it never goes away.

Curt

 

[AgX+hv]

Obviously this is a short and incomplete list and I'm sure others can chime in and give you leads which you may find more convenient. My point is only that, if you want to do it in the traditional way, there are many paths open to you.

Thanks for the info. For Black and White, it is certainly worth looking into. However, for color (assuming my urge to shoot is not a passing phase) it is impossible for me to do it the traditional way. It's complicated to explain why... I'll leave that to another thread I will be starting elsewhere.

Ron
(AgX+hv)

 

[BWGirl]

Welcome to APUG, Ron! I consider myself to be a 'hobbyist' as well! This is a great place to learn tons about every phase of photography!

 

[pelerin]

Thanks for the info. For Black and White, it is certainly worth looking into. However, for color (assuming my urge to shoot is not a passing phase) it is impossible for me to do it the traditional way. It's complicated to explain why... I'll leave that to another thread I will be starting elsewhere.

Ron
(AgX+hv)

Ron,
I certainly respect your reasons for choosing which ever path you prefer.
Celac.

 

[digiconvert]

Welcome to the best photo community on the web (it just happens to be full of those who use film based image capture).
You wil find answers to any question you may have, and some answers for which you have no questions !
Hope you enjoy the ride.
Cheers CJB

 

[Christopher Nisperos]

Hi Ron,

Here's a wave back to you (from Paris) from an Oakland native —me!
Thanks for showing that's somebody's there ... and that there's a "there, there" (got all that? If not, check out http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/21262.html )

As far what camera you use, I say express yourself with any means or media you'd like.

(but I secretly hope you dump digital!)

.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Cher Nisp,

Who was it said, 'Not waving but drowning'? Sylvia Plath?

Or in the words of the singer/singwriter Cath Milne,

'Oh, you love to throw this drowning girl a line
But you are too far out, and I am too far in...'

Amities devoues,

Roger (www.roferandfrances.com)