Quote: John Lennon

"Being honest may not get you a lot of friends but it'll always get you the right ones."

Quote: Aldo Leopold (Author, Philosopher, Scientist, Ecologist, Forester, Conservationist, and Environmentalist)

“Only the mountain has lived long enough to listen objectively to the howl of the wolf.”

Facebook Discussion About KANATA on Facebooks "Collodion Bastards" Page

•  DW......

  Gerry, as a fellow Canadian I applaud your vision. However, I honestly believe you have to temper your enthusiasm with a big dose of reality. I don't think you have any idea the difficulty working plein air with collodion, let alone something as large as 90 x 90cm! This is only more enhanced because you have yet to pour a plate (as I understand). If you are aspiring to get mobile within the next few years with that Big Brute, I would really encourage you to take a workshop as soon as you can and start learning all the nuances and subtleties of the process with a much smaller format (4x5 inch on start up to keep costs down). I think most will agree that experience in the contemporary darkroom will prove little benefit in the collodion world.

  Gerry Yaum Dale maybe so, but none of that tempering is for me. Sometime it is important to just say f-ck it and go after big dreams otherwise not much ever happens. Photogs are constantly making excuses for why they cannot do stuff. People in general always rationalize why this or that will not work, they sort of fail before they even start. Screw that! I will try and if I fail then that's fine, at least I went down swinging. As to doing large wet plates I have met men who have done such things (spent time in Italy with Kurt Moser) so I know it is doable with enough hard work and determination. Others have done it already so why not me? If I cannot shoot it on wet plate, I will just do it on film in the same darkroom space. I do not want to live with regret. When I am an old old guy and have had my stroke and am pissing into a bag hanging on my wheelchair, I want to be able to look back at my life and say to myself, "I tried! I gave it my all!" Failure is something much easier to deal with than regret.
• Gerry Yaum As to not pouring a plate I have done small tin types, have taken a workshop and have been involved with photography in general for 41 years now. I am self taught all the way (except for the wet plate workshop), all the time type guy so technical things do not really worry me. All that technique stuff can be learned, it is just a matter of doing it enough times. With the internet I have a huge advantage as well I can ask my internet friends when I screw up, in the old days that was impossible, you were 100% on your own. I also have a back up plan for the large 35x35 camera. I am having reducing backs made for both film and plates, so if 35x35 is too much to handle then I can go down to 20x24 plates or if worse comes to worse 20x24 film. Your right of course on your plan of action. I am already heading down that path. I have already taken a workshop and have studied the books, videos and basics for quite a few years. I do not plan to start the main part of KANATA until I am 59 or 60 (I will retire at that age). I am 55 now, so that gives me 4 or 5 years to do basic wet plate stuff on cameras ranging from 4x5 to 16x20. The reason I got the trailer now was for that purpose. I will outfit it over the next several months, recently bought a sink and portable waste tank, buying a generator also. I will use it in the spring to start shooting smaller ambrotypes and tintypes. By the time I hit 59-60, all my ducks should be in order. I will probably not shoot the 35x35 for quite a while after I start the project. Step by step builds the grand cathedral!! When your self taught your used to making mistakes and overcoming them, that is my plan now.
• Gerry Yaum Personal photo experiences have also hardened me to the reality that you can accomplish most anything if you have enough desire. If you have the will to do so mountains can be climbed. When I was 21 I photographed drug use (Heroin injecting) in a African American American Ghetto. When I was 32-44 I photographed sex workers in Thailand while speaking a 2nd language (Thai) that I learned for that purpose. At 40-55 I photographed in Thai slums, at 49-55 years old I photographed Burmese refugee's in a garbage dump with flies, cockroaches and the like crawling all over me. All those experiences and meeting so many wonderful people along the way puts life's problems in a proper perspective. The idea of attempting to do large wet plate images in clean/safe/beautiful Canadian nature does not seem all that intimidating to me. If I fail so what, nothing ventured nothing gained. If I succeed then important photographs, photographs that could last hundreds of years and be potentially shown in the National Gallery of Canada could be created. What do I have to lose? Heck I am just a security guard in Edmonton, trying to do something important, if I fail to accomplish my goals, no one will even notice!
• Gerry Yaum Here is the sink. A large stainless sink from a restaurant, got it last week off. The plan is to have a 15-25 gallon portable waste container hooked up to the drain and to use camping water jugs for the main water source. I will also be hooking the faucet to a water supply in campground settings etc. The trailer darkroom will be used to develop sheet film as well, maybe do a bit of contact printing for fun (that is where the furnace comes in). For KANATA I will probably be on the road for upwards of 3 months at a time so having darkroom that can do a bit more will be important. I will likely be spending hundreds of hours in this space. I plan to follow your advice and install an exhaust fan (found someone who can do that). Will also be putting a platform on the roof of the trailer allowing for higher camera positions if necessary.
Gerry Yaum What I am most worried about is not the tech stuff but instead, "can I make strong photos in wet plate?" Personally I feel that (this is just my opinion please do not get upset you bastards) a high percentage of wet plate photography is CRAP. The only thing that makes it interesting is the fact that it is an old school, super cool process. I want and hope to do more than use a cool process. When you show the work, when you promote it in the media or at exhibitions, the talk should not be all wet plate, collodion, salts and gear stuff. Who gives a flying shit about all of that. What should matter most is the imagery created. Not using the process not for its own sake, but instead using the process to enhance and create important, meaningful art. Kinda mastering (or at least semi kinda mastering) the process part will mostly likely happen. I just hope I can create strong images using it! That is the great unknown, that is frightening.



New darkroom trailer sink.

HF35Q Being Built!!!

My Ultra Large Format HF3535 wet plate fcamera now named the HF35Q (square format) is nearing the completion!. The camera is 2 years late (maker had a hand injury) but now it is finally being built! All my KANATA dreams are starting to come true. I have a darkroom trailer I am adapting (bought a new-used portable waste container Monday) and now the camera is starting to look like a camera. Here are the first photos of it. My beautiful baby!!!!

from Facebook:

My previously paid for HF35Q 35x35 inch wet plate view camera is nearing completion. I am very excited. Things are coming together quite nicely for the KANATA wet plate project.

I bought a trailer to convert into a darkroom, the camera is being built, I have 2 lens to use, a 100 year old 180cm Carl Zeis Tessar and a more modern Nikkor 1780mm. The trailer conversion is coming along, recently bought a nice large stainless steel sink, also got a portable waste container on the cheap. Am looking to buy a used generator for the trailer and will also modify the roof for a high camera position and add and exhaust fan. So many nice and positive things are happening, it is all so exciting. I plan to head into the field with smaller cameras and the trailer in the spring to do my first real ambrotypes.

So much to learn, so much to do, it is all so exciting. I just hope I do not run out of time to do all I want to do, am 55, so should with some luck have another 25 years to create. Thou carrying around this 35x35 at 80 years old might be an issue :). Got to love photography and all the joy it brings!

My ULF wet plate camera the HF35Q

Quote: Alex Trebek

 “The thought of the pancreatic cancer does not frighten me. I'm 79 years old. So, hey, I've lived a good life, a full life, and I'm nearing the end of that life. I know that."

Quote: Shane Balkowitsch

Speaking about wet plate collodion ambrotypes. 

“These plates are pure silver on glass and unbroken they will be here hundreds and hundreds of years from now.”

Quote: Chief Standing Bear

“My hand is not the color of yours, but if I pierce it, I shall feel pain. If you pierce your hand, you also feel pain. The blood that will flow from mine will be the same color as yours. The same god made us both. I am a man.”

Quote: George Orwell

“The further a society drifts from truth the more it will hate those who speak it“

Domain Name gerryyaum.com, Bought?

Weird moment of the day. Seems someone bought my old domain name., gerryyaum.com. Why? Who cares about the fake Gerry Yaum name?If I want it back it will cost me $791 USD! Go Figure! Found this out when I was looking for a possible domain name for the 10 year cross Canada, “KANATA” project.

The cost of various Gerry Yaum names

Bought Me A Large Stainless Steel Sink For The Trailer Darkroom.

Bought me a trailer darkroom  sink!!! The seller was asking $700 CAD, I paid $550 which is an OKish price, probably a bit of an overpay on my part.

Love the sink!! It fits very well into the space in the trailer next to the counter top on fit left side. There is about 3-4 inches between the back edge of the sink and the rear doors, which is about perfect. The height on the sink rim edge working table area to the right is almost the exact same height as the counter top. The sink basically fits like it was a custom made design.  It is stainless steel and came from a restaurant, last inspected in 2011. The thing is heavy but not too heavy, I am not sure if I need to fasten it down someway, probably will need to do that.

I should be able to use this tool effectively for the entirety of the "KANATA" photo project. This thing is very strong, will out live me no problem. I will hook up a portable waste container to it in the field and a hose to sewage when in a full hook up campground setting.  The faucet will also be hooked up to a full water hook up via a hose if available. If I am using the trailer in the field I will use camping water bottles.

Note* Also picked up the pictured metal shelf for $8. Am not sure how I will attach it to the wall, not sure how I can make it safe for storing items on the road. Should I make walls on it? Tie downs of some kind? Have to set it up so I can safely put things on the shelfs while driving round Canada. Do not want things flying off when I take a sharp turn somewhere.

Sinks, countertop and shelf in new darkroom trailer.

Bought Me A: Diversitech Condensate Drain Pan, Metal, 60Lx30Wx2D Natural Metal 26 Gauge

Will use this large long 30 inch by 60 inch metal train pan on the counter top of my new mobile darkroom trailer counter top. I hope to place this on the counter and then put darkroom trays on op of the pan. If anything spills out of the trays or drips off the negatives or prints then that liquid would simply fall safely into the pan. At the end of the session I can wash out the trays and the pans and the counter top in the trailer will remain clean. At least that is the idea, lets see if it works. A FaceBook friend told me he uses these type fans so I thought I would give them a try. With shipping the cost was $95 USD.

My counter top in the trailer is 29 inches wide by 60 inches long, so I think it should fit well, only a 1 inch over hang. I can then then run trays and do other darkroom work the length of the pan and into the large sink I plan on buying.

If this works later on I plan to by 36x36 inch plastic pans to do my HF3535 camera ambrotypes in. Those pictures on glass will measure 35x35 inches. I will probably have to buy 2-4 pans. Am kinda worried about the shallow depth of these things which is only 2 inches, but they should work I think.

Note* Have an appointment to look at a large used restaurant sink. The thing is huge, stainless steel with 2 sinks and a working metal flat table section. It measures 75 inches long by 28 inches wide. Hope it works out, the seller is asking $700, I offered $550. Not sure if I will get it or not, need to look at the sinks overall condition and check the weight.

Note** I also found a portable 15 gallon waste container I can use for drainage from the sink. New they run $200 at Home Depot, I found a used one (but never actually used) for $80 online. I might eventually buy a 25 gallon version as well and use the 15 gallon container as a backup. These things are containers on wheels. You hook them up to a drain via a garden hose and when the container is full wheel the whole thing (like a wagon) to a dumping area. The waste container should work quite well in combination with my trailer darkroom sink, all the water and nasty neutralized chemicals can go into it.

Metal Drain Pan 60Lx30Wx2D

Quote: Henry David Thoreau

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front the only essential facts of life. And see if I could not learn what it had to teach and not, when I came to die, discovered that I had not lived” 

Bought Me A: New Wet Plate Collodion Portrait Head Brace Stand

Bought a long pole head brace gizmo from China with free shipping. The cost was $99 CAD. Hopefully this thing will work, the tripod is not included, I have all kinds of tripod legs I can use with it so that is not an issue. The idea behind these things is that you place it at the back of the head or neck area of your subject. This allows you to make photos with 5 ASA speed Wet Collodion emulsions without the subject moving on you.  They are sort of held in place. Very old school stuff. Now you understand why in all those old time pics everyone looks so GRUMPY! They all have a giant clamp on their neck-head.

With my coming cross Canada KANATA project this thing might become extremely useful. I should be able to use it with both sitting and standing portrait subjects. If I attach it to a set of  large firm tripod legs, its should, at least I hope it should allow me to make my portraits without subject movement. This is a $99 gamble! Hope it works!!

Roof Platform For Darkroom Trailer?

I have a trailer question. Has anyone out there ever had a ladder and reinforced roof put on their cargo trailer? I want to use the roof of my new 7x14 Wells Fargo darkroom trailer as a higher camera position to shoot from. I would take a large heavy camera and tripod and my 220+ pound self up on the roof to make photos. Anyone ever done this.? Anyone know where I can get this done in the Edmonton area? I want to reinforce the roof and attach a ladder to the trailer. Thanks so much for your help.

Can I put a roof platform to shoot from on my trailer

I Got My Darkroom Trailer Home!!

My new darkroom trailer arrived today! LOVE IT !!! Am getting a really good vibe off this new place to create. This will be darkroom on the road Canada wide! 

I want to thank Les the trailers previous owner, you were such a pleasure to do business with, very honest, knowledgeable and generous.

Today I also picked up a used plastic laundry sink. These things cost $45 CAD new at Home Depot, got mine for $10. I might get another two single sinks like this or a double version and have 3 sinks in a row. I can then easily use the them for developing film, printing in trays or do all my different types of wet plate work.

The trailer has a great furnace it heats up the space in no time.. It is roomy, especially the headroom. I am always hitting my head on things, not In this new trailer! The counter top is a nice brown laminate which is easy to clean and provides a large work area. It is good stuff all round.

The only repair needed is the lock on the man door which needs replacing. I need to be able to enter and exit the trailer quickly and easily and also want to be able to both bad lock it and lock it at the handle with a key. I will also need to devise come way to lock int from the inside so the door cannot be opened from the outside by accident. Allowing unexpected light into a darkroom can do lots of damage.

I know I am going to do some important lasting work In this new darkroom trailer. I was sad to see the $8600 CAD leave today but this newest tool will give me the ability to create my photos in far flung locals for years to come. Nothing in life better than that!

Darkroom trailer now parked at my mom and dads old home in the yard behind a protective fence. I out 2 locks on the hitch, 1 lock on the man door, 1 lock on the rear door and a big chain on the back twin wheels.

Other side view. I will have to black the windows somehow, maybe with rubylith or a filter that Borut P suggested to me. This will crate a natural safe light int he trailer. I will also need it to be completely black at times such as when I loud film into the holders.

The trailer on receiving it today. The seller Les included the tie down straps, the wheel blocks, the aluminum shelf things on the floor and the 2 ramp boards tied down to the right.

Put a little Durst enlarger in the trailer to see how it looked. Not sure how to tie that baby down but it did work in all the outlets. The trailer has 4 electrical outlets

The man door with problematic lock.

Relaxed looking trailer. Fell asleep in the trailer for 30 minutes today while sitting int the chair with the trailer furnace heat blowing down at me. Am thinking of having 3 of the sinks side by side (removing the fold-able table).

Love the large easy wash counter top. Everything is really solid. The first trailer owner was Ackland's a Canadian industrial company.

Used plastic laundry sink I picked up today for $10. The sink fits nicely. Another bonus is that I can screw it directly to the floor and the back wall if needed. Will also need to figure out a drainage system and water taps.

Bought Me A Wet Plate Darkroom Trailer For The “KANATA” Cross Canada 10 Year Photo Project!!!

I went tonight to view the trailer from the earlier post snd fell in love with it. It is a bit large (a 7x12 better?) and the man door lock is missing a key (needs to be replaced) but everything else seems pretty much PERFECT! The inside of the trailer is finished. The walls are not simple exposed board but covered with a plastic I-Brite material (not sure what it is called), the floor is also finished with a hard surface. There is also a counter top where I can mount a tripod or put trays, plus a furnace and electrical plugs, 110 power and battery power lights etc. The trailer is a 2013 and rated to carry up to 8000 lbs, I am the third owner.

I will only need to light proof the trailer, get some kind of safe light system and install a sink(s) and some kind of cupboards/shelfs. I will have at least 2 years to set it up before I am taking it into the field. Will need to eventually get a camper-motor home-converted bus to pull the whole thing. Step by step builds the Great Wall! This is another step in creating the grand "KANATA" photo project.

Trailer features:

- 7 x 14 feet with tons of interior height. I am 6 foot 2.5 inches and there is at least 4 or 5 inches above my head to the ceiling.

- 2012 model, twin axle.

- 3 fluorescent electric roof light fixtures (work with wet plate?, covert to safe lights?)

- 2 battery operated roof lights works off a floor battery and inverter (convert to safe lights).

- propane heater with furnace (safe with wet plate? an ignition source? probably need to leave it off when working wet plate).

- counter top.

- tie down side rack devices to secure gear when traveling.

- separate man door with step.

- 4 wall mounted 110 volt plugs along counter top (enlarger?).

- 2 windows, one on wall, one on door (cover black or with ruby lithe to make safe lights).

- roof vent with small fan (can open when working at night).

Extras: Spare wheel, aluminum shelf material, tire stops, 2 hitch locks, 2 thin ramp columns for rolling things into the trailer. Also got some heavy duty metal tie down straps included. Will use the straps for a possible moped or to lock down the camera gear when travelling.

- insulated, I-bright style covered walls, metal floor.

Asking price was $9000 CAD. I offered $8600 CAD and with some polite negotiating was accepted.. The seller Les will then transport the trailer to mom and dads home for me (I have no vehicle to pull it) . I will need to cash some savings GICs to get this paid for.

I will adapt and modify a trailer into a darkroom at the house over the next few years. My thinking is to use this both for a wet plate darkroom and a normal darkroom for developing film on the road and to print with a standard enlarger or to contact print the larger negs onto RC paper as tests. There is is also the possibly of setting up some kind of digital work station printer in here, but that might work better in the eventual motor home/ bus conversion I get.

I will need to install a sink or sinks in the trailer, as well as an enlarger, safe lights, shelving of some kind etc. This could be a great tool to make important photos in far away locals. I plan on using it across the entirety of Canada, from the West coast of British Columbia and Vancouver island to the Northern stretches of the Yukon and North West Territories, from shores of far off Newfoundland to the the inner forests and cities of Quebec, Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan This rugged well built, durable mobile trailer darkroom should be a dream to work with and in!!!!! AM VERY EXCITED BY THE POSSIBILITIES.

Update* The trailer will be delivered on Sunday, need to go to the bank tomorrow to do some banking. Hate to cash the GICs, really hate it but you got to do what you got to do. Hope this project and these eventual photos are as important and beautiful as I am dreaming.

Update** The HF3535 camera, my huge 35x35 inch view camera is nearing completion. I will probably be in my home in Canada by early 2020 (hope hope!!).

Update*** I will also probably eventually purchase a used 3/4 truck to pull the trailer (darkroom #3) on shorter day trips.

Wide view of trailer

Man door with step

Furnace box

Me in interior

Overview of interior with window, breaker box on right

Tandem wheels

Metal style floor

Double propane bottles for the furnace

Working counter top (for enlarger? and other working tools)

Roof hatch (need to light tight this area)

Light switch and thermostat

Me in trailer

Front view of trailer

Trailer specs

Rear trailer door hinge

Furnace

More distant view of side of trailer

Seller Les and me in trailer

One of the slim-steep ramp rails

Man door 2 (lock needs replacting)

Rear of trailer

Front and left of trailer

Inside trailer man door and switches

Left side of trailer