Time to start making Ambrotypes again for the AMBROTOS KANATA project. Will try to do up this Diptych in the next 2 months. I first need to get my darkroom trailer up snd running.
The plan is to later do 24x24 inch sized Diptychs of the oceans around Canada
I have a bunch of broken glass from larger failed plates. I will cut them down to usable (non broke) 4x5 inch size. I should be able to scavenge 10-15 4x5 inch glass plates.
I was initially thinking I would use the glass for workshop students. I think now thou that bringing my funky Speed Graphic and funky Aero Ektar lens out of retirement, might be a better plan!!
Lived in the Fort Road area of Edmonton for over 60 years. Today for the first time in my life I visited the historic Transit Hotel built in 1908. Lots of history here, an Ambrotype possibly?
You’re a senior? Today’s “senior” discount book buys. 10 books for around $70 CAD. 30% off for us old folks, plus buy 5 get one free!!
Dao, sleeping 1am, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Khlong Toei Slum, Bangkok, Thailand, 2025
2 views of Prem Image.
Khun Prem, at night, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Khlong Toei Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2025
Prem, late at night, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Khlong Toei Slum, Bangkok, Thailand, 2025
Note* This image is from the second last night of shooting.
While working on the carpentry room today, found this, from my second ever exhibition. It was actually my first real exhibition, where i had more than 4 prints exhibited. Thank you Larry and Joanna, I owe you guys forever!!
Mine is the middle pic, other two are by my friends Jonathan and Larry. 14 years ago!!
A three man show at a beautiful gallery, a memorable experience.
The never ending work on the carpentry room continues. Organizing screws and nails, what a joy!! I should be able to work in the space by next week.
Gosh there was a lot of stuff in this room. I have too much stuff!! My stuff, mom and dad’s stuff and stuff from a friend Dennis. Overwhelmed with stuff!! Will do 5 runs to free big bin events in Edmonton to dump some of the STUFF!!
Carpentry shop coming together, bit by bit. I hope to make very large picture frames here as well as boxes to carry my glass ambrotype plates! It’s a peaceful location with a large outside area and table. I also plan to cut my glass for the Project AMBROTOS KANATA here, along with mat cutting.
Will have a circular saw, table saw, small band saw, table router, planer and sander in the shop. Plus hand tools of all types Thinking of a drill press as well but not sure I need it. Over half of the machines are second hand. Good tools make work easier and i need all the help i can get!!
I will not be able to work here in the winter months but spring, summer and fall should be be fine. Will add a few electric heaters.
Apple
Gogo Dancer, Yaba Addict
Fake Breasts, Lost Teeth
Forgotten Dreams, Alone and Dying
Did up a large picture of the Madonna-Apple photograph tonight. Made the digital print (13x15 inches) on glossy and mat papers (chose the glossy for now). Cut the glass for the frame (20x24 inches). Cut the mat board, only took 1 try! And, placed everything in the frame.
Everything looks nice and professional!
Note* The frame is a nice new specimen I picked up a year ago, for $5.59 CAD, with 2 others (plus 3 others in another design) at Goodwill on the Southside Edmonton.
Note•• the frame measures 26x30 inches, some kinda imitation wood, but looks very nice..
Khun Apple, Madonna, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Khlong Toei Slum, Bangkok 2025
The 6-Ply mat board has a great look, the problem is I cannot cut it myself and must order it in. I love the depth of the window, a very high end gallery look.
Photo is of Kuhn Apple after doin YaBa, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY.
$2 CAD Goodwill frame and mat used to hang a 10x15 digi print of Khun Apple, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY.
Printed on Moah, Estrada Natural Rag, 300 weight paper. I like the look of the paper and the 300 weight gives the piece a sense of more substance.
Did up 11 large digi mat paper prints, 10x15 inches each. Cannot show 2 here because of Facebook’s nakedness freak out..
I will probably make up another 5 or 10. It is nice to finally see them in print form. Also going to try a 14x19 inch version for my big frames.
From the project THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE INDER THE FREEWAY. I am very happy I decided to retire and spend my first 4 months in Thailand creating pictures. No retirement , no trip, equals, NO PHOTOS.
Note* the paper is bright white in real life.
I have one magazine and 2 talks for THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THEE FREEWAY, that's nice, but I need an exhibition!! I am desperate to show this work!!
Note* They pay $200 USD, the money will be used to help the people in the pictures.
The date will be in either April or May of 2026. It will be fun to get back to my old stomping grounds.
I want to try to print the recent Thai work in Platinum and Salt but first decided to give my Epson P800 a go. Made up some 10x13 inch prints on a high gloss (left photo) and a mat paper. Am not sure which I prefer. I am not really a digi print type of guy, but these turned out quite nice.
It is important to print photographs, they need to be viewed on paper, held in your hands. It was nice today to see the prints on paper, instead of a digital screen of some kind. They seem more real that way!
THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY,, Khlong Toei Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2025
Got a second social documentary photography talk scheduled. This one is at CAPS, Central Alberta Photography Society, the first is at at Images Alberta Camera Club. They are ways off, giving me time to improve my PowerPoint presentation. The talks will be in April/May 2026.
One of my many retirement projects is to clean out the room behind the garage and to use that space and the accompanying out door area to do wood working . My carpentry shop so to speak (even thou I have very limited skills).
The plan is to use this large working area to build big diptych and triptych frames for the coming 20x24 and 24x24 inch Ambrotypes. 2 pic diptych and 3 pic triptych stories, for the AMBROTOS KANATA project.
I can see Ultra Large format framed Ambrotyoe triptychs in my minds eye. Ambrotypes of the coastlines, mountains, forests, cities ad industry of Canada. Works that do not exist yet but that I know will be made.
I do not have the ambrotypes or exhibitions yet but I will have a place to make large frames!!!
Been working on this the last 4 days but as you can see a LONG way to go,
Khun May , #1 and #2, after doing meth, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Khlong Toei Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2025
#1 
#2
