Hello to everyone,

My name is Richard, I'm 33 and I currently hail from Vancouver BC, Canada.

I got into photography at a fairly young age due to my father being a photographer. As adolesence kicked in, my thoughts turned to other pursuits and photography fell by the wayside. A few years ago, I got the bug again and bought a small digital. I quickly realized that the camera was severely holding me back (as would be expected from a small point & shoot) and started thinking more and more about getting a proper camera.

Then last Christmas my father gave me a Canon EF, 1.4 50mm lens, and four rolls of Agfa APX 400. I haven't put it down since.

My main subject matter would be pieces of the city that people usually ignore, fail to even notice, or just determine to be junk, garbage, or plain vandalism. My eye naturally gravitates towards textures and collisions between differing textures. Fast black and white (400+) is definitely my film of choice. I love the grain of 3200 film, but I could see eventually slowing it down to get some really nice, detailed shots. I feel that black and white is a much stronger medium for the subject matter I prefer so I stay away from color. For what I do, I feel that color would actually be a distraction most times.

My father lives in a work/live studio equipped with a darkroom, so I am also learning that end of the process. It just makes holding a print of mine so much more rewarding knowing that I produced it 100% from start to finish.

Oh yeah, I'm already planning on getting a medium format camera... It's like an addiction, but a good one. :D

Am I correct in guessing that you used to be a hockey fan until the Canucks went on their losing streak? I was at the game the other night here in Nashville. That must have been a looooong ride back to Vancouver. Plenty of photo opportunities along the way!
Plan to find a new favorite film. APX is getting harder to come by as it's no longer in production.
As for your move into medium format, you can find folders cheap on the auction site. You can pick up a lot of good info on them at www.certo6.com if you just want a point and shoot. You could even get a 4x5 with a graflock back and shoot 120/220 film through one of the rollfilm backs. So many options, so little time... no wait. So little money! If you want a system, there are still plenty of other options available.
Good luck with your move to bigger negs!
Chris

Welcome Richard from freezing cold ferndale. I hope you enjoy it here.

Welcome Richard from, currently, rainy Hawaii. I'm sure you will enjoy being here.

Hey! Welcome in. I visited Vancouver last year and immediately fell in lust with the place! Lots of great shots, waiting to be taken. Have fun, show us what ya got.

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Welcome Richard, from not very far away indeed (Ladner).

Enjoy it here, it is a great community.

If you are intested in a Mamiya TLR, or Mamiya M645, my wife tells me I have too many cameras!

Regards,

Matt

Hello Richard, from Vancouver Island!

I used to work at Lens & Shutter for many years. Maybe I know your dad. What's his name?

BWKate

Welcome Richard from another Richard in Illinois. I have good friends in Vancouver and visit your beautiful city about twice a year-I love it there!

Richard Wasserman

Welcome from the "Land of Enchantment" (known elsewhere as New Mexico), Richard. You are fortunate - both in terms of being able to share a passion with your dad, and to have access to his darkroom. Having control over the whole image-creation process is real magic.

Welcome from Renton.

Welcome Richard, glad you got a camera, even at 33. My son is 17 and when I started getting more involved in photography recently I decided to give him a 4x5, Fuji lens with a wooden tripod and a 1 degree spot meter. I wish my dad had live longer than 39. I was 12 when he was killed just when he was starting to teach me to fly and was going to give me an airplane. He was a flight instructor. Value you family while you can.

I don't know where that Ferndale is but I got a degree from WWU in Bellingham and been to Vancouver a couple of hundred times myself.

Curt

Welcome Richard from Richard in Thunder Bay.

Great to have you here Richard. Lots of great stuff here, and best of all lots of fun to be had. From snowy and sunny Prince George, welcome!

Hi there from up the coast in Kitimat. Glad to hear we have another BC'er aboard :)

Murray

Thanks for all the welcomes. :)

cdholden: I'm an anomoly. I don't like hockey. Just don't repeat that or I might get deported..

MattKing: I'll definitely keep that in mind. Won't be for a little while, but we'll see how it goes.

BWKate: Dad's name is Loyd. He was mainly doing color abstract macro work with glass, but has recently moved into more black and white work.



I'll get some of my work posted up this weekend and see what you all think.

Welcome Richard
Ever get out to Victoria to photograph?
Take Care

Welcome from Toronto.

Bill