3rd Palldium Print Attempt

I am very excited by the possibilities of alternative printing processes and digital negs. Hopefully in the not to distant future I can try "Carbon Transfer" printing as well!

from Facebook....

Here is another neg printed in Palladium using an exisiting curve. This is my 3rd attempt at the process, still need to learn how to make my own personal curves. The photo is of a father and his son Chemeeko. I photographed the father and mothers wedding on my first trips to the dump in 2013, this photo was made in 2015. Last I heard, the family now has 3 children and has returned to Burma as Chemeeko's grandmother had become ill. Thinking of doing this one up larger for the Art Centre show at the University of New Brunswick.

 Here is a video link to the developer pour. COOL STUFF!!

Developing This Image Link 

Print In 15 minute wash.

Image visible after exposure of hand painted Palladium emulsion.

Emulsion-ink side of rubylithed digital neg.

Rubylith on neg, for even edges.

Digital negative detail.

Digi neg, coated Palladium paper and contact printer on UV printing unit.

2nd Palladium Print Attempt, Much Better!

 from Facebook....

My second attempt at printing up a Palladium print using a digital negative. The neg was not made with my personal curve as I am still learning that process. This neg is an existing Curve within the program. It turned out OK. Lots of room for improvement in this alternative printing process thing but today was a step in the right direction.

Thank you Bill Schwab for so much help on this.

 

Developing This Image Link 

 

UV exposure unit running for 8 minutes in darkroom #2

Neg with paper and rubylith in a large contact printing frame.

Rubylith masked neg on the plastic side.

Rubylith masked digi neg on the emulsion-ink side.

The exposed image on the hand coated Palladium paper

The print clearing in its first bath.

First Palladium Print, Oops!

Did my first Palladium print. Some things went right some did not. A good learning experience, plus it was fun.

Things that went wrong.

- image too dark. The wrong curve? Exposure time? (don’t think so). Did I use too much chemistry when I made the paper? The neg seemed thin to my eye but I am not sure what digit negs should look like!

- image too contrasts, original edit? The wrong curve?

- poor brushing of Palladium liquid, took a photo and let it sit too long? poor brushing technique?

- spillage of emulsion outside frame, tape did not hold liquid in?use rubylith instead!

- dust spots, dirty holder or digital neg?

Outside of those errors, things tuned out great!

 On the plus side, all the chemical stuff was easy, the blacks look good, and the final dried print even thou it was badly overexposed and too contrasty had a presence I really liked. I can see the potential beauty print at the end of this in my minds eye. I just need to get the tech stuff down. Then I can print a lifetime of negs in Palladium if I want.

 I was surprised that since this was a Palladium image it was not warmer toned, not sure why. Chock this up to a learning experience.

Final image, way way to dark and contrasty

Holder face down before the 10 minute exposure

Paper after coating, uneven attempt

Digi neg, paper  and holder on UV box

Chemicals on paper, (4 kinds mixed together)

Tray set up in darkroom #2

Paper after exposure, shows a slight outline of image

Work area, paper taped, brush and chemistry

First Digital Negative, So Exciting!

Did up my first digi neg today. This is not my own designed curve yet, I am still working on learning how to make those. I am on Digital Negative from "North Light Workshop", video 4. 

For this negative I simply used a built in curve that came with my Quad Tone Rip/Profiler software called, UCmk-HMPRduo-warm. I wanted to try to print out a small Palladium Print (also a first) just to see what I get, and also to learn-practise the involved technique.  Everything is do new to me here, I am fumbling and stumbling about somewhat, the more practise the better!

Later on if things go to plan I will be making up my own personal curves depending on my printer, light source, paper, process combos.  I will be doing this for all my alternative work, platinum, palladium, platinum-palladium, carbon transfer as well as any other processes I try.

THIS IS GOING TO BE FUN!!!!!!!!

"Ain't Photograph Grand!!"

Note* I will compare this negative and print to my personal made curve versions later on.

Note** The image is of a young girl waiting in the dump for her mother.

First digi neg, on UV unit and on lightbox

Max Black And First Coatings Of Hahnemuhle Platinum Art Paper

Over the last few days have done a series of test strips to find maximum black on the Hahnemuhle Platinum Paper combined to my metal box UV unit. Coated 3 sheets of 5x8 paper using a brush and the Bostick & Sullivan Palladium chemistry. 

I played around with the drop count of the 4 chemicals involved and used the UV exposure unit I bought a few years back for the first time. A few hiccups but I got an exposure of 9-10 minutes as expected to give me a max black for my chemical/paper/exposure unit combo.

Am happy with first results.

 The 2018 story about buying this UV unit for $25

My cheaper UV exposure Unit.

For Platinum-Palladium?

I might try this photo out as a Platinum-Palladium print. A less contrasty more tonal version of the image might be quite compelling.

I wish I could sell some of these things to raise money for the families.

Dump baby boy, shot with a Rolleiflex, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot Thailand 2016

HF2024

 I might be making an instalment camera deal for a 20x24 camera. The idea would be 4 fold, if this happens. We are working out the details now.

- Helping the seller ship me my HF35 camera which I have already paid for.

- Allow me a lighter, easier to handle (1 man unit) 20x24 camera to use to make wet plate ambrotypes for the AMBROTOS KANATA project. I could travel lighter not taking the HF3535 with me and do quicker setups.

- Would include a 20x24 wet plate holder I could use with both cameras, the HF3535 with reducing back and the HF2024.

- I might be able to use the HF2024 for portrait work.

Note* The previous buyer for this camera reneged on the deal. The builder Filip at HF Camera is more desperate to sell it. Maybe we can make a deal that helps us both. He will be happy and so would I.

Note* If this deal goes through I would have the following cameras for the AMBROTOS KANAA project, a 16x20 inch Chamonix, a 20x24 HF and a 35x35 HF, along with all the smaller cameras. I think that should handle things pretty damn well :).

Stats from HF Camera:

I m offering for sell huge 20x24" filed wooden camera named HF2024on. The wooden camera is made of light beech wood, metal components are made of aluminium, nickel - plated surface.  The camera is made for studio and landscape work. This auction includes film holder 20x24" or plate holder 20x24". Don't includes lens.  Front: Sinar lendsboards, central tilt, rise / fall, swing Focusing: triple draw, rack and pinions Back: rotate back ( portrait / landscape composition ), swing Bellows extension: minimal: 120mm, maximal 1900mm Tripod sockets: 3/8 and 1/4 in the middle of camera base, 3/8 bellow the front standarda, 3/8 bellow  rear standarda Weight: 22,5kg 49,6lb Size: collapsed camera without knobs: 750x750x150mm The camera can go out with film holder 20x24" or with plate holder. The holders accepts film 508x610mm, like ilford etc. The plate holder use plates to the thickness 2mm, size 508x610mm also. It is perfect for advanced, serious  collodion work.  The camera base has a four tripod threads. One is under center of base and on side of base. The second stand thread 3/8" (light stand) is under front and the fourth is under the back. I recommend use heavy tripod or make a special table for studio work.

HF2024 a 20x24 inch view camera

The deal would include both a 20x24 film holder and a 20x24 wet plate holder.

Forgotten Innocence Project?

My long delayed but never forgotten possible photo series LOST INNOCENCE still haunts my mind. The series would tell the stories of the women locked into the slavery of the brothels of South East Asia. I am scared to go into those worlds but those lives must be honoured and remembered.

Was looking at this small digital print photo I made a while back. The original was shot in Colorado Agfa Optima film in 2003, in a brothel in Poipet Cambodia. The.ugliest place I ever made pictures in.What happened to this young worker! Does she exist now only in this picture? I remember her sad eyes, she was Vietnamese, likely sold to the brothel by her family. Memories of lost lives like hers push me to return to those worlds and continue the work.

More For Shipping HF35 Camera?

I might have to spend more for shipping the HF35 camera from the Czech Republic. The builder is having financial problems and to get 5he camera it looks like it is going to cost me more. Paying more sucks but you got to do what you got to do to chase down your dreams.

"Ambrotos Kanata": YouTube Channel

I am the early stages of planning a new YouTube channel that will cover all the adventures associated with the 15 year wet plate project AMBROTOS KANATA. I hope the channel will be a resource to document the history of the project and something that can be included in all gallery/grant/ sales submissions (as I now do with this photo blog). The channels adventures might even help raise some funds to make more pictures, pay expenses etc. Doing a channel would be tons of work but also loads of fun. Much more to come on this one!! Please Stay Tuned!!

Note* Am going to apply for grant money (local, provincial and national) and will have a Patreon ID setup for gifts/donations. I will also do work shops across the country. All of this, to try and make AMBROTO KANATA, magical!

Covid-19 UNB Art Centre Exhibition Delay

Got word today that the 2 large exhibitions for THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP and THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY at the University of New Brunswick Art Centre in Fredericton, will be delayed. The gallery is currently closed and back logged with 2 years of exhibitions. Our turn will not come until 2023 or even later.

A bit of a downer but everyone, everywhere, is hurting from Covid-19. Some people are experiencing real tragedy, my problems ain’t that big a deal. So far the virus has had a minimum impact on those I love, which makes me very lucky.

On the upside this change has allowed me to update my plans. When the shows are due, I will be retired from work, that allows more freedom. I am planning a 2-3 month trip to the Maritimes. I will be travelling in a motor home and pulling my darkroom trailer.. I can visit the provinces while working on the major wet plate photography project AMBROTOS KANATA and do the shows in Fredericton along the way. Who knows they might even allow me a PowerPoint artist talk. I will also have more time to print Platinum-Palladium photographs for possible exhibition. Might even make a bit of money along the way (sell some prints? talk fee?) which I can then donate back to the families. This could turn into wins all round.

Even in the darkest clouds there is often a rainbow hidden inside.

“Ain’t Photography Grand!!

University of New Brunswick Art Centre Building In Fredericton, New Brunswick Canada

Masks Are Not That Bad!

Just did up a screen capture from a video made at the dump, in 2019, as part of THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP. I had been thinking about this 2019 moment recently in comparison to wearing a mask in 2021. When I wear a mask at work now for 12 hour shifts I find it hot and uncomfortable. I do not want to wear it, it is a pain in the ass, but necessary. I thought back to this moment in the dump where I was covered in flies. Somehow after looking at this photo a few times, wearing a clean sterile mask in a clean guardhouse does not seem that big a deal. Please wear your mask people, and please get the vaccine when it is available. Lets work together to get through this thing.

In the dump 2019

Fly Me To The Moon Video

Quote: Gene Roddenberry

 "In a very real sense, we are all aliens on a strange planet. We spend most of our lives reaching out and trying to communicate. If during our whole lifetime. We could reach out and really communicate with just two people. We are indeed very fortunate."

My Platinotype Book Has Arrived!

Two gifts from the photography postal mail gods, two days in a row. Today my 11x14 holder and yesterday I got my copy of the Plantinotype book by Pradip Malde and Mike Ware. Hopefully I can soon start to make my first platinum-palladium prints. Using noble metals to make photographs with digi negs, should be loads of fun. My goal is to make up some small prints for the coming New Brunswick exhibitions.

 

"Plattinotype" by Pradip Malde and Mike Ware

 

Got Me My 11x14 Wet Plate Holder

 Got my 11x14 Wet Plate holder today. In the fall I can start making 11x14 Ambrotypes! I will be able to start to make Ultra Large Format Ambrotypes in the summer next year. I hope I can take this baby on the road next summer/fall and do work on AMBROTOS KANATA 15 year photo series. The holder was made for me in the Ukraine by Andrey Badeev (Facebook). It was expensive ($600 USD) but if important glass images are the result, the price was well worth it. I got to work hard to make the holder pay for itself.

11x14 wet plate holders that can take up to 3mm glass (I think)

Quote: Mark Twain

 “The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog.”

Quote: Robert Byrne (Writer)

 “The purpose of life is a life of purpose.”

Quote: James Baldwin (Writer, Civil Rights Activist, Humanitarian)

 "You cannot change, what you do not face."

Picked Up A Spinning Bike Used

I am rather desperately trying to lose some weight and build some cardio. Picked me up a spin type bike, used, on the cheap. Not super cheap but this bike gets 8/10 reviews and is almost gym quality strong. I paid $200 CAD for it (Goodwill), new it retailed $499 at USD. The bike is in reasonable shape and seems fully functional. 

My hope is I can put in 30 minutes a day to start, while watching TV. Not sure this idea will work, but it can not hurt. Am 56 now, I need to at least try to maintain some kind of conditioning or the photography will suffer.

Update* Did 20 minutes today, seems I need to work my way up!

LifeSpan S2 Spin Bike

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Plastic Camera

 from Facebook...

Picked up a 35mm PLASTIC camera a few days back at 'Goodwill' for $4.50 CAD. Might try shooting some Tri-x in this and then making a digi neg, possibly followed by a Platinum-Palladium print, could be fun! Nothing says quality like "Kinetic Optical Color Lens'!!

My new high end 35mm!