Gosh, just realized I can now make lens boards, something I never had the ability to do before. Having a wood working workshop, definitely has positives!. Not sure how many new lens boards I need, but it's good to know I should be able to make them now! Another way to save some money in my retirement.
Not sure how economically sound it is but I found 2 pallets in a Invemere BC dumpster with nicer 2x4 type boards. Will take then back to Edmonton and build some larger Ambrotype frames with them.
It will be fun to make something outa nothing! Later I will make the ULF Ambrotypes to fit inside the frames.
The workshop is up and running now. I am making boxes for carrying my completed ambrotypes and unused glass. Am still figuring out the design and my working methods. Still figuring out how to use all the machines as a matter of fact (learned about the router two days ago).
I think this plan should work thou. I can make boxes for all my coming ambrotypes for the AMBROTOS KANATA project. All the way up to 24x24 inches and potentially even 35x35 inch boxes.
The retirement is starting to feel more normal now. I have time for things like my mancave and workshop! Now I need to get the wet plate trailer up and running before winter.
I placed 9-11x14inch 3mm thick Ambros and 2 14x14inch 4mm thick Ambros in the first completed plate box. Seems OK, heavyish but not crazy heavy. I will need to see how the boxes hang together in the trailer and motorhome while traveling Canada. So far so good.
Will probably make 8 more. Am quite happy to have these now, made from garbage wood in the garage. They are rough but seem functional and relatively strong.
Finished my first 2-14x14 inch boxes. 2nd a bit nicer than the first but both very rough. Will use them and see how they hold up. If they breakdown too easily, will go to the dove tail jig.
Note* Made from scrap wood and cast off paint. I ended up using most of my tools, including jig saw, band saw, table saw, planer and drill press.
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Working on my second 14x14 inch glass plate box. Very basic and rough but I think they should be functional. I am using scrap and free wood. 1/4 and 3/8 inch plywood found in my dad’s garage and pallet boards I scavenged last winter. Painted with a $15 can of paint, which I picked up at the ReStore (Habitat for Humanity).
If these boxes are strong enough, I will make 8 more.
Will move up to 1/2 inch plywood for my 24x24 inch boxes, probably attach wheels to those.
The woodworking shop is starting to pay for itself, plus I enjoy the creating. Making something out of nothing is FUN!!
Pictures are of the simple rough box I am making for 14x14 inch glass plate Ambrotypes. Still working on the box in my new woodworking workshop behind the garage!
Note* Just had a thought. Dovetailed 1/2 inch plywood cases for 24x24 inch plates but add lovkable wheels to the cases. Then I can roll them in and outa the darkroom trailer or RV.
Time to start making Ambrotypes again for the AMBROTOS KANATA project. Will try to do up this Diptych in the next 2 months. I first need to get my darkroom trailer up snd running.
The plan is to later do 24x24 inch sized Diptychs of the oceans around Canada.
I have a bunch of broken glass from larger failed plates. I will cut them down to usable (non broke) 4x5 inch size. I should be able to scavenge 10-15 4x5 inch glass plates.
I was initially thinking I would use the glass for workshop students. I think now thou that bringing my funky Speed Graphic and funky Aero Ektar lens out of retirement, might be a better plan!!
Lived in the Fort Road area of Edmonton for over 60 years. Today for the first time in my life I visited the historic Transit Hotel built in 1908. Lots of history here, an Ambrotype possibly?
Note* Love the goat/pig/cattle and horse and carriage historical photos.
One of my many retirement projects is to clean out the room behind the garage and to use that space and the accompanying out door area to do wood working . My carpentry shop so to speak (even thou I have very limited skills).
The plan is to use this large working area to build big diptych and triptych frames for the coming 20x24 and 24x24 inch Ambrotypes. 2 pic diptych and 3 pic triptych stories, for the AMBROTOS KANATA project.
I can see Ultra Large format framed Ambrotyoe triptychs in my minds eye. Ambrotypes of the coastlines, mountains, forests, cities ad industry of Canada. Works that do not exist yet but that I know will be made.
I do not have the ambrotypes or exhibitions yet but I will have a place to make large frames!!!
Been working on this the last 4 days but as you can see a LONG way to go,
I miss doing wet plate. These photos were shot at the cemetery dad is buried in and where I will be buried. The camera is a 24x24 inch Chamonix, that cost around $11000 CAD (with extras) second hand. The darkroom trailer (FREDDY) before additions was $7600 CAD the truck (THE.BEAST) with a couple of repairs around $9000-$10000 CAD.
Wet plate photography is very expensive but I love the creativity, history and most importantly the wonderful timeless beauty of the finished plates. Ambrotypes have a subtle power that I have not seen in any other art form.
I will continue the AMBROTOS KANATA wet plate projeect when I return to Canada Making Ambros till I die, is a good way to go out! Am 61 now, I hope I can continue working on the project, slowly but deliberately into my 80s.
The view from a restaurant I was at here in Thailand. The tide movement changed the view/feel of things, quite quickly.
I never buy art books in Thailand but today I did! Only $11.48 CAD for a large, wonderful, well orinted book of seascaoes by Edouard Manet and other artists.
I am hoping this work will be an inspiration for some large seascape ambrotypes I am planning for th AMBROTOS KANATA wetplate photography project.
Got a rejection notice this morning from the Albert Foundation for the Arts, Art buy. Sold 2 8x10: in 2023 and 1 8x10 in 2024. The larger plates I tried to sell this year were a bust. See link:
I have submitted my "Art Acquisition by Application" buy-grant for 2025 to the AFA (Alberta Foundation for the Arts). Hopefully they accept some work again this year, which would make it 3 years running.
In 2022, they bought 2-8x10 inch Ambrotypes ($2000), in 2023, they bought 1-8x10 inch Ambrotype ($1000). I hope they will buy some of the larger, higher priced 11x14 and 14x14 inch Ambrotypes submitted this year.
I use all the buy money to purchase Silver Nitrate for the AMBROTOS KANATA project.
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