Hi everyone:

Although I've somewhat introduced myself through my posts, I think it's time I do so formally, having joined in late May and here it is nearly August already. :)

I'm in the incorporated City of Brentwood, California, which is in the far eastern part of Contra Costa County. So I'm in the Sacramento Delta region, not the Brentwood district of Los Angeles. I'm about 2 hours' drive directly east of San Francisco, in the sweltering Central Valley.

I've been photographing all my life, and bought my first 35mm SLR in the mid-1970's. It was a Canon AE-1, and I've been addicted to cameras ever since! Over the years I've owned too many cameras (from 35mm to 4x5) to mention, and currently have only two systems: Nikon FM2 and Hassy 500C/M. Years ago I sold the last of my autofocus cameras (except for my Olympus Stylus Epic, which is my "go-everywhere-snapshot" camera and the digicam I use for my eBay shots), after realizing that I only truly love heavy, well-built "metal, mechanical, manual" cameras. I also love fast prime lenses and avoid zooms. I own studio flash equipment, etc., but these days I shoot 99% in natural light only.

As for styles of photography and working methods and darkroom techniques--the list is very long. Speaking of the darkroom, I prefer FB to RC, and I work with two enlargers: Beseler 67 with a dichro head and an Omega D2V.

I've photographed for money, but now it's only for love, and I do love photography. Of all the "hobbies" or "interests" I've had in life, nothing has kept me as fascinated as photography--traditional, analog, black and white.

I could weep when remembering the good old days of walking into numerous, local, "real" photo stores and being able to actually handle various cameras and accessories. The darkroom supplies sections were well stocked and the store personnel were very knowledgeable. Now I buy everything mail order, as there are no real photo stores within 2 hours from me, and the more distant stores have all but abandoned the analog photographer.

Then I discovered APUG in late May, through a newspaper article. Long live APUG!

All the best,

Pat Trent

Welcome from Middle England.

Welcome Pat, good to have you with us!

Cheers

André

Welcome indeed Pat from the U.K, I'm pleased to read you're a person who uses and appreciates real photographic gear, I feel the same way as you about about photo stores , it's the same here in Britain, after having worked in camera shops for about twenty years myself, I go into them now, and don't recognize much of what they sell, they're full of kids who don't know "an f stop from a bus stop" it's very sad.
I hope you get as much pleasure from this forum as I do, I have looked at others in the past but don't bother any more,for me this is the most interesting for people who are interested in the art and science of photography on film.

Welcome from Oklahoma

Hi Pat, welcome from Hawaii. I think you will truly enjoy visiting us. Looking forward to seeing more of your work.

Hi everyone:

Although I've somewhat introduced myself through my posts, I think it's time I do so formally, having joined in late May and here it is nearly August already. :)

I'm in the incorporated City of Brentwood, California, which is in the far eastern part of Contra Costa County. So I'm in the Sacramento Delta region, not the Brentwood district of Los Angeles. I'm about 2 hours' drive directly east of San Francisco, in the sweltering Central Valley.

I've been photographing all my life, and bought my first 35mm SLR in the mid-1970's. It was a Canon AE-1, and I've been addicted to cameras ever since! Over the years I've owned too many cameras (from 35mm to 4x5) to mention, and currently have only two systems: Nikon FM2 and Hassy 500C/M. Years ago I sold the last of my autofocus cameras (except for my Olympus Stylus Epic, which is my "go-everywhere-snapshot" camera and the digicam I use for my eBay shots), after realizing that I only truly love heavy, well-built "metal, mechanical, manual" cameras. I also love fast prime lenses and avoid zooms. I own studio flash equipment, etc., but these days I shoot 99% in natural light only.

As for styles of photography and working methods and darkroom techniques--the list is very long. Speaking of the darkroom, I prefer FB to RC, and I work with two enlargers: Beseler 67 with a dichro head and an Omega D2V.

I've photographed for money, but now it's only for love, and I do love photography. Of all the "hobbies" or "interests" I've had in life, nothing has kept me as fascinated as photography--traditional, analog, black and white.

I could weep when remembering the good old days of walking into numerous, local, "real" photo stores and being able to actually handle various cameras and accessories. The darkroom supplies sections were well stocked and the store personnel were very knowledgeable. Now I buy everything mail order, as there are no real photo stores within 2 hours from me, and the more distant stores have all but abandoned the analog photographer.

Then I discovered APUG in late May, through a newspaper article. Long live APUG!

All the best,

Pat Trent

Welcome

I'm in the incorporated City of Brentwood, California, which is in the far eastern part of Contra Costa County. So I'm in the Sacramento Delta region, not the Brentwood district of Los Angeles. I'm about 2 hours' drive directly east of San Francisco, in the sweltering Central Valley.

So, you mean you weren't involved in that O.J. thing? Welcome to APUG.

So, you mean you weren't involved in that O.J. thing? Welcome to APUG.

Poor Brentwood in LA. Everytime I hear that name I think OJ. Welcome to APUG Pat.

Poor Brentwood in LA. Everytime I hear that name I think OJ. Welcome to APUG Pat.

Brentwood in LA is anything but poor... :)

Welcome from someone who went to grad school in the "other" Brentwood!!

S

Welcome from Yosemite. I used to live in Disco Bay. If you ever head up this way drop me a line! Nice to meet you...

Welcome from Canada. Lots of interesting, knowledgeable people here, and some outstanding work in the galleries.

I just moved from living near the BART station in Pittsburg last fall. I can understand what you say about Reed's in Concord, but Looking Glass in Berkley is not that bad. Ask Che (Shay) and she will as a fellow apugger help you out in any way she can. Gasser's in the city still has it analog basement. Hopefully the city council man who wants to tear up the area to put in a new muni line that goes no where, will get voted down. He would tear up the entire block Gasser's is on, and we would no longer have them. I haven't ventured down south to the San Jose area to any of their stores. I was always satisfied with Looking Glass.