Tondo?

Am thinking of Tondo Slum (Happy Land) in the Philippines, more and more. I got to get better at the Tagalog language.

Quote: Chuck Yeager (Fighter Pilot, Test Pilot and the Man Who Broke the Sound Barrier)

"You do what you can for as long as you can, and when you finally can't, you do the next best thing. You back up but you don't give up.”

Photo Stories x4

gerryyaum.net   Images from the website.

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#FD-60, Children playing while their parents work the garbage, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot, Thailand, 2018

They played for a long time in the little shelter, laughing with joy.

#SN-8, Man sleeping on street, SUKHUMVIT AT NIGHT, Bangkok, Thailand, 1999

He slept in a dark corner on Sukhumvit road, forgotten and ignored. He did not speak; I never saw him again or learned his name.

#K-4, KODOKU #4, Tokyo, Japan, 2017

He was drunk and had just vomited on the floor of the train station. A professor, he gave me his card and ran off to catch the last train.

#S-2, Nit Sex Worker, SOPHENI, Bangkok, Thailand, 2003

She started to work when she was a teenager in the Gigi bars of Patpong. It was the tail end of the war in Vietnam. Now she worked the streets and customers were hard to come by. I photographed her maybe 10 times. Then she disappeared.

#PUF-43, Ga 30, staring out of her small tent, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2022

She seemed frightened and was always looking out a small hole in her cloth covered home under the freeway. I gave her some chicken i gad bought with some rice. She tried to sell me some jewelry.

Link: My Current Website Project Cover Photos

 gerryyaum.net

Time For Important Work!!

It is time to do important work in the AMBROTOS KANATA project. Enough of this learning shit, let's make some lasting strong ambrotypes!

I will shoot my 11x14 camera exclusively this 2024 shooting season. No 4x5, no 8x10, onwards and upwards! I am running out of time, almost 60 and counting! I am running out of time, almost 60 and counting!

11x14 Camera Lens?

 Lots of lens for the new used 11x14. So far found these that work. They seem to have converge.

12-inch projection lens
360mm Nikkor W
350mm F5 Gundlach Petzval Lens
240mm El Nikkor Enlarger Lens
and of course, the 450mm Nikkor, 600mm Fujinon and 600 Nikkor process lens.

The INDUSTAR-51 (I-51) 210mm f4.5 might be fun to play with it as well. Doubtful it will have coverage, but it can create an interesting wide-angle effect at close range (extended bellows) focus.

Portrait Inspiration!

Saved this image in my wet plate notebook as inspiration for my own ambrotype portrait work. Will try it soon at 14x14 inches. Thanks Kurt

Note* Thinking of multiple possible lens for this type feeling image.  I have lots of options. Will find what works!

14x14 format, 360mm Nikkor W, 350mm F5 Gundlach Petzval, 240mm enlarger, and 12 inch Projection.

24x24 format, 655mm Voigtlander F6, F11.5, 600mm Fujinon, 600mm Nikkor F9 and 18 inch Projection.

Photo by Kurt Moser

$200 Talk Money to be Donated

I am not sure where I will use the money. The Families at the Dump? The People Under the Freeway? or possibly in the Philippines.

Gave a Fun PowerPoint Talk!!

Dreaming In Thai Again

 

Adapter Board Fun!!!!

Figured out a double adapter lens board set up today. This idea uses things I already own without the cost of an additional lens board. So, follow along!

I mounted my 360mm Nikkor lens onto a Linhof Copal 3 lens board. Then placed the Linhof board into a Linhof to Sinar adaptor. Then placed everything into a Sinar to Deardorf adapter board.

I then mounted the whole contraption onto the camera.

So, we have a Nikkor lens mounted to a Linhof board, mounted to a Linhof/Sinar adapter board, mounted to a Sinar/Deardorff adapter board, mounted to the Chamonix 11x14 camera.

It should work! Or I could just buy a Deardorff copal 3 board for $50-$100 USD!

Note* I have 2 types of Linhof to Sinar adapter boards, 1 plastic, 1 metal. Using the plastic board here.

Bought an Extension Board

Gosh, spent a bunch of money again. $340 USD (including shipping) for a simple little item, an extension board for the 11x14 Chamonix camera. The board allows you to focus much closer, allows for longer bellows extension. 

The thought is too use this item on the 11x14 with the 14x14 wet plate back to do close head shots. I can also use it to do details of items in nature etc.

Lots of money! For such a simple thing. If I had the skills I could have probably made one. The Chamonix version is a carbon fibre material I believe.

Note* I can probably use this item with the 16x20 and 24x24 cameras as well but with a much shortened extension. Still it is a bit of multitask device.

11x14 Extension Board

Second Wash Table Setup

I have been thinking of the best way to attach my hosing for the circulation-agitation pumps in my wash tables. One of the problems I have been having while washing plates is the hose getting away on me and scratching the surface of the ultra sensitive collodion emulsions. So you work all day trying to get a good plate and then during the wash process the wash hose moves and creates ugly damage on the plate. THAT HAS TO STOP!!

I was thinking of using a couple of these type double clamps on the table. The idea would be that both the water in and water out hoses would be held firmly in place with the clamps, preventing unintentional hose movement and damage.

The double clamp is mostly plastic but has some metal parts. I worry that with time they will become rusty. Each clamp cost $33, I would require 4 for the 2 tables (white and black wash tables).

Note* I like the black table color better, especially for clear glass ambrotypes. It should allow me to see the image while washing. This white table was $50 CAD cheaper ($130 versus $180 CAD), so I decided to save some money on the second table.

Lens Board Problem Solved

One good thing about having a ton of photo gear is that you can usually solve problems. I was worried about lens boards for the new/used 11x14 Chamonix and thought I might need to buy some. Expensive items! 

Today after work I tried attaching my Deardorff to Sinar adapter board to the camera and it worked! Now I can simply use my existing sinar lens-board lens (450mm, 600mm, 12inch projector lens) on the camera.  Easy speazy!!

More Salt Prints Coming!

 

Enjoying Mr. Pollock!

 Enjoying some Pollock tonight!

11x14 Safely in Edmonton!

My 11x14 Chamonix is unpacked. Everything in good shape!! Can't wait to start shooting this beautiful tool. It will be my main camera for the 2024 Ambrotype season, replacing the 8x10 Deardorff. Thank you, Shin!

The package includes an 11x14 camera, 2 wet plate backs (11x14 and 14x14), 50 sheets of 11x14 aluminum for tintypes and a nice heavy duty camera bag I can use for many years.

Everything in almost new condition. I do not think the 14x14 back was ever used.