LF newbie from Raleigh

**viridari** · 10-Mar-2013, 19:43

Hello everyone!

I've been a film photography lover for about 5 years, since a dear friend loaned to me his Mamiya C330 (which has since become one of my most prized cameras). I picked up a Graflex Speed Graphic a few years ago on the big auction site, and it was a mess. It's a very old 1920's model and needs extensive work before it can be used. It took me awhile longer to screw up the courage to buy another Graflex, this time a Pacemaker Crown Graphic, as that was cheaper than fixing the Speed Graphic.

I took four photos with it in the late summer, saved up some money for a bigger Jobo tank... which it turns out I hate

but I had pretty good success at tray developing the sheets and that will likely be my way forward from here on in.

Next I need to get my hands on a 4x5 enlarger and set up my darkroom tent. In all these years I've never made a wet print before (I had a hybrid workflow). But I went to LF to go to the next level, and I think I'm overdue to learn the art & science behind analog prints.

I never know where this is going to take me, but I suspect the endgame of this pursuit is going to be ULF wet plate portraits.

**viridari** · 10-Mar-2013, 19:52

First 4x5 Negatives by magnus919, on Flickr

(getting closer!)

**Michael Cienfuegos** · 11-Mar-2013, 12:58

Be careful, these big negatives are unbelievably addictive. I started with a 3x4 Graflex SLR and now am having fun with a Kodak 2D 5x7. X-ray film makes it almost affordable.

m