Will try to photograph the old Edmonton Northland's Coliseum tomorrow on Ambrotype, possibly a second time later in the week. It is scheduled for demolition. So many great Edmonton memories here.
Am scouting shooting locations today on my scooter. Also hunted down and spoke to their security dispatch people, left my card. I think it should be OK to shoot from the parking lot.
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| Different viewpoints of the Coliseum |
My favourite plate from Elk Island National Park. Shot on Thursday last week.
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All my systems and techniques for making up to 14x14 inch Ambrotypes seem to be in place! After about 7 years of effort, things are becoming clear to me and even easy. I will still have to learn more to go larger but 14x14 inches and smaller is now no big deal.
Techniques and systems.
- vinegar developer
- Gerry collodion
- flowing plates
- developing plates
- making homemade frames for plates
- fixing plates
- drying plates
- washing plates
- varnishing plates
- making plates archival
- transporting plates before and after
- cutting glass
- loading holders (taped backs for 4mm and 3mm at 14x14)]
- lens
- cameras
- darkroom trailer
- tripod system
- power supplies
- water supplies
- pumping out waste water
- adding fresh water
- sources for all chemicals
- honey for long term temp storage of plates before wash
- safe lights
- how to pack trailer safely
- coolers for most important chemicals, both big and small
- silver maintenance in the field
- scooter transport for far off shooting locations
- darkroom tent for remote shooting
- trays
- raised trays for storage
- plate storage cases
- plate separation sheets
- honey protection
- long term storage of plates
- AND MANY MORE!
Went to Elk Island today (Thursday June 25) to make Ambrotypes. I arrived a bit late 215pm and started shooting at 315pm. I made pics till about 7pm.
Broke the first 2 plates but it went well after that.
Note* I used the AC for the first time but it only ran for 2 hours 20 minutes. It dropped the temp in the trailer from the 27s Celsius to the 24s Celsius. It did not seem like much but it helped quite a bit. The short Jackery timeline is an issue. I have 2 units of the same size but tff gd at only gets me to 5 hours or so and then both batteries are dry.
Note** I also used honey u for the first time in the field. It worked well but I think I need to make more mixed in the bottle before pouring, then do a better job spreading it on the plates to avoid drying.
Note*** It was nice to make up for the lost opportunities at Gull Lake (rained out), and to make some real Ambrotypes after so long away from the process!
Added a new tool to the rv-darkroom trailer driving combo. A wifi-solar backup camera. Not sure how I lived without it the last 5 years. A must have type thing. Backing up becomes way easier. You have the peace of mind that you’re not going to hit anyone or anything!
The 7 inch monitor sits in the dash hooked up to 12v cigarette lighter, with a on/off button. The camera is 47 feet back on the bottom of the trailer. The camera is held on with a magnet, the wifi signal works well, even over 47 feet!
Driving became easier and backing up way easier!!
It’s so much fun to be back on the road again with the motorhome FANNY and the darkroom trailer FREDDY.
So many people in the world do not have this opportunity I think back to the families in the Mae Sot dump or to the people living under the freeway in Khlong Toei slum. They will never have the opportunity to camp in nature like I am. Never have the chance to make art in the wild. Never had a chance to see the animals and wonders outside cities and garbage dumps.
Yet I can, for me it is normal. People in 1st world countries rarely understand how fortunate they are.
Note* Diesel was $1.60 CAD a litre.
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| Gull Lake, Alberta |
Glass plate cleaning is tedious at the best of times but doing it in nature helps!
Cutting the first of my FREE farm glass. I will make ambrotypes of Gull Lake tomorrow on them.
Cut it to 11x14 inch, 14x14 inch and then cut the scraps to 4x5 and 5x7 inch, not much wasted!
Somehow it seems more pure, more rewarding to rescue material like this and then create art on it! I also like it as a tribute to the old farmer who saved it all these years. It would be so cool to go from his barn to a major Canadian Gallery!
“Ain’t Photography Grand!’”
I picked up this thrift store book today for $4. I love one image (detail) near the back of this thin volume. I keep thinking wha it may look like as a Ambrotype. I do that often with JMW Turner paintings, now it is starting with later Monets.
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| Snow Storm, or Snow Storm: Steam-Boat off a Harbour's Mouth, is a painting by English artist Joseph Mallord William Turner from 1842. |
I counted up some of the FREE glass I got today. There are about
4 large sheets of 3mm
14-15 large sheets of 4mm
and a dozen so smaller sheets of 3 and 4 mm.
Most of this glass (unscratched), I can use to make Ambrotypes on, Glass up to 24x24 inches. With the 4mm thick glass I will have to take the back of the holders to prevent light leaks.
There is also some textured glass in various sizes that is not as useful but that I can probably cut down and paint, to use as background substrates for framed works.
I am unsure how much this glass is worth new but my guess is $4000-$5000 CAD. The glass is far from new, muddy, scratched and some broken but still a wonderful find for the AMBROTOS KANATA project.
I had some positive Karma today!
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| In the barn |
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| On the truck |
Got my FREE GLASS!! 4-5mm thick, many very large sheets, small sheets. A variety of other glass as well. Will use it for the AMBROTOS KANATA Ambrotype project.
Thank you Elizabeth and Keith!!
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| The FREE glass locked, wrapped in carpets, locked down on the back of "THE BEAST" 1 Ton |
I have taken to getting FREE stuff Facebook marketplace. Picked up 2 large metal shelves for the carpentry room and a slightly abused picnic table last week.
Going to get a bunch of glass tomorrow for the Ambrotype project. All FREE. If undamaged will use it for plates if scratched will use it as a blackened substrate to place behind the Ambrotypes when framed.
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| FREE picnic table, before and after a repair and 1 coat of grey paint |
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| The 2 FREE metal shelves, added to the carpentry room |
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| FREE glass I will pick up tomorrow |
Will try to photograph the old Edmonton Northland's Coliseum tomorrow on Ambrotype, possibly a second time later in the week. It is sch...
