Hello,

I have always loved photography, but I just starting out. All I have is an Advantix camera, film, and lots of passion for photography. Where do I start? I am looking for about as much information on absolutely anything at this time.

Thanks

-- Rebecca Decker (refinedbyfire@hotmail.com), June 03, 1999

Answers

Welcome to a wonderful world!

I think you could do worse than learn how to process the negatives and print them. I've never processed APS film, but I assume it is pretty much the same as 35mm, except that you need some kind of gadget to get the film out of the container. There are articles on developing and printing in B&W World, the 'owner' of this forum.

You should also learn all about your camera, how to use it, what it's good at and not so good at. You do this learning by shooting film, of course.

-- Alan Gibson (Alan.Gibson@technologist.com), June 03, 1999.

Alan - I don't think she can really process her own b/w APS film. The only emulsions available (e.g., Kodak Black and White Plus) are chromagenic films requiring C-41 processing. While C-41 is certainly doable at home, it's more complex than ordinary b/w processing - not the thing to start off with!

Rebecca, if you want to get into darkroom work, you'll have to get yourself another camera. My advice in that department is a dependable USED manual-focus, match-needle metering 35mm SLR and a couple of prime (non-zoom) lenses. You will almost certainly learn more, and much more quickly from using a manual camera. (If you then want to move to auto-everything cameras, fine, but at least you will have learned the underpinnings.)

Good oldies that turn up used in great condition all the time include: Nikon F (Photomic FTn), F2 (Photomic), F3, FM(2), FE, and Nikkormat (or Nikomat) FTn; Olympus OM-1, OM-2, or OM-G; plus numerous Pentaxes (including the popular K-1000), Canons, and Minoltas. Get yourself a normal lens (50/1.8) to start with, then acquire wideangle (24mm, 28mm, 35mm) and a "short" long (85mm, 90mm, 100mm, 105mm) lenses as you can afford them.

In the meantime, shoot some of that chromagenic b/w film in your APS camera. While getting into your own processing and developing is certainly important, learning to SEE in black and white is the key thing. Black and white photography isn't just color photography with the hues sucked out, it's something different. You have to learn to think in terms of light/dark, shadow/highlight, and forms and compositions. You can do that right now with your existing camera and some Kodak Black and White Plus film. If you find that you like it and want to get further into it, then you can think about getting a 35mm camera and eventually setting up a darkroom...

-- Michael Goldfarb (mgoldfar@mobius-inc.com), June 03, 1999.

just starting out

Hi Rebecca. I think to learn photography you just have to do it and do it often, then do it again. It's no lie that the more you shoot the better you get and the more you find out about yourself. Visit the library and have a look at every photographers work you can find. Go to all photo exhibitions that you can and meet other photographers when the opportunity arises. When you see a style or subject that interests you then try it yourself. This is very common. But the main thing is to shoot as much as possible no matter what the subject or film type (colour is great for many subjects). If you get the urge to shoot but the light isn't perfect do it anyways, you'll be surprised at what you will come up with and film is cheap. Have a blast.

-- Andy Laycock (agl@intergate.bc.ca), June 03, 1999.

Starting out.

Rebecca, I would suggest that you purchase a Praktica SLR camera and one, or two, inexpensive zoom lenses, to begin with. This camera is fairly inexpensive and can be found in many used photo stores or in Shutterbug magazine, and shouldn't cost more than $110-$145, used. The zoom lenses can also be found in Shutterbug, and purchased from one of many dealers. Your only option after you have a camera is to go out and shoot, shoot, shoot. It would be helpful if you could afford to buy the necessary equipment to stock a darkroom of your own, (you can find all the info necessary to use a darkroom in books from the Peterson Publishing Co. at your local camera stores), and learn to develope your film and make prints. Most community colleges should have a course in photography and this will familiarize you with film developement and printing, and you will find a style and subjects that appeal to you and, remember--- shoot, shoot, shoot. Hope this helps. Dave

-- H. David Huffman (craptalk@ix.netcom.com), July 16, 1999.