Aw geez... Where do I begin?

[Badbroccoli]

Hey there! My name is Kevin and I am getting back to shooting and developing 4x5 and hoping to be able to remember what all I have forgotten. I am also going to learn how to shoot tintypes and process them on the go for an added pain in my butt. If there are any people in the central NC area, hit me up!

[Drew Wiley]

I forgot what it was I was supposed to remember. I write down lists and forget where I put them, just like the squirrel the other day who couldn't decide where to bury a walnut, so eventually left it sitting on the driveway. You'll be in good company. Welcome.

[Pfsor]

I write down lists and forget where I put them, just like the squirrel the other day who couldn't decide where to bury a walnut, so eventually left it sitting on the driveway. ...

Oh no, the squirrel did not forget it there nor was it indecisive - it just decided it was safe there. It will eventually return to it if you leave it there.
From one who's got 3 squirrels on his window sill to feed.

[Drew Wiley]

Maybe, maybe not. There's also a goshawk patrolling the neighborhood.

[Pfsor]

The goshawk will not take the walnut, of course, but prefers to take the squirrel.
Once I was observing a goshawk chasing a sparrow on a tree under my window. The sparrow wasn't leaving the tree but finding its densest parts among the branches and changing the place from one branch to the other. The goshawk could not move as quickly as the small sparrow did and after 15 min it quit the match...
But not to get OT - badbroccoli, broccoli is not bad, just put a pinch of salt and pepper on it and you will like it. Much more health for tintypes then.

[Drew Wiley]

I had hawks for pets as a kid, but admit having trouble distinguishing immature goshawks from Cooper hawks, which are far more common around here. But Swainson and red tails are a more serious threat to squirrels. The osprey and bald eagles prefer fish. Peregrines like pigeons. But my favorite are Marsh hawks who can hover and then dive bomb a vole or gopher. There was one of those following me on my 8x10 outing a few days ago. I had a golden eagle nest in an oak in my pasture for decades, but the tree fell and they didn't come back. I sold the ranch soon after due to all the upkeep at my age.

[Randy]

Hi Kevin, and welcome. I know we have a few members here living in NC. I am in south central VA, about an hour north of Greensboro.

[Louis Pacilla]

Hi Kevin Welcome to the forum! As well as back to film/LF photography much of it is a bit like riding a bike but "seeing it" takes some time/practice IMHO.

I like Randy know there are a few folks in the NC area so I'm betting you'll find some LF buddies.

[Alan Gales]

I had hawks for pets as a kid, but admit having trouble distinguishing immature goshawks from Cooper hawks, which are far more common around here. But Swainson and red tails are a more serious threat to squirrels. The osprey and bald eagles prefer fish. Peregrines like pigeons. But my favorite are Marsh hawks who can hover and then dive bomb a vole or gopher. There was one of those following me on my 8x10 outing a few days ago. I had a golden eagle nest in an oak in my pasture for decades, but the tree fell and they didn't come back. I sold the ranch soon after due to all the upkeep at my age.

We have bald eagles here occasionally. They fly over the river just north of the city. You need a 35mm or DSLR camera with a long lens to shoot them though. We also have quite a few Cardinals. The city even built a stadium for them. I can only afford the cheap seats though and can't get close enough with my 8x10.

Welcome to the forum, Kevin. We are all crazy here!

[Peter Collins]

Some of this thread is squirrely, and some is for the birds. But there's wisdom in these forums! Welcome, Kevin!

[Badbroccoli]

Thank you for welcoming me in and also for not turning the squirrel on me. I look forward to picking up on a lot of knowledge along the way and may, just maybe, passing along a couple of walnuts of knowledge myself.
With that being said, what brought you all into the large format for shooting? I first learned about it in from Randolph Community College (Randolph Technical Institute from the old days) and stepped into the exciting and dynamic world of Home Fashions Photography. Actually, I like it better when I say I take pictures of furniture. Film was King and 8x10s and 4x5s littered the studios until medium format and ultimately digital took over. The advances have been amazing and I understand what it takes to make it in this slice of the pie. I sold all of my large format gear many years ago to make way for DSLRs and all that fun stuff. What I missed was the control over a single shot that you could make in camera. Fast forward several years later and I have friends in the industry that have donated lots of stuff to help me get back into doing what I originally loved. So, what are your stories???

[Drew Wiley]

This neighborhood has been taken over by crows. I can almost translate their squawky caw dialect, but wouldn't want to repeat their undignified expletives. One was striding over to a Dorito chip fallen into the middle of the street. Then the squirrel sped past and snatched the chip, which started an all-out aerial assault. But the squirrel got away and enjoyed the stolen snack. Never a dull moment around here, and I doubt even a cardinal could pontificate a peace treaty between all these amusing critters.

[Alan Gales]

I was looking for my first digital camera and I came across Ken Rockwell's site. He had an interesting article about a Tachihara 4x5. I looked on Ebay and bought an inexpensive used Cambo SC with a Schneider 210mm lens from a local professional photographer. After a month or two he contacted me to see if I wanted to sell it back to him. His boss wanted to put a digital back on it. He offered me $100 more than I paid for it so I said sure. I took the money (added a little more) and bought a brand new Tachihara 4x5. During all this I was trying to learn more about large format and ran across this forum by accident. I also picked up a Sinar P for using longer lenses but I eventually sold both and bought a used Wehman 8x10 which I have now.

[John Kasaian]

In my youth I became enchanted by Silly Symphonies animated cartoons and those old timey cameras with noses(bellows.)