how old are we?

[kerry_thalmann2]

I'm 40 years old and started shooting large format 13 years ago,

shortly after moving to my adopted home state of Oregon.

 

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I began photographing the landscape at the age of 14 with my father's

Argus C3. Moved up to an Olympus OM-1 bought with my summer job

earnings at the age of 16. My first large format camera was a Speed

Graphic that came with a 127mm Ektar and two film holders. It was a

purchase that changed my life forever.

 

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http://www.thalmann.com

 

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Kerry

[reinhold_schable]

68 years behind me, just gettin' tuned up...

 

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Started in '45 or '46 with a Brownie Hawkeye, moved up into the

big time with an Argus C-4 (remember them?). Got serious

about '59 with 6x6 and 4x5. I still go through 120 & 220 film like

thre's no tomorrow, using an 25+ year old RB-67, a couple of

Mamiya M7's, a Cambo Wide 612, and a Fuji 617.

 

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Somewhere around '63, I started using a 4x5 Graphic View, then

swapped it for a Tachihara. About 1980, I convinced some guy to

sell me a 5x7 Deardorff for $175.00. About that time I got a hot

flash and built my own 6x17 view camera using a 90mm Super

Angulon.

 

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Then, about 5 years ago I woke up with this irresistable urge to

get a Canham 8x20. Now when I go on a photo trip, my pickup is

jammed with a forest of tripods, cameras, filmholders, and lens

cases. It's crazy... (fun, though)...

 

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My wife of 62 is my faithful sidekick, record keeper, and umbrella

holder, she sure makes oprating that 8x20 easier. I should be

able to go another 20 years, or so...

[dlabrosse]

I'm 29, 'been shooting 4x5 for about 1 year or so. 'Been shooting

with a serious eye about 14 years.

[robin_coutts]

Hello,

I'm 50 yrs old and been using large format for ten years. I know and

have seen working about a dozen LF workers in the UK

 

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Robin

[georges_pelpel]

I am 45, originaly from France but leaving in Northern California

since 1983. I started 4x5 about two years ago.

[steve_gangi2]

I am 49. I started with a Brownie back in the late 50s/early 60s.

Now I use whatever I have handy or fits the situation best, 35mm,

medium format, 4x5 and 8x10.

[gary_meader]

I'm 51 (barely) and started using LF in the early 80's. Have gone

to medium format for certain things, but there's nothing like a BIG

neg.

[sandy_sorlien]

I'll be 48 on July 1. Please send me presents:

- 110 XL

- 7x Silvestri tilting loupe

- medium Domke cloths (2)

 

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Thanks!

[gudmundur_ing_lfsson1]

I am 56. I have taken photographs since 1956. With a serious

interest since 1958. Started shooting 4x5" in 1968 in

photography school in Germany since it was mandatory. Got my

first 8x10" in 1982 and an enlarger for that format in 1983. I like

the big pice of film the more I use it longer. Recently I started

potographing digitally because of clients demand. I still like film

better, the bigger the sheet the better the results ! My camera for

snaps now is a 6x7 cm one.

[ole_tjugen]

Another 40 here - seems to be about average?

I've played around with a Linhof TechIII 5x7 for a few years, then

decided it was too heavy and bought a Linhof Color 4x5 this winter. I

know there are one or two others in Norway, but I've never met any...

[steve_baggett]

I'm 48. Shot 35mm for 20+ years, shot MF for 6 months, and have been

shooting LF for 2 years. "... a little voice inside said don't look

back, you can never look back."

[richard_ross1]

I'm 35 and having been shooting 4x5 for 3 years. Based on the above

list it looks like we have many 30 somethings here. I'm glad to see it!

[wayne_crider4]

Turned 50 in January. Got photo flu at 17 and had it on and off ever

since. Got LF'itis a couple of years ago which has turned into a full

blown disease, and I will either likely die from it or probably

starve from it.

[richard_boulware]

I'm a young 66 years old, and just getting warmed up. Got out of a

lifetime of photojournalism and advertising photography (Shell Oil,

Samsonite, Pentax, Rollei, Borg Warner and other clients) to help

build the new Denver International Airport. Earned my 'wings' as a

Navy photo recon and patrol pilot, and a B.F.A. in photography at Art

Center in California with Dave Muench, Larry Gordon and others. Ex-

Director of Photography at the Colorado Institute of Art. National

UPAA photographer of the year, picture of the year IPPA/MWPPA and

eight gold medals in Denver advertising..and a CINE Golden Eagle for

film. Retired four years ago as deputy director of DIA. Came roaring

out of retirement last year...and back into photography. I am

finishing up a five month contract on a big construction project on

Cherry Creek in Denver...for a very nice financial reward. Shooting

construction progress with 3 Canon EOS-1VHS and will do the finish

with my museum condition Linhof Super Technika V and lenses. Yeah,

I'm nearly 67....and I'm 6'2 and 200 lbs. I spend my day crawling

through dirt, mud and dust, and loving it.

Pal...at 66...If I can do it so... can you. GO FOR IT! (This OK, JP?)

[david_g_hall]

80 People. Average age 43 and a half. So far...

[anthony_j._kohler]

I'm - let's see, two from seven, carry the . . . I'm 54, for almost

the remainder of this year. While I had some forays into photography

as a kid (I still remember 620 box cameras), I only got into it on an

ongoing basis while in Vietnam. Shot half-frame and full-frame 35mm,

then came home and did some experimentation with various cameras.

Shot some 116, and some Rapid, then had a ball for a while with a

Miniature Speed Graphic. Settled down to 35mm until about 1994 or so,

when I first got really into 4x5. Got the 8x10 almost two years ago

and have been a committed LF shooter since. Sold all my 35mm stuff

about a year ago, and now my 'small' camera is a Mamiya 7. The 8x10

is my real baby, though.

 

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Tony

[wes_carroll1]

I'm 55. Started shooting 4x5 8 years ago. It's been an on again off

again situation with me. I haven't decided if it is worth the

trouble yet. I enjoy it much more than 35mm. I just haven't been

able to sell large format, not that I have submitted much. The few

customers I have dealt with seem to be more receptive of my 35mm

work.

[james phillips]

The kids keep reminding me I seem to behave like I�m 75 years old.

She �who must be obeyed� says I�m still in my teens especially when

Saturday night company comes over. A couple of years ago at the age

of 45, I regained a lost interest in photography and brought my

darkroom back out of the boxes from a 20 year rest. A few months

later I bought my first 4x5 and began having the time of my life.

Blending my outdoor activities and especially hiking with Large

Format shooting has been a pure delight. I shoot both color (mostly

Velvia) and B&W negatives. I also do all my own processing from start

to finish and enjoy the quite time in my darkroom almost as much as

the shooting sessions in the hills.

 

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This is a great thread and I�m glad to read that there are many

others like myself.

 

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Good light to everyone but especially to the 4x5 crowd.

 

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GreyWolf

[arthur_gottschalk]

A "walking antique" at 57: Too old to be afraid, too stupid to die.

[jeffrey_scott]

45, so I am about average, huh? Been doing LF for about 17 years in

formats from 6x9 through 11x14.. I also run a custom b&w photo lab,

Labwork, in Cleveland, Ohio for all those who do not do their own

processing or printing. Long live traditional processes! Most of my

current work is done with an Ebony 45SU, makes my life a lot

easier. For my birthday in September I'd like a 38XL Super Angulon or

a Nikkor 500 tele, thanks.

[karnezis]

I'm 31, a graduating MD/PhD student in New York, starting

residency in San Francisco this month. Got into 4x5 last year

with a Bender kit which I still use. Picked up an inexpensive

Sinar P 8x10 with reducing back for home use (go ebay!). Mostly

landscape and some macro work, mostly with Velvia. Would like

to begin the journey into B&W soon (bought some Azo). Sold my

Pentax 67 of 5 years to get into LF. Started shooting 10 years

ago. Have a Canon 35mm SLR system and now getting into

rangefinders.

 

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Great post.

[www.graemehird.com]

36 years old (one year older than my father, who is 35 and staying

that way). Got my first 35mm SLR ten years ago and my Tachihara 5x4

four years ago. I dearly love the 5x4 but make more money from the

Nikon.

 

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This is one of the best threads I've seen in 4 years. Thank you Joe.

[sal_santamaura]

48, anxiously awaiting retirement (from a non-photographic career) at

55, so I can do more picture taking and less picture talking.

[scott_killian]

32 and glad to see somebody else struggling to get accurate

developing times for Delta 100 on a Jobo. Patrick - if you figure

that one out, let me know!

[vishal_mathur]

Older than I've ever been, young as I'll ever be -- I guess that makes

me 36 now. Started off drawing as a kid, began photographing about 14

or 15, got hooked on B&W at age 17 when I saw that first print develop

in the dektol. Always had a darkroom since. Started shooting 35mm,

moved onto 120 with a Mamiya TLR, then a Rollei SL66 for a few years.

Wanted to move up to 4x5 since the early collge days, and started LF

about 10 years ago with and old monorail 4x5 borrowed from the

college. My first LF camera was an early Linhof 5x7, about 7 yrs

ago. For a while, I tried to convince myself to be practical/simple

and just shoot 4x5 in Readyloads, and dabbled in various formats

between 2x3 - 8x10, but somehow keep getting drawn back to 5x7.

Finally settled on the Canham MQC57 as the most reasonable compromise

in a 5x7. Of course, the wife would be beyond ecstatic if I would

stick with 35mm P&S only.