Chamonix x3

 

$130 White Wash Table!

Picked up a second wash table. With the big purchase of the 11x14 camera I was unsure about spending more money but if your going all in, go all in! The table is over $50 cheaper than the black version I already own. I have seen the build quality, tested the table, all should be good for a second one. The white surface is not as suitable for me as the black but a $50 plus discount, is a $50 plus discount! Maybe I can place some black plastic of some kind on the bottom of the sink, under the washing plates. That way  I can see the image as a positive, on the clear glass plates.

Now with the 11x14 and 16x20 cameras and the 2 wash tables, I should be ready to go making ULF plates 11x14 inches and larger next shooting season. I might also be able to use the tables in indoor shooting situations like at workshops and talks, on location indoor plate making.

4 foot indoor wash table for wet plate

$72!!!!

Almost swallowed my tongue when the price to ship a single, light weight, single envelope to Toronto came up, $72 CAD!!!! Signature needed at the other end.

I thought there must be a mistake, but no,  not!

The bank draft is on its way to Toronto, total cost with this draft shipping nonsense was $6118 +72 = $6190 CAD. 

Will get the 11x14 Camera, 11x14 wet plate holder, 14x14 wet plate holder, camera case, and 50 sheets of 11x14 tin for tintypes, along with the plywood shipping case.

Note* At least the bank gave me a draft for free.

A Beautiful Day!

A great way to spend the day. First 2 1/2 hours at the Vancouver Gallery, now some great library books! Later a good Chinese meal! Even picked up a nice Timothy O’Sullivan book (slightly bent up cover, 20% discount) $143 CAD online, I paid $58 for mine.

A.Y. Jackson

Frederick Varley

Emily Carr

SaltScapes Photo Series Idea

A book I viewed yesterday “Changing the Earth by Emmet Gowan”, at the main downtown Vancouver library, gave me a photo idea.

“Do a series of landscape photographs from unique but not too high a vantage point using my mini drone. Then take those digital files and make digital negatives to create beautiful salt prints. The series would be called -SaltScapes-“.

The images would be composed lower than Gowan’s stuff and be printed in more earthy warm paper salt print tones than his book. I have never been a huge fan of satellite style imagery. But lower altitude stuff along with the.beauty of salt might be a winning combo for me.

A mixture of the new “Drones” and the old “Salt Prints”to create a unique hybrid art!

Something might be done there!! I could start making work for thus project next week!!! Another chapter for the web image as well :)

Note* My answer to a Facebook friend’s statement that I should use a ULF view camera fit the project instead.

GY:

“I wanted to find a reason to shoot the drone. With mini drones you have more legal access to a variety of locations. You can shoot from positions impossible to compose from with a view camera (flying above water etc.) and create high resolution images. Then I could print large detailed salt prints. The best of 2024 tech plus the best of 1830s tech. It will be fun. Going to give it a go.”

Vancouver Book Buys

Vancouver book buys!

Emily’s Influence!

I was thinking of Emily Carr paintings when I made this Ambrotype in 2022, 91 years after her 1931 image.

I have grown to really love her work. She is my favourite Canadian artist.

I will try to make a large salt print of this Ambrotyoe later.

Quote: Jackson Pollock

 

Buying a Used 11x14 Chamonix Camera!

I will complete my Chamonix wet plate collection of cameras with a purchase of a used 111x14 camera. The addition of this tool will give me a 11x14, a 16x20 and a 24x24 Chamonix. 

The deal is for a  11x14 camera, a 11x14 plate holder, a 14x14 plate holder, 50 sheets of 11x14 aluminum (for tintypes) and a Chamonix camera bag. The total cost including shipping and insurance to Edmonton from Toronto will be $6117.15 CAD. 

This new expense is high but quite a bit cheaper than buying everything new. The camera was used 8 or 9 times, in studio, never outdoors. The seller is a reputable, talented, hardworking professional photographer, who takes care of his gear.

The camera should be an important piece of gear for AMBROTOS KANATA! I hope to use it extensively in the 2024 shooting season. Could the 14x14 inch format become my main portrait style?

Quote: Dr. Paul Farmer

 

New Wash Table

Got my black sink table. Set it up with water and a drain stop. Everything looks good. The idea is that I can now wash my larger plates measuring 11x14 , 14x14, 12x20 and 16x20 inches, outside of the darkroom trailer. 

I will fill the sink up with water, insert the plates and use a circulator pump for agitation. Wash the plates for at least an hour. Then drain the water and rewash as needed. It should be a sound and archival method. I can then dry the plates and travel.

Quote: Albert Einstein

 “Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value. He is considered successful in our day who gets more out of life than he puts in. But a man of value will give more than he receives.”

Link: More Website Pic Uploads to the Website

Tonight, on my nightshift am editing and adding pics to my website.

www.gerryyaum.net