I got into photography early thanks to a family friend who was a professional. I learned how to develop film and print at about 10 and a half in her darkroom, and she gave me some used darkroom gear as a gift at 13. I grew up shooting medium format. In 1973 I worked in a textile mill in central New York for a summer and spent my earnings on a Zeus Professional and a Hasselblad 1000F from our friend, she didn't like it. I outgrew the Zeus, and the Hasselblad was stolen a couple of years later in college. I bought a replacement at ALden Camera in 1978 or so which I still have, along with a Minolta Autocord TLR from the same friend.





It's mot just me, my wife has a Hasselblad 500C, a 4x5 view camera and assorted Nikons. TBH they all collect dust, as magnificent as they are. I miss darkrooms, but digital is so much easier. I've been using Photoshop since it first came out. SHe teaches photography at a private high school in Brooklyn.

These photos are from late 1973 or 1974, I was 16 or 17. The top one was probably taken by my best friend using his dad's Rolleiflex.