Hello,

I am Ron from NY, and I'm 49 and like most of you I started taking pictures during my teens.
My friends father would let us play with his Yashica 120, I loved using it but it wasn't practical
for a 15 year old getting a meager $2.00 per week to spend. then I borrowed a Minolta and got
a roll of Kodachrome, I was addicted to the nice bright colors, and the greens of summers !
A few years went by and I bought my first camera, a Minolta XE-7, still my favourite 35mm.
A few more years went by and I went to college, and learned how to use a Sinar 4X5 !
I'll always remember looking at my first 4X5 negative, the details were amazing and I was
astonished by my first print from a 4X5 I didn't realize that B&W could be so vibrant !
Many years went by, and I finally accepted digital photography.
Then my only purpose was to load up a memory card full of images and lock them away
in a computer. On the rear occasion when I did take a good photograph, I always wished
it was on film instead. I got a little bit older, and slightly wiser and took the 4X5 out of the closet !I discovered the joy of photography, and decided to focus my attention on
Large Format Photography, I still love my XE-7, but will spend more time learn how to properly use the 4X5. It truly is an amazing device, I am still not happy with the pictures I take. But, I love learning all about photography again, and last year I found APUG, and a few weeks ago set up a local group so that we can get together a few days per month and be encouraged to
become better at being Large Format Photographers ! Hopefully ...

Enjoy The Weekend


Ron From The Long Island Of New York
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Hello Ron, Nice that You also foud ELFPA, give us some info every fiew weeks how's the 4x5 and group are dooing. All info's will be interesting. The elfpa is for Europe, but US and other coutries outside eu are welcome as well

Hello Ron,

Yes! Sometimes just looking at a good negative is enough for me, printing is just a bonus. Welcome, and invite your friends.

-Scott

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Hi Scott,

Thanks for the info about this site.
This thing is brand spanking new,
It's a nice alternative to APUG, And It's All Large Format,
All The Time ! I just hope the Stop Bath Vs. Water Rinse
debate doesn't break out on this site any time soon
I'm just sorry that I won't be able to mention my XE-7, on a daily basis.


Ron
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You mean the neg rinse before developing the film?

Hi Frank,

On APUG, there was the discussion of using a stop bath, or just a water wash after the developing of film and paper. It continued on for several days, maybe several days too long.
Somethings are a personal choice, or just an availabilty issue. I've been using a Stop Bath
for almost 30 years, and after reading through all the discussion, I came to the conclusion
that I will continue to use the stop bath.

'

Wise as you sinking the Ph value and you keeping a long life of your fix, but it works the other way around too as back in the old time isn't any stop bath existed.

I thought you meant this pre washing the negatives with wather before developing. There is no scientific avidence what so ever to do that at all. Some started it and now they go crazy on each other on that one too.

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Hi Frank,

I think I might try that Pre-Soak, or Pre-Wash before for starting the developing process.
Do you use that method ? I guess that I should bring that up on APUG next week.
It seems like it could help to prepare the emulsion for properly absorbing the developer.

Ron
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Or the other way around blocking the developer from immidiatelly hitting the surface of the film. The only thing I beleive this is good for that the antihalo which you washing away keep your developer fresh and clean longer. I have developed many many a 1000's of films and never got any problem before. I even developed X-ray films whit out it. But, hearing it for the first time I investigated this thing and no describtion like it in my university books or in any kodak technical sheet for that matter. Nothing from Forte or any other well known manufacturers. I didn't find anything from Ilford either.

By the way developing mashines haven't got a tank for prewash either. Neither color or black and white