New from New Mexico

[J. E. Brown]

Greetings from the land of enchantment.

I have had a great misguided passion for photography since I was young. Finding a dusty, old Crown Graphic 4x5 that belonged to my late grandfather changed that. I had no idea what it was, but knew he was a portrait photographer, and figured it had something to do with photography. I took it to the local camera store in Albuquerque and found out that the black box actually opened! Since that day, I have been entranced by large format photography.

I shoot with my grandfathers Crown Graphic and a Calumet 4x5 view camera (the old workhorse one) and follow an all dark room workflow. I love shooting portraits and landscapes. I have recently begun attempting still lifes and that has proven to be most challenging.

I must say that I have been reading posts on this forum for years, garnering information and inspiration from so many masters of this medium. I pass along a very big thank you from a young (fairly young... 32), new LF photographer.

I really appreciate all of the wonderful technique and images shared on this forum, and find great influences and encouragement. Thank you.

-Kind regards,

JB

P.S. Now, if I could just find out where my grandfather's 8x10 camera is that went with the 8x10 film holder I have from his belongings...or better yet, his negatives.

[Vick Vickery]

Welcome to group therepy, JB. :) Good luck digging thru Grandfather's stuff...no tellin' what ya might find! Attics and basements often yield remarkable treasures!

[Kirk Gittings]

Welcome from one New Mexican to another!

[DanK]

A warm Welcome from yet another, fellow 'New Mexican'...

A wealth of information, and impressive photographers abound...exceptional forum...IMO

Thanks,
Dan

[Jan Pietrzak]

Hi,

My name Jan and I have been a New Mexican for 20 months now. They say I don't have to go to the meeting any more. As long as I stop at stop signs and don't cost the corners.

Welcome
Jan Pietrzak
Just a bit north of ABQ

[J. E. Brown]

Vick: Thank you for the welcome. All of his belongings have been redistributed, so unless an aunt or uncle somewhere comes across something, I doubt there will be any more treasures, unfortunately. :( I do hope that nobody throws away anything important. I can just see someone finding a box of 'plastic reversed pictures' and tossing them. It is sad that a lot of fanstastic equipment we use and value can have the appearance of 'junk'.

Kirk: Thank you. I very much admire how you portray New Mexico in your photography. Wonderful.

DanK: Thank you. When I think of all the hours (and film and paper and chemicals and...) that I wasted (even unsuccessful photos are still priceless if you learned from them) when I was trying to learn things on my own, I cringe. The forums have proven to be a great resource for allowing me to know more and improve by leaps and bounds.

Jan: Haha! The only real decision you need to make as a New Mexican is: red or green? Glad to have another LF photographer in NM. Welcome to the land of enchantment!

[sidmac]

Welcome from Pagosa Springs,Co across the line.