FREE Work Bench

Picked up a FREE work bench with the BEAST after my nightshift. I am not sure how I will use it. Maybe for making frames or cutting/washing glass.

Problem Solving AMBROTOS KANATA

My long term Ambrotype project of Canada is often about problem solving. Next week I will travel to Calgary for two days, to photograph their city skyline (the downtown sky scrapers etc.)

Problem #1. How to shoot ultra large format Ambrotypes (11x14 inch and 14x14 inch) far from where my darkroom trailer will be parked. Shoot from a bridge etc.

Possible solution. Got me a e-scooter! I will zip back and forth between the trailer and camera in minutes.

Problem #2. How to transport the plate holders safely from darkroom to camera and back to darkroom again. I will need to have both hands on the scooter at all times to be safe.

Possible solution. A backpack? That seems cumbersome and a it might fall off mid drive. After much online searching, I found a hanging bag that should work. It might even be able to carry two holders. It will probably require a tie down strap.

Problem #3. The place I will park the truck and darkroom trailer in Calgary, has a 3 hour time limit. I have 4 or 5 possible setups to do. 3 hours is very little time in the wet plate world.

Possible solution. Do SPEED WET PLATE. Shoot two holders each trip! Have the developer, glass and silver prepared early, wash, dry and store the plates at the hotel parking lot later that night. Will SPEED WET PLATE work? It will be hard, very hard. We shall see!

Here is the wet plate carry bag on the e-scooter.

Studying to Make Frames

 

I am learning to make frames mostly to save money, though I also think it will be fun. If I get good at it I will make huge diptych and triptych frames for the 24x24 inch Ambrotype works. 

It is fun to think what style the frames will eventually have!

Scooter Boy!

Set up and rode the scooter for the first time today. It is powerful and fun to ride! I drove it on grass, over gravel and on pavement, no issues. Sorta an all-terrain scooter vehicle! 

I need to be careful thou, it could hurt me if driven improperly.

It could be a very valuable tool for the wet plate project. Allowing old me to make ambrotypes in locations that were impossible before.

The Importance of Rice in the Philippines!

This Shows the importance of rice in the culture. Also learned it is bad luck to throw, waste rice. Just now, heard a story about a rich Filipino family who wasted their rice during prosperous times to only go hungry later when the crops failed. A learning story told by a mother to her young daughter.

When you live in a world where people are hungry, you do not waste, throw away or toss rice about!

Scooter is Here!!

I might use it in Calgary next week off to do a Ambrotype of the Calgary skyline from a bridge. Might also try to use it for a shot of the Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton, before it is gone.

ZSnake Electric Scooter

Video: 14x14 Ambro, Jimmy Hendrix

 

$4.50 CAD 11x14 Ambrotype Frame

Picked up a $4.50 CAD wood frame at Goodwill for the plant 11x14 Ambrotype. A nice bonus is that I can now use the original 2mm picture frame glass to make a new fragile Ambrotype on!!

Video: More plant Plates

Some more plant plates, shot 2 weeks ago. For the long term AMBROTOS KANATA Ambrotype project. 11x14 and 14x14 clear glass Ambrotypes.

Mitre Saw

Looking to get a mitre saw for cutting my ambrotype frames with. My head is spinning with all the new and used options. It is all rather confusing.

Might get this betterquality Dewalt option. $479 CAD. More than I wanted to pay but dad always told me to pay a bit more for better quality.

Hope I use this tool enough to warrant the cost. If I can make my own exhibition frames, then it is worth it. I am not much of a carpenter, am hoping a better tool will help me a bit.

Note* I would be making frames up to 35x35 inches, with 11x14, 14x14 and 24x24 inch frames being most common. Possibly dozens of frames.

Quote: Friedrich Nietzche

 

Video: 2 More Hours!

I did not get enough sleep before going out (bad Thai dream wile me up) tonight but we got it done.

Videos: Buffalo on the Road

Met these new friends!!

Video: A Day at Elk Island National Park

Spent the day at Elk Island's beaver pond. When I first started wet plate I spent a day with the car and tent doing 4x5 Ambrotypes. Today I had the darkroom trailer, the 1 ton Beast and was doing 14x14 inch Ambrotyoes much more confidently. How times have changed!

Video: Pulp Fiction Plant

  

Video: Petrochemical Plant, 11x14 Clear Glass Ambrotype

Petrochemical Plant, 11x14 Clear Glass Ambrotype, AMBROTOS KANATA, Edmonton, Alberta, September, 2024

Made More Cement Ambrotype Trays

Bought another 12 smaller size cement mixing trays. I also adapted these trays with cork inserts (4) to create more separate between trays. This allows me to transport wet plates in water after Ambrotyoe shoots.

As I have improved my wet plate skills, I have been making more plates and larger plates. I was running out of trays early in the day. Now I have over 20 trays, that should be e ight for any 11x14 inch, 14x14 inch shooting day.

Note* I used six of these new trays during the most recent Elk Island shoot.

Trailer Darkroom Improving

My trailer darkroom continues to improve. Better lighting, better blockage of windows, better storage, better sink, better battery power, better silver nitrate systems, better filtering stand. Better, better, better!!!

Ambrotype Making Becoming Easier!

11x14 and 14x14 inch Ambrotyope plates now seem easy to do. The process has become faster with better results. Experience and standardization has made my wet plate life better!

I need to developed the same proficiency in 16x20 and later 24x24 glass!!!

Videos: Framed Ambrotype

Picked up a scratched frame for $3.50 CAD tonight, from Goodwill. My first framed 8x10 inch Ambrotyoe below.

Note* Picked up some stain tonight. Will try to cut down some of my existing frames to fit the work this week.

Scooter Boy!

Am planning a shoot of the Calgary skyline from a local bridge location. The idea being that I can park the darkroom trailer 1/2 a kilometer (up a long hill away) and still use it for the wet plate shoot. I will make the plates SCOOTER down to the camera position, make the exposures, SCOOTER up to the darkroom and develop the plates.

Plan on doing that for 3 hours plus. The scooter should help me do things I cannot do and help my 60-year-old body deal with some of the physical aspects, of making plates far from the darkroom trailer. That is assuming I do not do a header into a light post at 40-60 kph!! Probably wear a helmet of some kind.

Quote: Mother Teresa

 “Love is a fruit in season at all times and within reach of every hand.”

Quote: Mother Teresa

Quote: Mother Teresa

 

Frame Making Machine, Not!!

I know nothing about making frames but am going to learn and give it a go. Bought some older wooden frames ($25 CAD) today off Facebook Marketplace and got an old miter hand saw (for cutting angles, $20 CAD) at a thrift store during the recent trip. I want to try to make frames for my 11x14 and 14x14 inch ambrotypes. Will need to cut down these Marketplace frames and rebuild them to the proper sizes, plus stain or paint them etc.

It should be a fun thing to do. Then I will have work ready to hang for exhibition, assuming I ever get the AMBROTOS KANATA ambrotypes exhibited!

I’m 

Majestic Tripod

One good things about having every bit of photographic gear ever made. Is that when you need something you have it already! It might be is hud away or covered in dust but you have the tool.

I bought this Majestic Tripod a dozen plus years back but never used it. Is it might now work with the 11x14 inch, 16x20 inch and 24x24 inch Chamonix Cameras. If the tripod and head are strong enough, I might have a better tool to use in high winds. The centre of gravity is lower and the tripod legs wider and closer to the ground.

Note* I also have a second set of short legs for the tripod.

Scooter Buy?

Thinking of getting a electric scooter. Maybe this model. it has the features I need. Powerful, seat, folds, leg stand, key, light, good breaks, good name.

I might try using it for the first time if I do the Calgary bridge Ambrotype shoot. The idea would be to park the darkroom trailer a bit away then scoot back and forth to the camera position on the scooter. It would make the impossible shoot possible and would also save wear and tear on 60-year-old me!

Another expensive item but it should be loads of fun and very practical. Any reasonable tool that allows me to complete the AMBROTOS KANATA project, is money well spent.

Note* I ordered my scooter!

Duracell Headlight Buy

Picked up 6 more Darcell RED and WHITE light headlamps. The red setting works great in the darkroom. The idea is to have backups, extra charged headlamps and to place some on the walls of the darkroom trailer.

I can finally see in the dark! Love it!!