3 Crucifix Ambros: AMBROTOS KANATA

3 compositions of the Mundare crucifix grave. 8x10 Clear Glass Ambrotypes.

My Way Going Forward, MAKING AMBROTYPES TECHINIQUE

Brought 2 friends to work tonight. It is fun to look at them and dream of the ambrotypes to come.

Will go out shooting for the week on Tuesday. Did not go out last week off, I need to do some good AMBROTOS KANATA stuff this coming week.

I feel that I have a look I like now and a technique that can sometimes get me that look. Need to dive in, to work harder, continue to improve and move up in format sizes along the way (up to 35x35 inches). I also need to figure how to shoot in cold winter weather. Canada is cold a lot of the time, to do a photography project on the country and not include cold weather images would be ridiculous!

After a bunch of thinking and testing. I will try to make my ambrotype plates as follows. Things are likely to change, but for now, this is the way I will go.

- Clear Glass Ambrotypes (looking through the glass with everything reversed to the proper orientation-no backwards writing).

- G Collodion (no extra ether added)

- Hypo fix

- Hypo clear (trying that for the first time next week, better archival quality).

- The plate washed and dried to completion in the darkroom trailer (Important for the longer 4 month Canada trips to come).

- Modern Liquitex varnish (which I can use more easily later with 35x35 inch ambrotypes).

- A second sheet of glass with black spray paint on it to give deep blacks placed behind the ambrotype (the painted side away from the collodion).

- Will log the GPS location of each plate made for the AMBROTOS KANATA project and log it into the title.

I will store/file and name the work separate from the black painted glass and only use the black painted glass in exhibitions or when showing the work. Because the ambrotype will just have varnish on it, I will have the later option of covering the plates with asphaltum if I eventually change my mind.

I want to eventually make wet plate collodion negs as well but that's another story.

I also need to figure out how to make the portraits. I need, have to make portraits for the project. Portraits and social documentary photography is where my true love of photography is based. Got to figure how to do documentary/portrait work in ambrotypes! GOT TO, GOT TO, GOT TO!!!

Note* The no added ether and the no KCN is partly a safety concern, partly cost savings. Also thinking of using only white vinegar to eliminate the Glacial Acetic acid from the trailer, not sure that is technically possible.

Crucifix Mundare Cemetery, Forest Trees Lake Louise Campground, AMBROTOS KANATA, June 2022

Gull Lake View: AMBROTOS KANATA

Sort of a peaceful image, it is relaxing to look at. I am varnishing a alternate version that has a bit less exposure today. It will be ready for viewing tomorrow.

Note* Photos are with a red painted and black painted back glass.

Lake View, 8x10 Clear Glass Ambrotype, AMBROTOS KANATA, Gull Lake, Alberta, June 2022

Changing The Oil On "Fanny" (RV)

Finally after trying 4 different tools. I got the oil filter off the RV!!! First time I have done this, never changed oil before in my life before. The filter was on SUPER TIGHT!!!’ This is the crazy ass monster tool that set it free.

Mid Evil Torture Device or Filter Tool?

Trees In The Forest: AMBROTOS KANATA

 Part of a 15 year ambrotype project of Canada. The plan is to eventually make 35x35 inch glass plate ambrotypes.

Trees In Forest, 8x10 Clear Glass Ambrotype, AMBROTOS KANATA, Banff, Alberta, June 2022

Mundare Gravestone, AMBROTOS KANATA

 From my day next to a church in Mundare Alberta, the graveyard. 

Am playing with different colored rear glass (2 pieces, 1 with colodion photo, 2 with painted glass). Here using black and red  paint on the year separate piece of darkening glass. 2 pieces of glass is vintage technique and modern plus archival, as the paint does not touch the varnished emulsion, only the clean glass side does. I will try various type of colored glass plates, different blacks, browns and reds. Trying to get the look that sings best to me.

Gravestone, 8x10 Clear Glass Ambrotype, AMBROTOS KANATA, Mundare, Alberta, June 2022

Jesus On The Cross: AMBROTOS KANATA

Part of a 15 year ambrotype project of Canada. The plan is to eventually make 35x35 inch glass plate ambrotypes.

Jesus On The Cross, 8x10 Clean Glass Ambrotype, AMBROTOS KANATA, Mundare, Alberta 2022

Self Portrait With Trailer Ambrotype

Changed the angle of the composition. Will make a few more and call it a day. I want to go to the library, read, dream of art and relax.

Darkroom trailer with ghost Gerry self portrait 

Washing 3 Plates In The Field

Things flowing quite well today. Practice makes perfect t!! Washing 3 plates. My goal is to be able to complete the entire plate in the field. I feel this will be very important when taking the longer 3 and 4 month trips across Canada for the project. I have the set up now to run 2 water cycling pumps to two 16x20 trays with either 6-8x10s or 2 - 12x20s/16x20s washing. I will need to carry quite a lot of water to get this done as the water needs to be changed out from the trays multiple times.

Washing 3-8x10 inch clear glass ambrotypes

Self Portrait In Trailer

July 3

First plate of the day!!! There is nothing as beautiful as making photos. Been doing the “making photo thing” for 44 years now and it still fills me with so much joy, the high of highs!!

8x10 3mm glass before flowing the plate with G Collodion

First plate of the day, before and during fixing

Free Overnight Parking

One of the good things about having an RV for this wet plate project is that you can sleep in relative comfort for free. The photo is from almost 3 night stay in Calgary for FREE at a shopping center. I think it is the 5th time I have stayed there.

Free Overnight Parking

Glove Holes

I am wearing gloves but still get silver nitrate all over my hands, especially during 10 hour plus work sessions. I will try wearing thicker gloves next time with hand washes between plates. Many online folks recommend changing your gloves every plate, this option seems wasteful and too expensive. Will try it my way first.

Wet Plater Hands

12x20 Plates

The second time I have made 12x20 inch plates. This time of the Gull lake, shore plus lake shots.

12x20 clear glass plate ambrotypes

At Gull Lake

July 1

At Gull Lake Alberta, arrived 739am. Will stay till 11pm. Am here all day, Canada day.

16x20 Chamonix and 450mm Nikon Lens with Fanny (RV) and Freddy (Darkroom Trailer)

Temp and humidity in the trailer at the start of the day.

Ordered More Alcohol And Chemicals For Wet Plate

Ordered another 16 bottles of EcoFeu alcohol for my wet plate work. I have ordered extra in case this company goes out of business and I lose my source for this highly important part of my ambrotype making. Cost was $433 CAD

EcoFeu

Also ordered 800 grams of Ammonium Bromide, cost was $100. I want to try Leah's Landscape #7 Collodion with no added Ether, and Old Work Horse Collodion. Both types need Ammonium Bromide.

Ammonium Bromide