Added an Aperture To My Smaller Project Lens For the 14x14 Inch Camera

Video: Back in the Trailer, Making Ambrotypes

Back in the wetplate trailer!! 2c outside, 10c in the trailer. Also testing the honey mix to keep the plates wet. 1/1, 1/2 and 1/3 honey to water.

Back to Making Ambrotypes!

Dragging my 14x14 inch Chamonix out of mothballs (have not used it for about 13 months). I will make 11x14 inch ambrotypes tomorrow. More of a testing shoot but it will still be fun.

Testing 

- old collodion 

- shooting in colder weather around 0-2c

- will try putting honey on a plate for the first time (to delay wash time). I will let it sit 2 days before final wash.

- will test new working procedures in the simplified trailer darkroom setup. Am trying to further simplify this often overworked and over thought out process. SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY!!’’

- will try tray development of plate and tray stop water step. Trays might work better and require no water pump in colder weather. My hope is to work down to -25c this winter.

Quote: Charles Durning (Actor and WW2 Veteran)

“FORGIVENESS IS A GIFT WE GIVE OURSELVES”

Ambrotype Photo Stand Setup

Got this little top bar (Tripod was mine) for $30 CAD tonight, online via Amazon these things run $83 new and $39 used with a $27 shipping cost to Edmonton. I played around a bit with it tonight and it should work well with a iPhone or a small digi camera. I will use this set up to photography my 11x14 inch to 24x24 inch Ambrotype plates. I just need to place the glass under the camera, light it and photograph away. I will use this set up to prepare photo submissions,  creating photos for the webpages etc. 

3 Small Portfolio Books

Am doing up 3 small (8.5x11 prints) portfolio books. Will fill them with digi prints and show them at my 2 artist talks in April. People can see more prints up close. My friend Larry does this with his wonderful photography books. These portfolios are not as nice as books but they should serve their purpose.

Outside the books with titles added

What the inside of the books look like. I found that 300 thickness paper is a bit too thick if you want to place 48 or so images in the book, 2 times 24 pages. I will try thinner paper.

Tam, in a New Used Frame

Made up this quick print today, on some two side already used paper (1 side mistake). The frame was bought yesterday for $4 CAD at a thrift shop.  Reused the frame and the mat, just added my pic,

Tam Vietnamese Brothel Worker, BODY SELLERS, Poipet, Thailand 2003

Tam lived a terrible and frightening life. She used drugs to survive the brothel, you can see it in her eyes in this photo. Poor lady. This place was very difficult to make photos, such sad, desperate and lost lives. Because this photograph, I think of her and the others often. The world she lives in has to end.

Its small but beautifully presented. A white frame better?

Newly printed

Original print

Original mat

Added to frame

Back of frame

On the wall

8.5x11 Portfolio Books

Been thinking on a new idea. What if I purchased 4 - 8.5x11 black portfolio books and then placed different series within the books.

- MY FATHERS KAST DAYS

- THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY 

- THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP 

- KODOKU or BODY SELLERS (individually or combined)

I could take the portfolios to the two coming artist talks for people to view. Not on my friend Larry’s level, nothing compares to his glorious photo books. I think thou it might be an effective and even beautiful way to show the work. To tell my subjects stories, a tribute to them.

Real Darkroom

These digi prints are fine but I need to get my real darkroom going and make some traditional prints.

I need to transfer all the gear and sinks from my old darkroom to my new one! Will work on that this winter.

Bought Me Some, Digi Photo Paper

Ran out of digi photo paper last night. I ordered a bunch from Vistek here in Edmonton after comparing pricing to B&H Photo in New York. The Vistek price seemed a bit cheaper. I also bought the paper in rolls, which will require cutting down, for the same reason, a cheaper price. Cost $549.98 CAD for 3 large rolls. My favorite is the NATURAL, will probably order more of that next time, the other 2 not sure, might use it for color work. The brighter whites seems to look nicer in color.

More Digi Pics Made Tonight

More new digs prints. The various photo series are listed below each image. There are quite a few are newly discovered images.

BODY SELLERS from 2003

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP from 2013 to 2025

THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY 2011 to 2025

MY FATHERS LAST DAYS 2014

    MY FATHERS LAST DAYS

  MY FATHERS LAST DAYS

THE FAMLIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMLIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMLIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMLIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMLIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMLIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMLIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMLIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMLIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMILES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP

THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY

THE FAMLIES OF THE DUMP

THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY

  MY FATHERS LAST DAYS

THE FAMIIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMLIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMLIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMLIES OF THE DUMP

BODY SELLERS

BODY SELLERS

Quote: Van Gogh

 

A 2nd Book Shelf Buy

Yesterday picked up a 2nd bookshelf from the restore shop. Each cost $25, both strong and large. I could probably use another 5 of these! Will keep a lookout for more. I look and read the books daily, a form of paradise.

Note* Most of the books, at least a high majority are art and photo books. I love my books. They are all about learning and showing the beauty of life. I fill my downstairs nan cave with wonderful music (thanks Dennis) and a lifetime of books!

First new book shelf

Second new book shelf