Greetings from central Indiana

[sfgp]

Joined a while ago - then lurked about reading the fourm, thought I might
as well introduce myself.

I got my first camera (35mm) back in grade school, really didn't use it until
High School (mid 60's). Someone at the school saw me with the camera
and the next thing I knew I was using the "Photo Club's" Speed Graphic
to shoot the schools track team, had some fun, got some pictures in the
yearbook.
Moved on from school - no more Speed Graphic, acquired a succession of
35mm hardware - sold a succession of 35mm hardware (kinda sounds like
life). Photography came and left and then repeated the process.

Fast forward 20 years or so - discovered digital - acquired a succession of
digital hardware - sold a succession of digital hardware. Really didn't have
much fun with digital - it has been hard to wrap my brain arround it - I
still think like a film photohrapher.

Fast forward to 4 months ago - stumbled upon LF again. Thought about it some,
now I waiting for a Calumet Monorail 4x5 to be delivered that I found on eBay.

When I get this camera I'll take it apart, clean it, and put it back together and
see if I can wrap my brain around the 4x5 film format.

Regards to all

Stan G.

[Nathan Potter]

The camera you use makes little difference in photography. It's what you see and record with it that makes the difference. Of course each format has certain advantages over any other and LF is no exception. LF seems to impose a certain kind of extra discipline in the framing and taking of a photograph due to the complexity of setup, not to mention the film cost - and this can be a good thing. Take time with your new toy and try to visualize what you want to show in your photographs as your eye wanders around the country side. And best of luck!

Nate Potter, Austin TX.

[jeroldharter]

Welcome. I am from Fort Wayne, later Bloomington, but have since moved to Wisconsin. When they fired Bob Knight, I had to leave too. However, better days are ahead now and I feel like I can finally root for IU and mean it. You will love the 4x5 but give yourself time. It is a much slower, more thoughtful process than 35mm or digital.

[sfgp]

Thanks for the welcome.

You will love the 4x5 but give yourself time. It is a much slower, more thoughtful process than 35mm or digital.

Ah - this I am looking forward to. I had the use of a 'blad for about 6 months a
few years ago. Loved using it. I was using 120 film, the (self imposed) constraints
that came with knowing that only 12 exposures were at hand - did result in a slower process as you mention.

My digital (Canon) will shoot 5 fps and the mem card will hold close to a thousand
pictures. Although I can say that I haven't taken advantage of either capability.
But that capability, because it does exist, impacts the process and changes it.

If you want to shoot sports or auto race crashes - I can see the advantage,
but that is not the direction that I want to go in.

SG

[John Kasaian]

Welcome aboard!

[Doug Herta]

Welcome Stan. I miss the rolling hills south of Bloomington.

(Jerold - You are sloooowly being pulled northwest. I did Bloomington IN, Madison WI, then Seattle, WA. I remember running into Bob Knight on the IU campus - I was wearing a Michigan T-shirt on the day of the Michigan/Indiana basketball game. I will never forget his expression.)

[MIke Sherck]

Welcome, Stan. Central Indiana has a lot of unrealized photographic potential -- I still go back to Shades and Turkey Run state parks a couple of times a year (in fact, my wife and I are going down later this week for a couple days' R&R.)

Also active in your area is the Midwest Large Format Asylum, http://www.midwestlargeformat.com/ We get an outing or two in Indiana a couple of times a year and there are a number of members in your area. It's a low-maintenance group, you should check us out.

Mike

[jeroldharter]

Welcome Stan. I miss the rolling hills south of Bloomington.

(Jerold - You are sloooowly being pulled northwest. I did Bloomington IN, Madison WI, then Seattle, WA. I remember running into Bob Knight on the IU campus - I was wearing a Michigan T-shirt on the day of the Michigan/Indiana basketball game. I will never forget his expression.)

Very perceptive. We have some friends who moved to Bellingham and they really enjoy it. I spent about 3 weeks this summer in Washington and Idaho. Very nice out there. I am currently working on printing my negatives from the Olympic/Mt. Rainier trip which is taking me forever. Trying to get about 20 good 16x20's which is not as easy as I thought it would be.

I am from the midwest and even though I have lived all over the country and traveled a lot the midwest feels like home. I think I could only live in an area where both smallmouth bass and northern pike coexist. But I prefer to take photographs where trout live. I would have given you the same look for a Michigan T-shirt by the way.