Got Me A Nice Free Igloo Cooler From Work

Today has been a good AMBROTOS KANATA project gear day. First after 4 years my HF3535 arrived and today when I came to work my some nightshift some work friends had left me a large free (beat up but free) Igloo brand cooler. I had asked about the cooler 2 or 3 months back. This Igloo cooler retails new for $179.99 CAD at Canadian Tire. One of the latches on the cooler is broken as are the 3 rear hinges. I found generic replacements hinges and latches for $25.30 CAD on Amazon. Once I get those installed my new cooler (150qt size?) will be almost as good as new. I plan on using the cooler on longer trips to either store large amounts of Silver Nitrate or large amounted of premixed Collodion or Iodizer.

Note* I have found that if you store collodion in coolers it helps keep the ether/alcohol odors and dangers at bay. Protecting the silver nitrate bath from absorbing outside chemical fumes is also important.

Update* Figured out how to use this cooler. The plan is to insert 3 mat board tubes inside then to fill the empty cooler areas with expanding filler foam. I will then place 3-4500ml-5000ml glass bottles inside the tubes for safe transport. In the bottles I will carryall or part of my silver nitrate supply. The separation of the heavy duty glass bottles with the foam and the sturdy construction of the cooler should protect the very expensive silver nitrate liquid. Will post some pics of the finished "Silver Bath Transport Unit", later.

Freebee very large Igloo cooler, that I will repair and use for silver or collodion

The HF3535 Camera Is In My Garage At Home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The HF3535 camera is in my garage. After 4 years and a long FedEx shipping process from the Czech Republic (called them 5 times), the 296lb camera box is finally safely in the garage. The nails were pulled out on one corner of the box (security/customs check?) with a small gap between the boards but there appears to be no damage to the HF3535 and holders inside. Filip packed the box interior with Styrofoam and it seems clean and undamaged. The box had slipped off its pallet in the FedEx freight truck so I provided a crowbar to the driver and we got it back in place again. Everything seems a go for the camera unboxing and setup video next week. That unboxing will be the official start of the 15-20 year AMBROTOS KANATA Cross Canada wet plate project.

What a huge relief to finally have the camera.! So happy! My mind is filled with the creative possibilities this wonderful tool will provide. What pictures might now be made? Hope Gerry the guard can live up to that potential.

Now I will try to get another hour of sleep before my 12 hour security night shift.

Update* Failed at the sleep thing, am too excited. It will be a long night shift.

Note* The camera is missing a few of the knobs necessary for operation. Filip realized he had forgot to ship them after the box was sent. He will ship me the knobs and other small pieces when he sends me the HF2024 later this summer.

Filip with the HF3535 in the Czech Republic

The camera is safe and SEEMS undamaged, in my garage in Edmonton, Canada!

Quote: Dorothea Lange

 

This Mornings Palladium Prints

Yesterday's Palladium prints. Still making lots of errors in regards to small printing tech issues. The prints are becoming cleaner and cleaner with added printing practice. The curve/profile I designed seems to be working properly. The blacks are not as deep as I am used to but that is part of the Pt-Pd process, nothing to be done there. I need to experiment with different papers and also figure out and buy all the chemicals I need to mix the chemistry from scratch.

The goal is to make 10 or so 16x20 sized prints on 20x24 paper for the coming University of New Brunswick exhibition.

Note* These captures look a tad more reddish and more contrasty than the originals.

2013

2019

3 small palladium prints from THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP

Quote: Dalai Lama

 There is so much ME ME ME in our society, the Dalai Lama has it right.

Quote: Cree Proverb

 

Love Of Ambrotypes

I love clear glass Ambrotypes, it is like the subject is still alive inside the glass a century after their deaths. That is beautiful and mysterious. That is wonderful magic!

“Ain”t Photography Grand!!”

 

 

Unknown Woman Living Inside An Glass Ambrotype

Picture Of The 35x35 Silver Bath

Jara my silver bath builder in my he Czech Republic has sent me a picture of what my 35x 35 inch silver bath will look like. The plexiglass that holds the silver nitrate will be 8mm thick. This boxwwill last my lifetime and will cost $863 USD. This bath will hold silver nitrate costing $5000 CAD probably more. It needs to be highly realizable. Am running very short of funds, I will not buy this until at least late fall.

Note* Jara has also indicated he can get me silver at a good price. Am getting a quote from him now.

The Highway Of Tears

I have been reading about "The Highway of Tears" that runs between Prince Rupert and Prince George BC. Here is a link, please give it a read. It is one of the places I will have to go to make ambrotypes during the AMBROST KANATA (LOST SISTERS) journey.

Wikipedia, THE HIGHWAY OF TEARS

Photo by Izithombe

Lost Sisters Chapter Of ABROTOS KANATA

I wrote to some of my First Nations friends on Facebook (around 10 people)

Here was my message:

-----.... I am thinking of doing a chapter on the genocide of indigenous woman across the country...as part of my cross Canada AMBROTOS KANATA project. Here are the details. I am not sure a white man doing this is appropriate. What do you think a good idea or not? http://gerryyaum.blogspot.com/2021/03/amber-tuccaro-story-and-ambrotos-kanata.html

I have gotten back 5 positives and 1 negative (not a Facebook friend, but the sister of a Facebook friend) response. Several friends said it was a great idea (very enthusiastic, 2 elder men) and  others said it was a good idea because it would help the cause. Another Facebook friend who is an elder leader in the community told me she would think about it after we had a 30 minute phone call

I am now asking my friends the rather naive question of how to give a gift of tobacco on the first meeting as that is a traditional and polite way to first meet in Indigenous cultures. I have never done this before and want to do it the polite and proper way.

I worry on treading on the grief of those that have lost and continue to suffer. I worry about being disrespectful and exploitative. I worry about not doing honour to those lost. I worry about not telling their stories with enough truth and feeling. 

I need to go forward very slowly and carefully, with complete respect for everyone.

Note* I have been thinking that LOST SISTERS might not be the best name for this chapter of the project. Maybe I can find a Cree word or other Indigenous language term that is more heartfelt. Will keep thinking on it, this part of the project is way off in the future, but some baby steps in the right direction have now taken place.

Dump Homes And Dogs, Small Palladian Print

 The last small palladium print of the night.

Dump homes and dogs, THE FAMILIES IF THE DUMP, Mae Sot, Thailand, 2016

13min exposure from a digital negative, 5x7 Tri-x original negative.

 

3 views of the last print, did 3 UV exposures all radically different, 15min, 18min and 20 min.

Video Link: Young Girl In The Dump, Palladium Development

Here is a video of the development of the young girl photo from THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP. There is also a link below to the blog entry from the day the photo was made. The image in the video got a 16 minute exposure, I am going to try one more at 18 or 19 minutes after my 530 am lunch.

YouTube Palladium development video for this image.

The Original Pink Boots Post From 2016, Made The Day Of The Photo

 

16 minute Exposed Palladium image before development.

Update* I just reread the blog story from 2016. I had forgotten that I had given her a donated barbie doll as well and she did not smile or react, just held it firmly (you can see it in the color photo). Rereading the post brought all those memories back again. This child seemed traumatized, her mother did not, but something terrible must have happened to this little child. I wish we could have done more donations for her family.

Trapped Under Dim Sum Yet Again!

Am trapped in my darkroom recliner chair under my cat Dim Sum again! He likes to park his cute, furry body on top of me and go to sleep whenever I use the chair.

Dim Sum over about a 1 hour period today.

35x35 Silver Bath Box Price, From The Czech Republic

Got word from my Czech Republic builder on how much my 35x 35 inch silver nitrate tank to make 35x35 plates would cost. The total cost including eco, non insured shipping to Canada would be $863 USD. The price is expensive but not crazy expensive for such a specialty and very large type item. It would last the entire lifetime of the project and would be vital to its success. I think the quoted price is cheaper and of better quality than anything I could get made in Canada. I will need to save some money before making this purchase, am broke right now. As with most of this project, doing things bit by bit as I can afford them. That is OK thou, if it was easy everyone would be doing it :). Making personal sacrifices for the art you love is a beauty thing!

This 35x35 bath is one of things I need to get, a mandatory thing. I could try coating the plate in a tray but that is a recipe for failure, both on the plate and with the very very expensive silver nitrate solution (leaving it exposed and vulnerable). I have always found I do much better photography when I have better gear to use. It just makes things so much easier and repeatable. When I am off in far off locations spending tons of money making plates, the last thing I need to worry about is bath coating or silver nitrate spillage, contamination problems. This "Silver Bath Box" needs to be purchased by the end of the year, hopefully sooner. I might start shooting the 35x35 camera in a 27x35 format next. year sometime.

Note* If I was ever lucky enough to sell a single ULF 35x35 plate from the project, it would pay for this 35x35 bath box.

Note** I already own a 16x20 box from this builder and a 20x24 box is currently on its way from the Czech Republic. So I should eventually have 3 boxes made by him. Thanks Jara! Great to deal with you my friend.

Video Link: "Analog Forever Magazine", THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP

Here is a link to THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP story in "Analog Forever Magazine":

YouTube Video, Analog Forever Magazine

Screen capture from the video

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP In "Analog Forever Magazine"

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP is featured in "Analog Forever Magazine" The editor gave "the families" story an amazing 18 pages. There are many photographs shown along with an extensive interview Thank you so much to "Analog Forever Magazine" for this opportunity to show the work!!

 It is very rewarding to have the stories of THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP told to a larger audience, something that I have long aspired to do. To be a small part of that dump families story is an honour, it is a gift everyone in the dump has given me. Maybe now more money can be raised to help them. I hope so, they are good people who are just trying to survive. I worry about how Covid-19 and the current troubles in Burma have affected. I believe over 250 people have died in Burma after taking part in demonstrations for democracy.

A cool part of being part of this beautiful book like magazine is the other photographers involved. The 60 year career of world class photojournalist David Burnett is also featured along with the work of the great photographer Judy Dater. What is especially exciting for me is that I have been a long time fan of the two, they both influenced me early on in my photography development. I remember a story in a photo magazine I had when I was 15 on David Burnett. At that time I thought "wow I wish I could take photos like this guy". Later on in high school I saw the famous photograph made by Judy Dater of an aged Imogen Cunningham along side a nude young model named Twinka. The photo blew me away!. Now all these years later, to have the "Dump" photos in the same magazine alongside Burnett's work and Dater's. :) So beautiful!! Now that is SUPER COOL!

Here is a selection of a few of the 18 pages in the mag. I will post more later after the magazine sales period is over.

The 3rd Metal Transport Case Holds the 16x20 Chamonix!

After much effort I was able to adapt the $40 CAD big metal transport box to carry my 16x20 Chamonix. Been looking for a case for this camera for 3 years now. I had to remove the second metal divider and also cut a section of the foam out of the lid but now it seems to work. The camera is snug as a bug and I think will be well protected. Dim Sum thinks so too!

 

I will need to carry my lens for the camera have 5 in a separate box of some kind. I will also have plug up all the rivet holes in the box, think there are 14! Going to try rubber plugs from China first, if that does not work then will go with black silicone.

 

LOVE THIS NEW-USED CASE . $40 CAD and a bit of work now I can use it to transport the camera around Canada. Picked it up and carried it by myself, heavy, but I think manageable. Once it is closed up, nothing moves about.

 

The new box with my beauty 16x20 Chamonix camera loaded inside

Adapting My 3rd Metal Transport Case

Working on the 3rd case tonight in the guardhouse. This case is the largest of the set of 3 I bought last week. Case #1 is for the 8x10 camera and lens, Case #2 is for the 11x14 and lens. I am now trying to make case #3 fit the 16x20 Chamonix. The idea is to do the same thing, put the camera and the lens in the same carrying box.

I took out the foam, drilled out 7 rivets and removed the big divider on the left side of the case. We will see if the camera fits tomorrow. I will add as much foam as I can later (it will be a thin layer). According to my measurements it will be a snug fit.

Case after the removal of foam and left  divider

Foam and divider

I now have 7 of these holes to fill up. With putty? Silicone?