Let me tell y'all about something that makes me happy and brings much satisfaction. Here's the scenario. So...someone has a problem, an issue, or is havg problems with their photography. They ask me a question and wonder if I can solve it. I give them a simple, streightforward method, formula, tip, or trick (if you will)- nothing complex or overly philosophical. They take my advice and it works. They are encouraged because they have achieved good results and have gained some confidence.

Encouraging folks is an important part of teaching and helping. This gives them the incentive to experiment and try variations while knowing they have a basic go-to method for certain situations. Creative and resoursful people will expand their knowledge base and eventually form their own methods and solutions. Folk who are not inclinedto experiment and create their own interpretations and approaches, at least, will have some repeatable methods to apply.

Perhaps it is easier and requires less effort to simply tell folks to research elsewhere and experiment and find their own way. I think that kida defeats the reason to participate in a forum. That's my take- no one has to agree. My feeling is that folks can emulate your style or methods but that can't be YOU!

When I am asked "Waht settings did you use...etc., I simply revel them. Yes, it can be a silly, useless or irrelevant question and answer simply because that settg can be unique to the situation that I was shooting in, perhaps dependant on a particular process or post-processing procedure that would nullify that setting under another method, and, of course, various in equipment usage. On the other hand, however, my revelation may assist the person asking the question in gleanig some useful information as to the correct shutter speed to caputure action or cause intentional blur, the appropriate aperture to increase or decrease depgh of the field or to maximize lens performance.

I always encourage experimentation and trial an error in practice but a basic idea or starting point is not a bad idea.

Years ago, when I started my professional photography training, I was taught a good deal of foolproof methodologies and settings for the work I was given to perform. Oftentimes there was no time or tolerance for experimentation, however, creative people will use certain standards as guidelines and continually experiment, creating variations while foming their own style and ways of doing things. Folk who are not particularly creative or artisticallys talented will do things mechanically according to instructions or routine but may still come up with somewhat acceptable results.

There is no copyright on "f/whatever @ 1/whatever of a second" Using a suggested exposure or technique is not emulating or copy-catting a style or artistic interpretation- just like emulating the lighting perceptions of the Old Masters is not necessarily counterfeiting their work or passing it off as old masterpieces. Rembrandt and Gainsborough are my favourites.

To the OP- Your first enlarger was manufactured in my old hometown (Brooklyn, N.Y.) by the Federal Engineering and Manufacturing Co. I was abo to get one on the cheap that came off the production line with a bad paint job and I did set up a darkroom in the "toilet"! I could not afford a Rolleiflex at the time at 500 bucks (1957) so I settled for a Yashica-Mat discounted for $59.95.

I do agree that no matter how many lights are used, the results should seem that there is only ONE main directional light source. Simple and reliable lighting gear is best. Some of the newfangled stuff has too many bells and whistles and some fokls spend too much time messing around with their gear, in order to get it to work, and are distracted from concentrating on these subjects. Buff gear is fine and the company offers great service. I have had my Speedotron and Photogrnic gear for over 35 years and still in service. My last moonlight purchase was 12 years ago and the stuff is in use just about every day.

For me, exposure settings for me has become a combination of instinct, eyeballing, and muscle memory. I do use an exposure meter on occasions- making to make sure the strobes are working properly before long shoots.