Ambrotype Wash Issues to be Solved

The AMBROTOS KANATA project is very often about solving tech problems. My latest is as follows. When making large plates onsite, there is a long cue to wash the finished images. This last week I lost several 11x14 inch and 14x14 inch plates to collodion lifting off the glass issues. The collodion/glass connection was fine initially but the plates had to sit for long periods of time in water trays waiting for their wash turn. Often the plates would stay wet for 12-25 hours, that is unacceptable and leads to adhesion problems.

How to solve this issue?

- I could try edge albumen on the glass, pre collodion pour, for better adhesion (Think I will do this for sure, from now on)

- Entire plates covered in albumen? (A possible solution but maybe an overreaction at this stage).
- Multiple wash baths with proper size trays. Much less waiting in water time. I can wash the Ambrotypes faster and get them to the drying stage sooner. (I will do this also, after I can arrange the super large trays, the pumps, tubing, clamps, and tables that would be necessary.)

Note* After hours of searching on many occasions I think I finally found trays big enough to do 24x24 inch Ambrotypes and 35x35 inch Ambrotypes. Big black plastic trays that are used for gardening. They cost $49.99 CAD for an 80mm (31.5 inches x 31. 5 inches x 5 inches) square tray and $64.99 CAD an 100cm (39.5 inches x 39. 5 inches x 5 inches) square tray. This will be expensive but necessary. I will go with 8-10 of each type of tray or just go with the larger ones for both Ambrotype plate sizes. I will need to pick them up in Calgary next trip, they do not have an Edmonton store, and shipping costs are prohibitive.

Note** Thank you Ross, my Facebook friend from Vancouver, for help with this issue.

24x24 Inch Plates!!!!

 

Video Link: Beauty of 14x14 Ambros

I love the new 14x14 inch, 4mm think Ambrotyoes made today!

14x14 Ambro

14x14 Inch 4mm Ambrotypes

14x14 inch 4mm thick clear glass Ambrotyoes from today. Gerry Collodion, Vinegar Developer. Made with a 11x14 Chamonix camera and 450mm Fuji lens. Exposures varied from 1 mint 50 seconds at f45 to the last losing light shot of 7 minutes at f64. Listened to Mozart as I worked my the 14 hour day, it helped!! Part of the cross Canada retirement project AMBROTOS KANATA.

14 Hour Good Day

Into hour 12 of my work day. It should run about 14 hours today. Not including waking up every 2 hours to change out the washed plates.

It was a glorious day. Out in nature, Mozart and my first ever 14x14 inch, 4mm thick Ambrotype plates!! Cannot think of a better way to spend the day. A good kind of exhausted!

4mm Glass

 Trying 4mm glass for the first time today. It seems more SUBSTANTIAL than 3mm and much less likely to break. I like the thicker glass so far. After I wash dry and varnish the plate, I will see how the extra 1mm feels when I look through three glass to the image captured inside. If that look pleases the. I will go to 4mm for all the format sizes I use. The 35x35 inch camera might even require 5mm glass!!

3-11x14 Plates Per Tray

I can quish in 6-11x14 inch plates into the new gardening trays! Love these cheap large gardening trays!! Will use them to store all my plates waiting for a wash. The bumpy bottom makes the glass easy to remove! A nice bonus for sensitive collodion emulsions.

Gardening Trays

Like these new black gardening trays I got to store the possible plates. They work well with the 11x14 inch glass.

Ambrotypes at Dawn

Will make Ambrotypes of another forest scene tomorrow, on 11x14 inch by 3mm and 14x14 inch 4mm clear glass. Quite rainy here on the David Thompson highway. Have a umbrella tripod set up to keep the Chamonix 11x14 dry. We start work at dawn!

Will be listening to Beethoven and Berg tonight, thanks Dennis.

On the Road Again

Slept over at a free spot in Rocky Mountain House. Heading onto the David Thompson highway in central Alberta this morning. A barbacue and camping today with a whole day of Ambrotype making on Thursday! Gotta make some pics for AMBROTOS KANATA and next years Alberta art submission.

Group of Seven Type Art

Picked up a group of seven, Tom Thomson type metal statue today from the thrift shop, $7 CAD. I will place it in my music/reading room and dream of Ambrotypes!

Need to make my version of the windswept tree in a large Ambrotype! This subject seems VERY Canadian.

Added to the Slberta Art Collection?

This is the Ambrotype that might be added to the Alberta Collection. It was made last September.

Lundbreck Waterfall #2, AMBROTOS KANATA, Lundbreck, Alberta, Canada, 8x10 Clear Glass Ambrotype, 2024

4 Images in the Alberta Collection?

If this latest ambrotype makes it past the expert judges, I will have 4 works in the collection. 1 monk Silver Gelatin photo from years back, 2 8x20 clear glass ambrotypes last year and 1 this year!

Ambrotype Makes Round 2!

Part of the AMBROTOS KANATA project.

Quote: Harry Chapin

Oh if a man tried

To take his time on Earth

And prove before he died

What one man's life could be worth

I wonder what would happen

to this world

Glass, Glass, Glass!!!

Just picked up a bunch of glass for the wet plate project. Having THE BEAST truck to haul this stuff makes life so much easier. I am really glad I got my new-old truck. I am kinda surprised how large the 24x24 glass is. We are now moving from concept to reality. I will shoot 11x14 and 14x14 inch this trip and try the 24x24 inch stuff and 24x24 camera for the first time in 2 weeks.

Bought me 20 sheet of 11x14 and 20 sheets of 24x24 3mm. Also picked up 2 sheets of 24x24 4mm. I have 10 sheets of 11x14mm at home already. I hope the 4mm thickness works for me. If it does all glass will be that thickness in the future.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!’ Imagine what can be created!!!!!!!!!! That dream of making important work, with emotional value, drives me forward. 

“Ain’t Photography Grand!!”

Plato?

Here is anoth gift from Dennis. In his younger days he was studying for his masters in English literature. Plato is quite a bit above my pay grade, but going to give him a go.

On the go with AMBROTOS KANATA

 Heading out on the road next week to make Ambrotypes for AMBROTOS KANATA. Wish me luck!

Link: Another Nice Comment

Gosh did a google translate for a new French language comment on the new FRAMES Interview. Very kind words, thank you Louis. It is good to see the photos are having a positive impact, and the stories of the subjects are being told.

- Un photographe humaniste avec une maitrise de la technique construction de l'image, et le contact avec l'humain, et surtout l'univers des démunis, ceux qui ne passent pas à la télé, les oublié de la société. Merci Gerry ! pour ces images magnifiques qui disent tout dans un profond silence.

- A humanist photographer with a mastery of the image construction technique, and contact with humans, and especially the world of the deprived, those who do not appear on TV, the forgotten by society. Thanks Gerry! for these magnificent images which say everything in a profound silence.

FRAMES YAUM INTERVIEW

Link: More Comments on the Interview FRAMES YouTube Page

 A few more Comments.

GERRY YAUM FRAMES PHOTOGRAPHY CHANNEL INTERVIEW

@JGZ

Tomasz, I valued listening to your guest Gerry and thank you. Gerry's striking black and white photographs capture the stark history of the poor and underprivileged. Like Gerry, my father passed away from cancer 47 years ago, around the time I was delving into film photography. Although I took photos of my dad, I wish I had documented more of his life. Gerry's interview brought back cherished memories of my father.

@gerryyaum

0 seconds ago

Thanks for sharing your story. You never forget your father. For me dad is gone now 9 years, 10 in February and I still think of him every day. Am glad the interview brought back those father memories for you as well.

@ian

Gerry, I really appreciate your work in Mae Sot and capture of their lives, the compassionate capture of their plight and the follow-on of not just capture of these scenes and people but your assistance to them as well. It's a photographic and giving project close to my heart too. I also love your use of black and white to capture the true feeling of the scenes and plight of the Mae Sot people. Also, the colour night shots - very interesting and compelling. In December I'll be up on the Mae Hong Son area in Thailand with the aim of capturing the Karen Tribes but in general the communities there. On you other initiative of photographing your Dad's passing, I have also done this to capture the feelings we felt at this time. I look forward to seeing more of your work!

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@gerryyaum

0 seconds ago

Thanks so much for your very kind words. Like I said in the interview. The best thing about photography is the people you meet along the way. A pleasure to meet you today. Enjoy your time in Thai/ Try to learn to speak some Thai and Karen. Speaking and sharing cultures, is always a good way to make friends and photographs. I spent some time in one of the Karen refugee camps (Mae La). A great people that have been at war forever.

@simon

Gerry is a true artist, inventing something unique that didn't exist before him and won't exist after him. Gerry shows us the beauty in the midst of the ugliness. A child on a pile of trash is as beautiful as a child in a pretty suit. And it also shows us that the tragedy of our world is that some people have too many things while others have nothing. Our world suffers from the greed of some while others ask for almost nothing, just what Gerry gives them, a little compassion and a lot of respect. Thanks Gerry, you blew my mind.

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@gerryyaum

1 hour ago (edited)

Thank you for the very kind words, Simon. I have learned so much from the children at the dump, they have taught me many things. The children there find joy in the most difficult situations, as well as exhibit patience, happiness, love and devotion to their families. I am so lucky to have met and spent time with them.

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