jim6

P.S. No doubt my previous will be censored and delted by the moderator...

Jim

Morey,

I agree with you. Talking about the technical aspects of cameras, lens etc is the easy part. It's far too easy to become a "technician" and rattle off meaningless numbers, specifications and ignore the creative side of the process. It's not all about sharpness, grain, format or equipment... for me it's all about the message the image conveys and the feeling one is left with after viewing...

If you will be in town on the 26th and 27th, you may want to take the Gold Line (light rail system) that runs from Union Station in Los Angeles to the Eastern edge of Pasadena.

Ridership on these two days will be free to all.

Each station and locale, from Union Station in L.A., China Town and Old Pasadena will provide you with an abundance of photographic opportunities.

I have had my AX for several years now and am extremely pleased with it. The quality is excellent, quick to set up, very rugged, and compact enough to fit my back pack. Movements have never been a limitation or issue for me.

You are correct in that the only difference between the AX and the AII is the revolving back. I believe the AII also comes with the folding ground galss hood and the AX does not. I purchased the folding hood though when I bought the AX. I think it was around $100 for the hood at that time.

Hi Paul,

Wynn White is one of my favorites. http://wynnwhitephoto.com/

I found a contact number for Gravity Works support.

They confirmed that the bottom hose is to remain at least partially open with only a trickle coming out the overflow. The rate should be around a gallon and 1/2 per minute out of both hoses combined.

Grey Wolf,

I found this site http://www.thkphoto.com/support/support-03.html and there is a link for downloading manuals, which unfortunately, contains no information.

Jim

I picked up a used Gravity Works print washer. No instructions

though. Can anyone tell me if the lower hose is supposed to remain at

least partially open during use?

Thanks,

Jim

Dan,

<p>

Contact the film manufacturer and pose the question to them. That

would be the logical thing to do. Then come back here and share that

information with us.

Thanks Dan,

<p>

Your friend,

<p>

Jim

Depending on your location, you may want to try small claims court.

Retaining an attorney to recover what sounds like a small amount

would be counter productive. I would be interested to hear their side

of the story before I pass judgement though.

Yes, I have done this with much success using a small flashlight with

difusion material over the light to lessen the exposure.

Was your instructor able to provide any examples to drive his point

home? You may want to do such a test yourself using the same subject

under the same conditions with the only variable being the film.

Ed,

<p>

Congratulations! Speaking from experience, you'll love the 45AX!

<p>

Enjoy!

Very simple Dan. Looks like a very good learning experience for you.

You have 3 options.

<p>

1. Keep it

2. Sell it

3. Donate it

<p>

Your friend,

<p>

Jim

Scott,

<p>

I think Dan has the right idea with the plastic bag. I had a very bad

experience once with a Canon A1 at the beach once. After about 1

hour, the shutter button became very gritty and failed to work. The

focusing on the lens became gritty as well. It resulted in a trip to

the repair shop to get things cleaned up. To this day I'm reluctant

to take my 4x5 to the coast, but will use the bag technique if

needed.

Jonathan,

<p>

Well said... Thank you

<p>

To everyone else who has shared in this, I want to say thank you. It

takes a lot for many of us to open up and share our inner most

feelings with others, whether they are perceived as good, bad, wrong

or right. What is confirmed however, is that although there have been

many accomplishments and strides in the area of race relations in

this country; we still have a long ways to go. Keeping an open mind,

listening and being receptive to others and fostering a HEALTHY

exchange of ideas and communication is paramount if we are to

succeed. Building bridges takes effort and strength. Tearing them

down takes ignorance and hate. The attacks I have witnessed here are

not new to me. They are real, and quite honestly I expected them.

Some even felt it was necessary to send personal attacks directly to

me via email. But as always I turn these negatives into positives and

continue to fight even harder for what I believe in. I accept the

fact that there are many frightened individuals who have a difficult

time dealing with most any type of change or acceptance. They

continue to live in their safe and enclosed little imaginary worlds�

and yet call themselves �creative� when they lack the ability to

think or reason for themselves.

�God grants me the SERINITY to accept the things I cannot change;

COURAGE to change the things I can and WISDOM to know the difference�

<p>

Time for me to go out and take some pictures :)

For anyone interested, I came across a wonderful site called

The "Chicago Alliance of African-American Photographers"

http://www.caaap.org/main.html Their journey project, in which they

document the Chicago African American community is the highlight!

<p>

They even received recognition on Kodaks website as well

http://www.kodak.com/US/en/corp/magazine/photography/2001_02/project.s

html in which they bring to light "the journey project"

<p>

Regards,

<p>

Jim

Dan, Fred and others who seem to have a difficult time with this... I

sense a great deal of anger and frustration on your behalf. You are

obviously having a very difficult time trying o rationalize and

justify your reasoning on what has turned into a race issue. I

suggest you go back and read my original post. I posed this

question "Does anyone know of contemporary African American large

format photographers? I have a deep appreciation for the originality,

sensitivity, expression and emotion often conveyed by African

American�s, regardless of the art form"

<p>

Now, if I had asked if you felt (taking cultures into consideration)

African American photographers were any different, produced a

different style of work, or were denied access to opportunities as

compared to White or Chinese American photographers, then maybe you

could have gone off in the direction you did. But I did not. One

individual, who identifies himself as �Polar� attempted to correct me

and tell me how to rephrase the question. Well, at 50 years of age, I

don�t need Polar�s help in asking questions. I am quite able to think

and reason for myself.

Unfortunately and sadly, race still matters in America. All to often

an individual�s character and abilities are secondary to ones

ethnicity, or even gender for that matter.

Still more, in their own warped sense of security continue to seek,

or are receptive to the negative stereotypes of people from other

cultures, lifestyles or backgrounds only to reinforce a limited

ability to truly open their eyes and emotions to what is around them,

let alone think for themselves.

Again, I want to thank everyone for responding to my question.

<p>

Regards,

<p>

Jim

I just wanted to say thank you to Sandy for the information on Ron

Tarver. His images of Havana are great! Fred thanks to you for the

fascinating information on the gentleman who was on the Ziff Davis

Foundation board. Martin thanks for bringing the African American

Photographers' Association to my attention, I will be checking out

their site. Amadou my man! I was able to take a quick peek at your

site today and will be back soon. Nice work and nice site! I'll shoot

you an email... Ellis, thank you sir for bringing John Biggars to my

attention, I'll see if I can find a site that has some of his work.

<p>

Jim