Ambrotype Wash Issues to be Solved.

 Ambrotype Wash Issues to be Solved

The AMBROTOS KANATA project is very often about solving tech problems. My latest is as follows. When making large plates onsite, there is a long cue to wash the finished images. This last week I lost several 11x14 inch and 14x14 inch plates to collodion lifting off the glass issues. The collodion/glass connection was fine initially but the plates had to sit for long periods of time in water trays waiting for their wash turn. Often the plates would stay wet for 12-25 hours, that is unacceptable and leads to adhesion problems.

How to solve this issue?

- I could try edge albumen on the glass, pre collodion pour, for better adhesion (Think I will do this for sure, from now on)

- Entire plates covered in albumen? (A possible solution but maybe an overreaction at this stage).
- Multiple wash baths with proper size trays. Much less waiting in water time. I can wash the Ambrotypes faster and get them to the drying stage sooner. (I will do this also, after I can arrange the super large trays, the pumps, tubing, clamps, and tables that would be necessary.)

Note* After hours of searching on many occasions I think I finally found trays big enough to do 24x24 inch Ambrotypes and 35x35 inch Ambrotypes. Big black plastic trays that are used for gardening. They cost $49.99 CAD for an 80mm (31.5 inches x 31. 5 inches x 5 inches) square tray and $64.99 CAD an 100cm (39.5 inches x 39. 5 inches x 5 inches) square tray. This will be expensive but necessary. I will go with 8-10 of each type of tray or just go with the larger ones for both Ambrotype plate sizes. I will need to pick them up in Calgary next trip, they do not have an Edmonton store, and shipping costs are prohibitive.

Note** Thank you Ross, my Facebook friend from Vancouver, for help with this issue.

24x24 Inch Plates!!!!

 

Video Link: Beauty of 14x14 Ambros

I love the new 14x14 inch, 4mm think Ambrotyoes made today!

14x14 Ambro

Gardening Trays!!

Like these new black gardening trays I got to store the possible plates. They work well with the 11x14 inch glass.

3-11x14 Plates Per Tray!!

I can quish in 6-11x14 inch plates into the new gardening trays! Love these cheap large gardening trays!! Will use them to store all my plates waiting for a wash. The bumpy bottom makes the glass easy to remove! A nice bonus for sensitive collodion emulsions.

4mm Glass!!

Trying 4mm glass for the first time today. It seems more SUBSTANTIAL than 3mm and much less likely to break. I like the thicker glass so far. After I wash dry and varnish the plate, I will see how the extra 1mm feels when I look through three glass to the image captured inside. If that look pleases the. I will go to 4mm for all the format sizes I use. The 35x35 inch camera might even require 5mm glass!!

14 Hour Good Day!

Into hour 12 of my work day. It should run about 14 hours today. Not including waking up every 2 hours to change out the washed plates.

It was a glorious day. Out in nature, Mozart and my first ever 14x14 inch, 4mm thick Ambrotype plates!! Cannot think of a better way to spend the day. A good kind of exhausted!

14x14 Inch 4mm Ambrotypes!

14x14 inch 4mm thick clear glass Ambrotyoes from today. Gerry Collodion, Vinegar Developer. Made with a 11x14 Chamonix camera and 450mm Fuji lens. Exposures varied from 1 mint 50 seconds at f45 to the last losing light shot of 7 minutes at f64. Listened to Mozart as I worked my the 14 hour day, it helped!! Part of the cross Canada retirement project AMBROTOS KANATA.

Ambrotypes st Dawn!

Will make Ambrotypes of another forest scene tomorrow, on 11x14 inch by 3mm and 14x14 inch 4mm clear glass. Quite rainy here on the David Thompson highway. Have a umbrella tripod set up to keep the Chamonix 11x14 dry. We start work at dawn!

Will be listening to Beethoven and Berg tonight, thanks Dennis.

On the Road Again!

Slept over at a free spot in Rocky Mountain House. Heading onto the David Thompson highway in central Alberta this morning. A barbacue and camping today with a whole day of Ambrotype making on Thursday! Gotta make some pics for AMBROTOS KANATA and next years Alberta art submission.

Dreaming of Ambrotypes!

Picked up a group of seven, Tom Thomson type metal statue today from the thrift shop, $7 CAD. I will place it in my music/reading room and dream of Ambrotypes!

Need to make my version of the windswept tree in a large Ambrotype! This subject seems VERY Canadian.

Added to the Alberta Art Collection?

This is the Ambrotype that might be added to the Alberta Collection. It was made last September.

Lundbreck Waterfall #2, AMBROTOS KANATA, Lundbreck, Alberta, Canada, 8x10 Clear Glass Ambrotype, 2024

4 Images in the Alberta Collection?

If this latest ambrotype makes it past the expert judges, I will have 4 works in the collection. 1 monk Silvet Gelatin photo from years back, 2 8x20 clear glass ambrotypes last year and 1 this year!

Ambrotype Makes Round 2!!

Part of the AMBROTOS KANATA project.

Glass, Glass, Glass!!!

Just picked up a bunch of glass for the wet plate project. Having THE BEAST truck to haul this stuff makes life so much easier. I am really glad I got my new-old truck. I am kinda surprised how large the 24x24 glass is. We are now moving from concept to reality. I will shoot 11x14 and 14x14 inch this trip and try the 24x24 inch stuff and 24x24 camera for the first time in 2 weeks.

Bought me 20 sheet of 11x14 and 20 sheets of 24x24 3mm. Also picked up 2 sheets of 24x24 4mm. I have 10 sheets of 11x14mm at home already. I hope the 4mm thickness works for me. If it does all glass will be that thickness in the future.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!’ Imagine what can be created!!!!!!!!!! That dream of making important work, with emotional value, drives me forward. 

“Ain’t Photography Grand!!”

On the go with AMBROTOS KANATA

  Heading out on the road next week to make Ambrotypes for AMBROTOS KANATA. Wish me luck!

FRAMES Photography YouTube Channel Interview

The FRAMES Magazine YouTube interview is out. I want to thank Tomasz and FRAMES for all their hard work on this. If you are interested in the video interview here. Thanks for your time.

YAUM on FRAMES

New Gerry Collodion

Mixed up 3000+ml of Gerry Collodion today. I will use it during next weeks trip. Will shoot 11x14 and 14x14 inch Ambrotyoes. Will be testing 4mm thick glass for the first time..

24x24 Chamonix Needs to be Shot Earlier Than Later

I need to see if I can make some 24x24 Ambrotype plates with the 24x24 Chamonix Camera. I ordered 15 sheets of 3 mm thick glass measuring 23-15/16 inches by 23-15/16 inches and 2 at a 4 mm thickness yesterday. 

I am unsure the 4mm glass will fit the holder, so wanted to give it a test go first. If it works, I will probably do all 4mm thickness in the future.

If I can get this camera working for me, I will use it as well as the 11x14 in the petro chemical plant shoots this year.

24x24 Chamonix Camera

AMBROTOS KANATA Bill, $1056.94 CAD

Another buy of wet plate chemistry yesterday. Cost was $1056.94 CAD. Got me 4 bottles of USP Collodion and 400 Grams of Silver nitrate.

Expensive as always. Hope this leads to come good Ambros. I am getting things ready for next week and the weeks that follow, especially the August shots at the Petro Chemical Plant.

Link: Future Ambrotypes at Oil Sand Plants? Hope Hope!

How cool would it be to make Ambrotypes at the Oil Sand plants in North Alberta at Fort MacMurray??? Gotta try to get access!!

Suncor Oil Sands Plant Fort Mac

Ambrotypes at my Plant!

11x14 inch and 14x14 inch clear glass ambros shot over 2 days in August. It should be fun!

I hope that this opportunity will assist in getting access to major plants like Suncor in Fort McMurray.