Khun Oye 8x10 Inch Pt-Pd Print

Here is todays effort. 8x10 platinum-palladium print of Khun Oye, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Khlong Toei slum Bangkok.

The subtle tones of a Pt-Pd print are difficult to see in reproductions. The subtle greys are off the scales beautiful. These prints last as long as the paper, potentially 1000 years.

I tried making an 11x14 but I had contact issues leading to a blurry image. I need to buy or make a 16x20 contact printing frame, they run around $250 USD. Another option is to get my other UV printer running, it has a 20x24 vacuum table.

Video: Khune Oye In Platinum

Back in the darkroom tonight. I am trying to make a platinum print of Khun Oye from Khlong Toei slum in Bangkok. Part of THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY series. She was on the cover of Black&White photo magazine a while back.

Note* I tried to make a 11x14 but had a neg paper contact issue. The neg is sharp but the print is not! I need to buy a large 16x29 inch contact printing frame $250 USD or try to make o e myself. I have heard they are difficult to make.

First print before clearing baths. The 3 baths remove the yellow stain.

8x10 Digi Neg

Drying the Pt-Pd coated paper 

Link: Ambrotype Wash Process

Wrote this up for a Facebook friend, thought I would share it here.

I use hypo and wash in the field with no electricity. My process is to first hypo clear, then use wash trays for large plates (last season 11x14 and 14x14 inches). I use agitation pumps and sometimes fish tank underwater fan type units to agitate and circulate the water. I wash for 2 hours plus with many water changes. For power I have 3 different type battery power set ups that I usually run dry. This requires you carry a lot of water. I then go to a campsite, recharge my batteries and refill my water. I will try this set up with 24x24 inch plates this year.  So this wash process has worked well for me.

The plan is to use this type setup in very remote locations in places like Northern Canada. I will probably be refilling water supplies in streams and using solar at times to recharge batteries. 

Washing 11x14 and 14x14 inch Ambrotype Plates

Social Media Can be Cool!

So here is a social media can be cool story. 

As some of you that might read this blog occasionally might know, former LIFE Magazines W. Eugene Smith, is a photographer god to me. He has always been my main, probably my number 1 photographic inspiration. Without Smith I might have never made a social documentary photograph in my life. I consider his photograph "Tomoko in her Bath" the greatest photograph ever made. His depiction of a mothers love for her daughter is love in its most beautiful and pure form. I have spent hours looking at that photograph. Hoping someday I might make something 10% as powerful.

Smith passed in 1978 at 59, a year younger than I am now.

Blog Stories on Smith and the Tomoko photograph

Smith photographing in Mimamata/. I love the caring heart he shows here.

So now let's get to the social media part of the story. 

5 years or so back I came across Smiths son on social media. He seemed like a nice, interesting guy, that had his father's heart/empathy and compassion, and we became online friendly. The years past, and we exchanged a friendly word now and again. We have the same political and photography views, and I loved his posts about his dad, and his own life.

Recently I made a post about my possible housing in Bangkok for my coming Thai 3-month trip. Smith's son wrote back that he will be in Bangkok at the same time. We might meet for a meal. If it happens it should be a fun and enjoyable evening. 

Social media is strange that way, so much terrible stuff comes out of it but some nice things as well. Gerry a security guard from Edmonton can meet up with his idol's son from America for a dinner in Thailand. Gotta love that! Hope it happens.

Nice Rejection Letter

 Received my second rejection letter, this one was nice.

“Dear Gerry,

Thank you for your interest in submitting an exhibition proposal to the gallery at ——. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer you an exhibition in 2026. The selection process this year was exceptionally difficult, as there were over 90 proposals, and only 7 exhibition slots for our main gallery.  Please don’t be discouraged, or view this as a statement on the quality of your work.

—-- endeavors to provide a fair representation of artistic media & practices; from fine craft and painting, through to video and installation by both emerging and established artists. These considerations weigh heavily on the selection process. Building a balanced schedule that represents this diversity of practice was a primary consideration.  We also decided to prioritize regional artists who haven’t shown at —— before.  I wish we had the opportunity to exhibit more of the amazing artists working in Alberta.

I found the work very engaging; thoughtful, unique and well executed. I find practices like yours, with a strong conceptual foundation in tandem with interesting work very exciting. It is unfortunate we couldn’t work with you this time around but wish you the best.

Sincerely,

—— ——

Curator”

Link: Analog Forever Magazine Edition Three

They are selling the old edition of “Analog Forever Magazine” that I am part of for $30 USD. 

I still feel it is a pretty cool thing to be in the same magazine as David Burnett and Judy Dater. Both Dater and Burnett were early influences. The first ever photo magazine I bought included a story on Burnett. At the time I thought “I want to do that!”. I remember seeing Dater’s work for the first time in a library book when I was about15. Her 4x5 images were beautiful. At the time I did not even understand what a view camera was.

Blue Moon Camera

Retirment Goals

I have been thinking a lot about retirement. Here is a list of some of the things I hope to accomplish in the coming retirement years. 

1) AMBROTOS KANATA, cross Canada Ambrotype project.

2) Continue thee 2 photography projects in Thailand, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP and THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY.

3) Travel to and photograph in the Philippines.

4) Write my AUTOBIOGRAPHY, "Lost to Time".

5) Create a draft copy of my photo book "Tears of a Butterfly"

6) Print the best photographs of my lifetime in Platinum/Silver Gelatin limited editions. 

7) Get work exhibited in major galleries across Canada.

Everything might not be accomplished but some of it will. I would rather fail than live with regret. Regret will eat at your soul. Trying to do something extraordinary, swinging for the fences and falling on your ass is much easier path to follow. At least you gave it a go. 

I know so many people that have no dreams, they give up before  they start, it is so sad, such a waste. I do not want to be one of those types!! 

Let’s give our best. You only have one life!!

Thai News 2

 

Thai News 1

 

11x14 Digi Neg of Khun Anapon

Made a  11x14 digi neg of the Anapon headshot. I will try to print it next week, when I am off work.

11x14 digi neg

8x10 Platinum print

A Long Way To Go

I would like to develop the skills to be a Master Platinum-Palladium printer but I still have such a long way to go. This rather noble looking  platinum print headshot of Khun Anapon, I almost through way because I felt it looked too contrasty and too dark when wet. Once it dried, in good light, and was placed under a mat, it looked pretty good. A few blemishes in the coating but a nice looking Platinum print. 

Judging the images-prints and understanding how I can make them better will take years of printing experience. I hope I have enough time left in my life to get this done.

More Pt-Pd 8x10 Prints

Some more Platinum and Palladium prints from tonight. I printed these to get a feel for what they look like in Pt-Pd and how and if I  can move forward with them to the 11x14 size.

Dom, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE INDER THE FREEWAY 

Child working the garbage, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP

THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE INDER THE FREEWAY

Khun Ooh With Fire

8x10 Palladium Print

Khun (Miss) Ooh from THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2018

Ooh is a person I first started photographing in around 2012. She lost her home around 2021, I photographed here at her new home in 2022. She works collecting bottles and has a dog she loves. She is not sure of her age and in an earlier life had a farang (Western) boyfriend. She has children but they have abandoned her to the streets. 

In this photo Ooh is preparing  a fire to cook her rice supper after her days work. She is wearing the wig I always saw her in. A very sweet lady. We used some donation money to buy some medicine for her sick dog. When the dog recovered, she was beyond happy.

Another possible 11x14 Pt-Pd print.

This 

Dom Sitting High

8x10 Palladium Print

Khun (Mr.) Dom from THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2018

Dom was a drug dealer under the freeway. He sold YABA, which translates to “CRAZY MEDICINE”. It is an amphetamine. Dom’s left arm and hand were damaged, he could not use them. 

Dom was always very polite to me and would act up for the camera. Here he posed with his hat and sunglasses. Dom disappeared, I could not find him the next year when I returned to Bangkok.Another possible 11x14 Pt-Pd print.

Noble Anapon

8x10 Platinum Print

Khun (Mr.) Anapon from THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2018

I always felt Anapon had a certain nobility to him. I photographed Anapon under the freeway from 2011 till 2022.  He lost his home around 2021 when part of the freeway was knocked down. A former Muey Thai boxer who fought internationally in Japan. We spoke of the beautiful women in Japan a bit. 

I think I will try to make this portrait in 11x14 for possible exhibition. Khun Anapon deserves to be seen and remembered.

Ordered Revere Platinum Paper from B&H in New York

I have been printing my Platinum prints on Revere paper, made in Italy. Ordered some super large sheets that I can cut down to the sizes I needed. I can cut one sheet down to 4-11x15s or to a smaller/larger size as needed. Buying this way is also a $22 USD savings (Plus free shipping0.

I might print my Pt-Pd exhibition prints with this stuff.

Video: Today’s Pt-Pd 11x14s

Todays 2-11x14 inch Platinum-Palladium prints.

Khun Anapon, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY project and dump shacks with wild dogs., THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP project.

Dry down in Platinum Peints

Here is the effect of dry down for a Pt-Pd print on Reverre paper using Potassium Oxalate developer. The blacks and contrast is more muted dullish when dry but there is an extended long, beautiful tonal range, characteristic of Platinum-Palladium in the dry print. That tonal range is difficult to see in this capture,  real life viewing is a must for Platinum prints! 

The print is quite beautiful, a subtle ness that is quite alluring, I like it.

Wet

Dry

Video: My Second 11x14 Inch Platinum Print

Here is the second attempt at a 11x14 platinum print. Khun Anapon with flower, From THE PEOPLED WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY series.

 Note* I want to make 50 platinum prints. 25 from each Thai project, plus matting and hand made wooden frames. I will probably take a cool

Video: First 11x14 Inch Platinum Print

Here is my first attempt at a 11x14 inch Pt-Pd print. From the RAK series.

This print gave me some confidence. I should later be able to make 16x20 Platinum prints.

Trying to Write my Autobiography

Making another stab at writing my autobiography, LOST TO TIME.

I am wondering if I can write it like memories floating through my mind. The faces of the past coming and going, being recorded on the page in a fleeting few words before they are replaced by the next flashing recollection.

It might be a beautiful and truthful way to contruct a book. A way to keep the readers interested and engaged.

Swimming Pool Sodium Thiosulfate!

I picked up a 55lb pail old Sodium Thiosulphate today, cost was $176 CAD. The product name is “Chlor Out” and is used in swimming pools and hot tubs to lower chlorine levels. I have used a variation of this product from an Amazon source, thou that cost more for 5 lbs. less product. I use this type of Sodium Thiosulphate as fixer for my Ambrotype work.

After mixing the fixer (hypo), I filter to remove any precipitate, then use it as normal, at a 30%-40% dilution. My old pool Sodium Thiosulfate stuff worked great. I am hoping this brand does as well. If it works for me, I will buy 3 or 4 pails next time. In my wet plate work, I go through a tone of hypo. 

Note* From an online search.

Pool sodium thiosulfate, also known as "hypo," can be used in photography as a photographic fixer, meaning it dissolves the unexposed silver halide crystals on film or photographic paper, effectively making the image permanent by preventing further light exposure from affecting it; essentially, you can use pool sodium thiosulfate as a substitute for the dedicated photographic fixer solution, though it's important to check its purity and concentration before using it for photography.

Videos: RAK Series

Here is an image from the RAK series, P#1. Platinum-Palladium print on Bergger COT 320 paper, with Potassium Oxalate development.

Revere paper, Sodium Citrate development 

Bergger COT paper, Potassium Oxalate development 

Another Plate of the Forgotten Saskatchewan Church

Forgotten Church, 14x14 inch Clear Glass Ambrotype, AMBROTOS KANATA, Saskatchewan, Canada, August 31, 2024

Saskatchewan Church Ambrotype

I think 11x14 will be my main small type Ambrotype for the AMBROTOS KANATA cross Canada wet plate project. They are pretty easy to make, yet they have nice semi large size, good for viewing.

Forgotten Church, 11x14 Clear Glass Ambrotype, AMBROTOS KANATA, Saskatchewan, Canada, August 31, 2024