Dao 33, Showing Me His Tatoo: The People Who Live Under The Freeway

He has such a shy and soft smile but lives the world alone.

 

Dao 33, Showing me his tattoo, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2022

Sleeping Under The Freeway: THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY

Another photo that might be included in the coming exhibitions in New Brunswick. I have around 50 FAMILIES series pix and 30 FREEWAY series, completed for possible printing/exhibition. They will require 20-40 images, depending on size etc. The exhibitions are happening in 2 larger exhibition rooms. Need to send them in by August 1.

Sleeping under the freeway, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2022

3 Crucifix Ambros: AMBROTOS KANATA

3 compositions of the Mundare crucifix grave. 8x10 Clear Glass Ambrotypes.

My Way Going Forward, MAKING AMBROTYPES TECHINIQUE

Brought 2 friends to work tonight. It is fun to look at them and dream of the ambrotypes to come.

Will go out shooting for the week on Tuesday. Did not go out last week off, I need to do some good AMBROTOS KANATA stuff this coming week.

I feel that I have a look I like now and a technique that can sometimes get me that look. Need to dive in, to work harder, continue to improve and move up in format sizes along the way (up to 35x35 inches). I also need to figure how to shoot in cold winter weather. Canada is cold a lot of the time, to do a photography project on the country and not include cold weather images would be ridiculous!

After a bunch of thinking and testing. I will try to make my ambrotype plates as follows. Things are likely to change, but for now, this is the way I will go.

- Clear Glass Ambrotypes (looking through the glass with everything reversed to the proper orientation-no backwards writing).

- G Collodion (no extra ether added)

- Hypo fix

- Hypo clear (trying that for the first time next week, better archival quality).

- The plate washed and dried to completion in the darkroom trailer (Important for the longer 4 month Canada trips to come).

- Modern Liquitex varnish (which I can use more easily later with 35x35 inch ambrotypes).

- A second sheet of glass with black spray paint on it to give deep blacks placed behind the ambrotype (the painted side away from the collodion).

- Will log the GPS location of each plate made for the AMBROTOS KANATA project and log it into the title.

I will store/file and name the work separate from the black painted glass and only use the black painted glass in exhibitions or when showing the work. Because the ambrotype will just have varnish on it, I will have the later option of covering the plates with asphaltum if I eventually change my mind.

I want to eventually make wet plate collodion negs as well but that's another story.

I also need to figure out how to make the portraits. I need, have to make portraits for the project. Portraits and social documentary photography is where my true love of photography is based. Got to figure how to do documentary/portrait work in ambrotypes! GOT TO, GOT TO, GOT TO!!!

Note* The no added ether and the no KCN is partly a safety concern, partly cost savings. Also thinking of using only white vinegar to eliminate the Glacial Acetic acid from the trailer, not sure that is technically possible.

Crucifix Mundare Cemetery, Forest Trees Lake Louise Campground, AMBROTOS KANATA, June 2022

Moo Drunk Under The Freeway

Moo, Drunk under the freeway, THE PEOPLE TO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok 2022

Veegood 60, Talking About His Life

Veegood 60, Talking of his life. THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Klong Tory Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2022

Dao 33, Working Under The Freeway

 

 Dao 33, Working under the freeway, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Klong Tory Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2022

Dao Thinking Under The Freeway: THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY

Possible image for the coming UNB shows, found today. I am finding lots of new images, many I had forget ten I had taken. This is a Canon 5D Mark3 (still cannot afford the Mark 4) with 11mm-24mm wide angle. It was made during the 2022  trip under the freeway in Bangkok.

Dao is a kind, friendly, shy man who the world seems to have forgotten. I would try to talk to him and he would talk back sometimes but for the most part remained silence. There was such a dramatic change in the way he looked between 2019 and 2022 that I did not recognize him when I made this picture. After I returned to Canada I saw an old photo from 2019 with the same name, only then did I make the connection. The eyes were the same, the same shyness, and I put things together. He seems so innocent and vulnerable, I wonder how he is now.

Dao 33, Thinking under the freeway, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2022

Gull Lake View: AMBROTOS KANATA

Sort of a peaceful image, it is relaxing to look at. I am varnishing a alternate version that has a bit less exposure today. It will be ready for viewing tomorrow.

Note* Photos are with a red painted and black painted back glass.

Lake View, 8x10 Clear Glass Ambrotype, AMBROTOS KANATA, Gull Lake, Alberta, June 2022

Crying Boy: THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP

 

This young boy followed me everywhere. I gave him a donated car toy which he carried for 5 days straigh, playing with it often. He had some scaring on his face, not sure why. He was too young to have scars. Earlier he was laughing, here he cried.

Boy crying next to the dump, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot, Thailand 2022

Changing Oil On Fanny (RV)

Finally after trying 4 different tools. I got the oil filter off the RV!!! First time I have done this, never changed oil before in my life before. The filter was on SUPER TIGHT!!!’ This is the crazy ass monster tool that set it free.

Mid Evil Torture Device or Filter Tool

Mundare Gravestone, AMBROTOS KANATA

From my day next to a church in Mundare Alberta, the graveyard. 

Am playing with different colored rear glass (2 pieces, 1 with colodion photo, 2 with painted glass). Here using black and read paint on the year separate piece of darkening glass. This technique of 2 pieces of glass is vintage technique and also modern and archival.as the paint does not touch the varnished emulsion, only the clean glass side does. I will try various type of colored glass plates, different blacks, browns and reds. Trying to get the look that sings best to me.

Gravestone, 8x10 Clear Glass Ambrotype, AMBROTOS KANATA, Mundare, Alberta, June 2022

Doll Head In The Dump

Found this shot today. A bit different type photo. I might submit it for possible exhibition at the UNB shows in October.

I brought this toy head back with me from Thailand last trip. I have it somewhere (not sure where). The idea was to do a wet collodion ambrotype of it.

Doll head found next to the dump, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot, Thailand 20

Re-Edit Of Boy With A Club Foot Image

Did a re edit on this picture from last trip. The UNBs curator plans on making- printing very large pictures for these exhibitions. There will be something like 30-40 very big images, larger than I have ever shown before. I thought sending bigger meg files was better way to go.

This type of digi photoshop work is so different than wet plate darkroom stuff. I am always amazed by the variety and uniqueness of all the ways of making photos I have tried over the last 44 years. There is the ability for unlimited creativity.

This photo was made on my last day at the dump. I hope to return and spend more time with them.

Boy with club foot, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot , Thailand 2022

Young Girl Crying, In The Exhibition?

Another new possible exhibition image.

Young girl crying next to the dump, THE FAMILIES IF THE DUMP, Mae Sot, Thailand 2022

Trees In Forest: AMBROTOS KANATA

Part of a 15 year ambrotype project of Canada. The plan is to eventually make 35x35 inch glass plate ambrotypes.

Trees In Forest, 8x10 Clear Glass Ambrotype, AMBROTOS KANATA, Banff, Alberta, June 2022

Jesus On The Cross

Part of a 15 year ambrotype project of Canada. The plan is to eventually make 35x35 inch glass plate ambrotypes.

Jesus On The Cross, 8x10 Clean Glass Ambrotype, AMBROTOS KANATA, Mundare, Alberta 2022

Coloured Glass Behind The Ambrotype?

One of my Facebook friends suggested that instead of applying the asphaltum directly to the back of a ambrotype I should instead coat a separate piece of glass with asphaltum and place it behind. I will give that a try!! Seems the only other option to true blacks and would probably be more archival.

Here is some asphaltum painted onto some 3mm glass. Will do some testing with it.

Jip 51, Another Possible Exhibition Image

This mans name is Jip, 51. I photographed him yesterday morning at about 730am. He told me that he had slept at this location under the freeway for more than 2 months. He is a polite and trusting man, eager to speak.. There was some fighting roosters nearby, GAI CHON, Khun Jip guarded them, thou I do not think he got paid for the job. He told me of a beautiful condominium he used to work at, Jip said I could stay there sometime, and that it had a/c. He said he could never live in such a place because he did not have the money. That is the sad reality of his life, he will not be able to do many things I take for granted.

Jip 51, In front of his home under the freeway, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2022