Another Fascinating Japanese Ambrotype

Picked up another Japanese ambrotype, from days gone by. Love these little pieces. Find them haunting, it is like the subject is still alive inside the glass. 1860s?

Hope to capture some of that "life inside glass" during the wet plate project. Pieces like this, inspire you to work harder.

Japanese ambrotype, mother son? 1860s?

Small Darkroom Trailer Upgrades

Some small upgrades to the darkroom trailer. I am trying to make it road worthy so I can get out in July and start making Ambrotypes.

The additions include a pump attached to the counter top that I intend to use for agitation to wash plates in the field (plan on using Sodium Thiosulfate fix). The pump will run off of a 3000 watt inverter/solar set up or 110 electric. I might also use a pump set up to pull the silver from the silver bath tanks and put it back into its bottles. Will be working with tanks up to 35x35 inches.

Other additions involve lots of screwing down of things, to prevent them from moving! Everything has been screwed to the floor and had strings added to prevent plastic drawers opening.

Earlier in the week I had multiple water leaks, that problem seemed solved now. Need to figure out how to transport, glass flasks, beakers and graduates safely. Still a ways to go but things are coming round!!

Pump for agitation and Silver tank draining (filling?)

Dollar store safelight?

Wood slats to prevent movement

Plastic drawers

CB For Fanny

Saw and bought something for the motorhome that will be both fun and a nice safety feature. Picked up a older CB kit tonight , it still in the box for $30 CAD. Condition is newish. Plan on setting it up tonight in Fanny (RV). I always loved CB radios as a kid, it will be fun to have one as an older guy. It should also be an extra safety communication link in the more remoter parts of Canada during the wet plate project.

Uniden Pro 510AXL

Yaum Song And Dad

from Facebook....

This is the song that I got the pseudonym photo name YAUM from in 1999. "Yaum" (ยาม) also means "Security Guard" in Thai, so it fit. The song would play constantly from a jukebox in a all night Bangkok bar I would visit, the workers would put in the coins and play the song again and again.. I would study Thai, make photos and hear these lyrics all night long, month after month (I spent 10 months in Thailand in 1999).

Whenever I hear this "Yaum" tune, I think back to the those times, the people I know, the people now lost and all the adventures had. so many wonderful memories. Life is in constant flux, music brings back those moments to us all. After my dads passing I found I could not listen to the music he made without being overcome with emotions (dad was a drummer in a wedding band). You got to love music, such a beautiful and powerful art form. When you least expect it, it will pull you back to a time in your life, allowing you to relive those moments.

Yaum By Labanoon

Labanoon

Bought Me A Haloview MC7108 7'' 720P HD Digital Wireless Backup Camera

Got a Haloview MC7108 back up camera today, was worried about the $333 CAD price tag but decided to get it. I figured for safety reasons it was the best to get it. The plan is to have the monitor in the cab of the motorhome "Fanny", and the camera on the back of the darkroom trailer "Freddy". If it works as it should I will have the ability to see what is directly behind the trailer before backing up and whenever I am on the highway. I will need to do the set up of this unit by myself. I think this a smart safety move that will make driving easier.  I am not sure of the total length yet of the motorhome and trailer (Fanny and Freddy) but I am guestimating 47 feet. A backup-look behind me camera, seems a good idea.

Haloview Backup Camera MC7108

Fanny

 from Facebook..

"Fanny" is home!! I think I will call the new-used wet plate RV "Fanny" as a tribute to both Frederick Scott Archer and his wife Fanny G. Archer. To those that do not know Frederick Scott Archer is the man who invented Wet Plate Collodion Photography.

 

The motor home was fun to drive, more noisy (diesel) than I am used to, she handled and accelerated pretty nicely. Some noises in the RV part of things as I bumped along the roadway but not that bad.

It was a very expensive day, bought a Motorhome, paid for insurance, registration and upgraded my AMA membership to Premier RV (allows one time towing of 360KM on RVs). Also got a licence plate for the darkroom trailer. Getting the hitch set up is next. Lots of money gone but soon I will make ambrotypes on the road, so it will be worth it.

 

Now I need to take the cats out for a look! Wish me luck.

Fanny on side of house with darkrooom trailer in background.

Fanny side view on side of houe

Lent Mao unsure of new RV

Dim Sum unsure of new RV