God, how I hate long introductions...

[Grumpyshutter]

Well hello everyone. I'm Grumpyshutter, a would-be LF photographer and artist.

I put 'would-be' in there 'cos I never seem to get around to actually doing as much photography as I think I do do. And I fool myself that I do do a lot of photography, but when I do step back (metaphorically) to take a look at what I do do, I realise that a lot of what I do do is, well, do-do...

I put 'artist' in there 'cos we all like to be pretentious.

I'm from Newcastle Upon Tyne, way up in the un-cultured North East of England. I've never been to Art School. I never took photography at school. I've never had a solo exhibition. I've never been represented in a Salon. I don't even have a website. The only darkroom I've been inside is the one I built in the back bedroom, and the 'work-in-progress' that will, one day, maybe, possibly, be the Nirvanah that shall be graced by the mighty DeVere 5108 and custom-built wetbench-and-sink combo that I've been knocking together for the past year and a half. But I do like to fiddle around with my various old cameras and come away clutching a fuzzy 4x5 neg in my sweaty palms.

So, Luddite that I am, I've taken the plunge into the 'tinterweb to broaden my horizons, chat with fellow silver-stained reprobates, exchange ideas and hopefully do a little more with my photography.

[Rick A]

Howdy from another ludite. Welcome to the best photo info site on the planet.

[Grumpyshutter]

Thanks Rick, looking forward to it!

And I return the salute to your son, send him my regards.

[clogz]

Hello! (Short enough? )

[Sirius Glass]

Welcome to APUG

[Chazzy]

Welcome to APUG, Grumpy.

[Bill Burk]

Grumpyshutter,

Welcome to APUG. I like your qualifications - looking forward to seeing you reach milestones like... your first show.

[John Austin]

I am so glad I dumped the pseudonym "Grumpy" and reverted to my real name

Those of us who own DV5108s should be driving them full time and earning $Ks from prints - By the way, how did you get it across the Transporter Bridge without the bridge collapsing,or did you take it via the inland route? - Now get thee to thy work and stop talking about what might happen and do it

Our next UK trip is partly based around working in Hartlepool, a place of mythic resonance from hearing the Football results as a child on the wireless "Team name, 16, West Hartlepool, nill" - Footy tragedy aside, this is an important landscape to document, especially with the tweeification I understand parts of Hartlepool are undergoing - I have not been there since 1977, but I can't see it attaining the status of Robin Hood's bay or Whitby - I prefered Hartlepool to the other two

I can still turn on a good grump
John
Quinninup

[Jesper]

Welcome.
Nice choice of enlarger.

[Grumpyshutter]

Hi John,

Give me a shout when you come over.