The Daguerreotype Gear

 Here is the Daguerreoptype making gear I bought from Quinn J in Colorado. I know the basics of the process, the basics of the basics actually I am not sure how everything in the photo operates but I will figure it out with time. I am good at photo related things.

Note* Unfortunately I cannot get the chemicals sent to me by Quinn as they are dangerous goods. Will have to solve that problem later, by my chemistry within Canada. Step by step builds the grand cathedral!

Note** Total cost is $2000 USD plus a ton for shipping. Quinn paid over $8000 USD new, and as you can see the items ore in mint shape.

Quote: Mark Twain

 

Video" Fascinating Dagueerreotype Video

Researching Daguerreotypes tonight, after my new found opportunity to create them. Found this animated face version of forgotten beautiful woman from the past creative and fun.

Daguerreotype Beauties From The 19th Century Brought To Life (Animated

Link: Daguerreotype Video

Spear plant daguerreotype, a beautiful work by Francesco Fragomeni.

Spear Plant Daguerreotype by Francesco Fragomeni 

Daguerreotype by Francesco Fragomeni 

Link: Daguerreotypes, Gotta Give It A Go!!!

Life is too short. It is important to chase down dreams while you can. So many people I know are afraid to take chances, or unable to do what they love. I do not want to be one of those.

I have an opportunity to buy the tools to make daguerreotypes for $2000 USD plus expensive shipping (big and heavy gear) from Colorado USA. Bought new, these same daguerreotype making tools retail at about $8000 USD. The opportunity is there so I will chase it down.

Worst case I waste some money, best case I create some beautiful, important Dags. No contest!!

Ambrotypes, AMBROTOS KANATA, and the two Thai projects THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP and THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, remain my focus. But I gotta try daguerreotypes, they are so unique, historical and extremely beautiful.

Full speed ahead.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daguerreotype

Daguerreotypes!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Video: Bow Lake, 8x10 Clear Glass Ambrotype, AMBROTOS KANATA

First mountain Ambrotype that kinda works. I exposed for the distant mountains, to get some detail there. I will use the graduated filter more for this type of shot in the future. They should allow both distant mountain and foreground tree/land detail.

Bow Lake, 8x10 Clear Glass Ambrotype, AMBROTOS KANATA, Banff National Park, Alberta, September 2023

Dream

Videos: Lundbreck Falls and Bridge, 8x10 Clear glass Ambrotypes, AMBROTOS KANATA

Lundbreck Falls and Bridge, 8x10 Clear glass Ambrotypes, AMBROTOS KANATA, Lundbreck, Alberta, September 2023

Crazy Gerry, New Photo Idea?

Gosh, was thinking of this years ago, thinking of it again. Making Daguerreotypes? It might happen! Just what I need, another impossible photography goal.

Daguerreotype Gear for Sale, Cheaper Price!

8x10 Glass Plate Washer For My Ambrotypes

Tonight, I bought this upright acrylic washer for my 8x10 plates from a seller in the Ukraine. 

I figured I could rig it up with my trailer water recycle pumps, allowing for more complete and thorough cleaning of the plates. The other big advantage is that the plates and the ultra-sensitive collodion emulsion will now receive less accidental touch damage. Once I have the plate on its individual plastic carrier, I will not need to touch the plate. There will be a lot less chance of accidently, scraping, touching scratching and plate movement (sometimes the plates move on top of each other) related damage.

I damage my plates over and over again in the wash trays. In fact, one of the plates, I sold to the provinces collection was damaged that way. When you screw up at the end, it really hits you in the heart. I hope this tool will help alleviate some of that pain.

Total cost was $280 USD plus $80 USD for shipping. Well worth it, if I can make more beautiful Ambrotypes.

If this works, I might try ordering a 16x20 version from the maker, as a special-order item.

A Blasting Out the Ambrotypes System

Tonight, at work during my security rounds. I have been thinking up a system to allow me to BLAST OUT THE AMBROTYPES. The recent success, making 5 Cottonwood Ambrotypes in less than 2 hours, got me a thinking. If I did it once, why can't I do it again and again? Why can't I do quick 2–3-hour wet plate shoots all over the country?

The main problem with doing Ambrotypes quickly (outside of their finicky-complex nature) is the fact you have to wash them then dry them before moving on. Because I am using regular hypo (Sodium Thiosulfate) as my fixer, not Potassium Cyanide. My wash times are long, even when I use a hypo clearing agent. Dry times, especially in cold weather can take quite a bit of time as well.

The only way I can speed up my on-location time, is to do it later. Do it when I am parked in a campground (or boondock location) for the night and have loads of wash/dry time available.

So, this might be my working system. This might work.

- Arrive on location and shoot my 8x10, using the darkroom trailer. Or I could arrive on location, pull out the bike-trailer and pop-up Ilford darkroom tent, plus all the supplies I need and drive to somewhere I want to shoot.

- After the plates are fixed and rinsed, place them in an airtight (non-leaking) type of container measuring a bit larger than 8x10 inches. Add water and glycerin to the plate-container to keep everything nice and moist. 

- Place 2 airtight containers per separate busboy tray with lid. Then stack the busboy trays and lid in the RV shower. I could probably fit 10 plus on top of each other, making 20 most 8x10 plates.

- Travel to my sleeping location after the shoot. Wash, dry and store the plates that night and the following day.

With this system. I could do no more hit and run, quick location 8x10 Ambrotypes making. I might even eventually move up to quick 11x14 inch plates.

Note* The combination of the new Ilford pop-up darkroom tent, and this quick departure (wash-dry later) creating system could have very positive effects on my Ambrotype making. I can now stop anywhere, shoot farther off from that RV-trailer location, leave earlier, and finish the plate making process later. This will allow for more subjects shot, more plates made, in a variety of locations to be shot countrywide.

Quote: Emily Carr (Painter and Writer)

 "Listen, this perhaps is the way to find that thing I long for: go into the woods alone and look at the earth crowded with growth, new and old bursting from the their strong roots hidden in the silent, live ground, each seed according to its own kind expanding, bursting, pushing its way upwards towards the light and air, each one knowing what to do,  each demanding its own rights on the earth."

Red Cedar, Emily Carr, 1931

Us and Emily

Got this book today on the great Canadian painter Emily Carr. While flipping through the book I came across this drawing from 1938-45. I had never seen it before. Reminds me of our (my wife and me) Ambrotype made last week at Dinosaur provincial park. 1938-45 to 2023! The glory of the trees lives on.

Found it kind of cool to see a similar, image, composition and thought. I can imagine Emily Carr looking up and making her sketch, feeling wonder and excitement. I felt it myself!