Hello All,
My name is John. I've just bought my first LF camera this past week; a Sinar Alpina with Schneider 210mm Symmar S lens from a friend. I've also picked up a Calumet C2 roll film holder. I've been taking photos off and on since before I got my first camera in 1973-a Polaroid Swinger Model 20 (Before that I used my father's Land Camera 100). My father worked at Polaroid for 40 years so we were an instant film family. In the early 80s I got a Ricoh KR5 and shot mostly Kodachrome-I'm still in mourning! I was never happy with the B&W I shot, I never got those rich blacks that I longed for. Years later I found out why, I was metering wrong. I eventually fell out of the hobby for the most part.
A few years ago when I got a new job which brought me in contact with some younger art focused people I was inspired to pick up a camera again. I've been using nothing but older all-manual cameras; a couple of SLRs-a Canon TX and two Nikon FM2's a few long and short lens, a bunch old funky viewfinder and rangefinder cameras Argus A-1's and C3's and Ansco or two, an Agfa Memar a couple of Kodak 35's and the like. I also took the medium format plunge with a couple of TLRs; a Ciroflex Model E, a Super Ricoflex, and a folder an early Ensign Selflex 420. I also picked up a Land Camera 100, just like the one my Father had when I was a kid. Mostly, what I suppose many would call junk cameras but they are great fun. They have helped spark my interest in photography all over again. These are simple sturdy cameras for the most part, one I can open up and tinker with and usually put back together. Along with some mostly yellow and amber filters, a trusty GE DW-68, a grey card and a few photography books I've learned more and improved more in the last couple of years than in the twenty years previous to that. My biggest problem right now is not knowing how to develop the film and not getting it processed fast enough to remember what I did or didn't do most of the time. I do take notes and it helps a bit. You can see scans of some of my early stuff and a few of my newer Polaroid adventures here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/77461661@N04/sets/
I've always been fascinated by large format and the work of the great photographers who worked in the medium, but I always figured it would be too expensive and way over my head technically speaking, but after talking with a few LF photographers I work with I've decided to take the LF plunge. I was leaning toward a field camera but since I mostly photograph architecture; after several conversations with more experienced photographers, a monorail camera seemed the better choice for Boston's narrow winding streets.
I have loads of questions and I'm sure I'll have loads more once I get out there and start shooting.
Pax,
John
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks