TimHGuitar Loc: San Francisco, CA

Sounds kind of like Abraham Lincoln walking miles to attend school. You are of that age. Young folks today take a somewhat different approach towards learning a trade. Everything today is so fast and automatic, like a digital camera.
Our family business was in Chinese herbal remedies. My Great Grandfather started the first herb shop in San Francisco in 1864, Because my father spoke some English (he was born in China but came to America as a teenager), the managing of the store fell onto his lap. He was an amateur photography and it was his passion. In 1957 McCarthyism was still active and we lost our family business when the federal government shut us down for "trading with the enemy." Overnight, all of our relatives and employees who depended on the store, lost their livelihood. We had, at the time, over $750,000 in inventory, almost a hundred years worth.
My parents already had 4 children to raise and my father took on three jobs. One of them was as a photographer. That was the job that stuck. We already had a darkroom in out basement that was built for my father to use as a hobby. It became his work place, and I was instructed at the age of 8 to help process, wash and finish his prints.
You and I, we both have our stories to tell. Unfortunately, the younger folks getting into photography today are not instructed in manner that we were.
I started a channel on youtube where I try to share what I have learned from working in the trade. I even produced a folio of prints titled "Homage to Photographers of Old," where I try to inform some of the young photographers of the past influences you and I have had. Here is a link to it.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RPbjwxEUSY

TimHGuitar Loc: San Francisco, CA

Well, not at the time, but years later my father would say that losing the herb shop was the best thing that ever happened to him. He was freed to do his photography.

OldSchool-WI Loc: Brandon, Wisconsin 53919

My Dad had a life long problem with severe sinus headaches--which fortunately, I nor my brother inherited. Yet he was able to function as a college professor in economics and as head of the department. In my own graduate college days, I tried to investigate Chinese herbal medicine for a cure for Dad and asked a girl from San Francisco to investigate possible help. Dad had exhausted all American treatments including a bone operation for nasal drainage--none helped except for small doses of codeine which became increasingly difficult to obtain over the hysteria about narcotis. But when she returned back to grad school from the Chinese community she said a person would have to go directly to China for such knowledge and help---so that was that.----Eric

OldSchool-WI Loc: Brandon, Wisconsin 53919

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Dear Tim: On the Pyrogol--Elon (Metol) film developer----which was a mix from two parts to use and discard--I developed sheet film in trays. But also could develop rolls of 35mm to standard medium format rolls. The man who gave me the formula had made for his own use a type of "Ferris Wheel" to fasten roll film on with a developer tray at the bottom. He had a Ripon super tin-smith craftsman make his out of stainless. I made a similar one---but of wood---but it worked---also. Yet, I also used other developers from formula books and tanks as well. I always mixed everything, using a triple/beam balance and buying the ingredients from chemical supply houses. The moto I learned from this Dr. Ed Kohl (of Purdue)---was "exposure is density, development is contrast." So, I chose my developers accordingly. I also tried pushing formulas somewhat in defiance of the rule. And calculated I achieved ASA 6400 out of my "SuperPanPress" with a box ASA or 200. I photoed mail sorters in an open door mail car on the RR. And they must have been using 25watt bulbs it was so dark and depressing. ---I made most everyday prints on "aerial photo paper" purchased in the 100ft rolls--just under 10in wide. Waterproof and very smooth with good detail, yet a bit low in contrast for a #2 paper. Being water proof it did not waste water as much and cost only a penny for the slightly under 8x10. It was from the Korean War. Otherwise I used Dupont Verigam with the contrast filters and for Salon Prints Chloride rather than Bromide--dbl-wt. papers and toners. Many hours did I spend in my dark room listening to the first phase of Rock and Roll--music!----ew

OldSchool-WI Loc: Brandon, Wisconsin 53919

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And as for the link to Ken Rockwell's tripod bashing of so many years ago---I guess this photo club was not reading and believing him. And maybe they wanted to simply compose their photos?-----(attached photo)-------------------------

PhotoClub who hired steam train to Brandon--love their tripods and seem to not agree with K. Rockwell?----

dick ranez

tall, strong, cheap - pick two

anotherview Loc: California

From experience, Ken Rockwell offers strong opinions that sometimes go counter to pervasive sales hyperbole. He prides himself on conveying a message free of dependence on sell-jobs. His approach to matters of photography may put him at odds with convention. I find his independent view worthy of consideration.

kcooke Loc: Alabama

[quote=anotherview]From experience, Ken Rockwell offers strong opinions that sometimes go counter to

I personally enjoy his reviews on equipment if I’m interested in buying that particular gear. The best thing is that he is not biased towards particular brands and will report what he believes along with examples. If you don’t like what he says just move on to something else. I do that sometimes. His website is a bit archaic but if you dig into the different areas there are a lot of how to do it articles. There is nothing in his tripod article that is earth shattering although it does go against standard convention. it at least causes you to think about your choices.

anotherview Loc: California

Well said.[quote=kcooke]

kcooke Loc: Alabama

Thank you