the oldtimer's photostream

This OLDTIMER is not joking. He really be 74 this year if God is willing. Progressed from a hobby photo bug to a camera shop owner in a small town. Then rented a building and turned "PRO" Lots to learn and try.
Had one of the old time studio cameras 5 x 7 that could be split to 3 1/2 x 5 with two shots on the sheet. The lens openings were Brass sheets with the different size holes. Shutter had no speeds so I rigged up a contact inside that when it opened it would trip two speed lights that I had purchased used. Not the greatest but It worked.
After a year purchased a used Hasselblad and was on the way to "The New Age" of photography. The service from color labs was so slow and erratic that I invistigated and finally invested in a color lab which we operated for over 35 years.
Added Mamiya RB with 55 mm, 150mm and 250mm lenses for a larger negative format and a 70mm roll back that allowed 575 shots on the roll. Added cluster lens system to the printer and started photographing and printing underclass school kids. We photographed Weddings.High School Seniors, Families and small commercial jobs.
In a small town "10,000" it was photographing week old babies to weak old ladies. Could only be accomplished with the help of a good crew of course.
OLDTIMER was active in professional groups. serving on the board of directors for Professional Photographers of Indiana, and was President of thet group in 1983.
OLDTIMER did not really retire. Gall bladder ruptured in 1997 and was a year and a half recovering.(Gangrene). Now photographing from home and Learning digital and computers. Wish I had this technology 40 years ago.
Having fun with-out all the pressure of a day-to-day business. Sweet life if one just keeps healthy.
Color darkroom equipyment for sale.
Much easier to FTP color files than work in the dark.
OLDTIMER