Nuns Story

Ironic Ring Flash Thingt

Pushing the Envelope

Pigeon Lake

Pigeon Lake!! First time here since childhood. Kinda shitty camping space, last of 2 available  Too open for my taste.. 

Will spend the day on Sunday making Ambrotypes, not sure of what. Maybe some portrait attempts tomorrow. I brought the new-used flash gear to play with.

Buy More Gear!

When in doubt buy more photo gear. Total cost $240 CAD.

Cambodian Crab Dream!

Dreams are so weird.

I just dreamed I was in Cambodia watching “The Killing Fields” with a large group of people in a grand old movie Cinema. Something I did in real life in Phnom Penh in 1999. Then in the dream a crab like creature crawled down from the roof, down the wall and jumped on the neck of the late actor Martin Landau. He screamed after the attack, stood up in the dark and tried to pull the creature off. Something that never happened to me in real life! Then I woke up.

Not sure how the real and unreal meshed like that on this night!! I was reading a book about the Khmer Rouge killings and recently in real life met some Cambodian refugees. That’s where this is probably coming from. Martin Landau and a killer crab? Who knows! 

I have started to plan a return trip to Thailand. Is the dream a sign  I need to return to Cambodia?

Stairs Before and After

One of the good things about retirement is you have more time for things like this. Even though I am far from a carpenter, with my tools and after watching YouTube vids I can get small things done.

Now we have easy and safe access to the backyard and to the motor home for loading. 

Note* One time a few years back I fell strait through the stairs to the ground below, rather dangerous! No more worries now. I am quite proud of myself :).

Honey Thoughts

One of the great things about Facebook is the exchanging of knowledge. One of the main groups I belong to “Collodion Bastards” has been a great learning source for me. After 7 years in the process I also try to teach what I have learned about the process to help others.

This is from a post yesterday about the use of honey.

I love the international membership in the group!!

 

Sink Water Breakdown

There was a water problem in the darkroom trailer yesterday.

I had an issue with water from the tank spilling onto the floor instead of going through the faucet. Water was draining out the trailers man door creating a huge mess in the trailer.

I had to stop using the faucet and change over to a water tank to stop development of the plates. The sewage tank was still working. 

It’s always good to have backup systems for everything!

I will need to repair the sink.

A/C Help? Kinda!

I had the A/C going most of the day in the darkroom trailer. I went through 1 1/2 of the 2 Jackery batteries. I could not get the temp down below 27.2 C even with constant closing of the man door.

The A/C did help as I was able to place my hot sweaty face into the cool air. It did help lower the overall in the trailer buy probably 3-4C but I still had some heat related artifacts on some plates. It was not as bad as years past but the were still there.

Maybe I can place the collodion and decay in front of the A/C blowing cool air. That might help. I am not sure how to cool the silver any. 

I am unsure what will happy on the really hot days.

Spreading the Work Around

Just woke up the next morning after my Coliseum shoot, I  feel sore all over. Arms feet, back!! Lots of work involved in making ULF plates. 

Trying to figure out ways to spread the work around. I will hook up the trailer to the truck the night before not on the same day as the picture making from now on. Am 62, need more rest time.

VIDEO: Plate Transport

 

Picture Making at the Coliseum

Was at Northland's Coliseum last night making Ambrotypes. It was a tough, hot day and I only did variations on 1 set up. I was trying to tell the story in a more visual way. The building ain't the most exciting structure ever invented! I tried to add some interest in the composition by shooting the subject from the abandoned back side. I might return to take a more traditional shot.

Yesterday

Northlands Coliseum Scouting Trip

Will try to photograph the old Edmonton Northland's Coliseum tomorrow on Ambrotype, possibly a second time later in the week. It is scheduled for demolition. So many great Edmonton memories here.

Am scouting shooting locations today on my scooter. Also hunted down and spoke to their security dispatch people, left my card. I think it should be OK to shoot from the parking lot.

Different viewpoints of the Coliseum

Possible Return To Thai

I am thinking of possibly returning to Thailand. I want to continue my photography and donation work. Not sure if I will return to the "Families at the Dump" in Mae Sot, maybe not. I would like to return very much to the "People Under the Freeway" series. I want to buy them more food, help their lives, and make more photographs. Several artist talks raised money, so buying food for them with that money, is a promise I need to keep. 

I am thinking of getting a room in Bangkok, and staying 2 months to do the work. I should be able to use some of the flood insurance money for the trip. I will likely stay in Bangkok the whole trip. As I get older, a simple trip seems the best trip. It would be nice to see my friends, make new photos and help those in need.

A few PHOTOS from the People who Live Under the Freeway series.

 

Trying to Write Autobiography Again.

Trying to write my book again, really struggling with it. The only way I can think of muscling through this, is doing a bit everyday, and not giving up.

I want the writing to flow, to have are relaxed joy to it. How thou?  Will try to keep at it. 

Another Freebie!

Picked up a nice FREE book shelf off Facebook marketplace last night. It only cost me a bit of diesel and a bit of muscle. I got a bunch more books organized and off the floor. A good thing all round!

The 4th bookshelf I have downstairs, 3 bought cheap now this freebie. I could probably use another 3 or 4!! I tried to count how many book shelves I currently have in the house. I think it is around 9.

Heartwarming!

Heartwarming moment of the day!!!

I was working in my backyard when I heard some singing coming from the nearby elementary school yard. There were 15 children, around 7-8 years old, likely all new immigrants, some Muslim, mostly black kids in the group. They were all dressed in red shirts. The song they sung? Oh Canada!!  

They sung with such joy!! Gotta love it.This is what Canada is about, multiculturalism at its best!

VIDEO: Fav Plate from Elk Island

My favourite plate from Elk Island National Park. Shot on Thursday last week.

I should be making plates later this week. Cut some plates last night, 3mm and 4mm from the free farmer glass. Will wash and edge albumanize them today.

Not sure where to shoot. Somewhere in the city I think.

14x14 inch, Clear glass Ambrotype- Tree Study, AMBROTOS KANATA, Elk Island National Park 2026

All Wet Plate Systems-Techniques in Place!

All my systems and techniques for making up to 14x14 inch Ambrotypes seem to be in place! After about 7 years of effort, things are becoming clear to me and even easy. I will still have to learn more to go larger but 14x14 inches and smaller is now no big deal.

Techniques and systems.

- vinegar developer

- Gerry collodion

- flowing plates

- developing plates

- making homemade frames for plates 

- fixing plates

- drying plates 

- washing plates

- varnishing plates

- making plates archival

- transporting plates before and after

- cutting glass

- loading holders (taped backs for 4mm and 3mm at 14x14)]

- lens

- cameras

- darkroom trailer

- tripod system

- power supplies

- water supplies

- pumping out waste water

- adding fresh water

- sources for all chemicals

- honey for long term temp storage of plates before wash

- safe lights

- how to pack trailer safely

- coolers for most important chemicals, both big and small

- silver maintenance in the field

- scooter transport for far off shooting locations

- darkroom tent for remote shooting

- trays

- raised trays for storage 

- plate storage cases

- plate separation sheets 

- honey protection 

- long term storage of plates 

- AND MANY MORE! 

Telling a Story to the Separatists

I posted this story on a silly Alberta separation Facebook page. I know it will fall on def ears, but I could not help myself. Worth a shot, maybe it might get 1 or 2 people thinking.

--------------------

You separation folks are so spoiled, crying over nothing. I will share a story, not sure any of you give a shit but thought I would try.

 

Several years back I was in Thailand and got access to a refugee camp along the Burmese border. I was lucky enough to spend the night and some personal time talking to the the residents of the camp.

 

One boy of 20, I still remember, he was so sincere, such a good lad, I can still see his face. He was from the KAREN ethnic group in Burma. He had been born in the Thai camp and has never left it. He dreamed of leaving for the USA, England, Australia or Canada. His name was on the list, it had been there for 20 years and yet he still waited. All he wanted was a chance at a better life, a better education. He dreamed of moving to a 1st world country and escaping the boring poverty of the camp. It is all he thought about.

 

The young man used to carry his bible everywhere he went, and would read passages from it when he was down (Karen people are very very Christian). Yet when he showed me his cell phone I saw pictures of him as a soldier. His people have been at war with the military leadership of the country (Burma, Myanmar) since 1949. The Karen army guerrillas would sneak back across the border to fight for their freedom. Many of the residents in the camps escaped to Thailand and the camps to run away from war, violence and extreme poverty. Many of the woman had been raped as a weapon of war. 

 

When I think about that boy and then think about the people in Alberta whining how Canada is not good enough for them, it makes my blood boil. WAKE UP MY FRIENDS, GET OVER YOUR SELFISHNESS AND APPRECIATE HOW F-CKING LUCKY WE ALL ARE... A photo of another young boy in the Mae La camp from 2015, Will his life be any better?

 

Bought a New Printer, Epson P-900

For a guy who is unemployed (retired), I am sure spending a lot of money lately. Bought me a Epson P-900 printer, inks and a roll paper adapter, total cost $2604 CAD. I needed the printer to do Direct To Plate (DTP) printing for my coming Photogravure work. The money is also coming from the Insurance Check. So I got both a new printer and a etching press out of it. I decided to buy the printer now as it has it currently has a $195 CAD rebate.

When I install and set up the P-900 printer I should be able to print directly onto the plates for the Photogravure process. I will still need to order $1000 in unexposed plates from a company in Ontario. 

Note* I still have some water damage insurance work to do upstairs but the downstairs damage is taken care of.

Note** I was initially hoping to use my P-800 printer for the Photogravure work but I have been having trouble loading paper into the printer, not sure what the issue is. 

Note*** I will use the new P-900 printer with the old roll paper I purchased for the  P-800 but could never load properly. My attempts to load the paper without the roll paper adapter ($1000+) might have damaged the P-800 machine.

Note**** I purchased my P-800 in April of 2018, over 8 years ago. Guess it was time for an upgrade. 

VIDEO: Ambrotypes at Elk Island National Park

Went to Elk Island today (Thursday June 25) to make Ambrotypes. I arrived a bit late 215pm and started shooting at 315pm. I made pics till about 7pm.

Broke the first 2 plates but it went well after that.

Note* I used the AC for the first time but it only ran for 2 hours 20 minutes. It dropped the temp in the trailer from the 27s Celsius to the 24s Celsius. It did not seem like much but it helped quite a bit. The short Jackery timeline is an issue. I have 2 units of the same size but tff gd at only gets me to 5 hours or so and then both batteries are dry.

Note** I also used honey  u for the first time in the field. It worked well but I think I need to make more mixed in the bottle before pouring, then do a better job spreading it on the plates to avoid drying.

Note*** It was nice to make up for the lost opportunities at Gull Lake (rained out), and to make some real Ambrotypes after so long away from the process!