Link: Church Subjects Sites, For The AMBROTOS KANATA Wet Plate Project

Found this wonderful site a few days back. It allows me to see many churches across the province of Alberta (covers the Prairie Provinces). The site also provides maps and GPS locations of each church. I will use this resource to find subjects for this year's AMBROTOS KANATA project shoots. I will probably photograph some of these churches, or at least attempt to shoot them with the 20x24 HF camera. Will be trying to make 20x24 Ambrotypes for the first time this year. Check out the link for your own use. Thank you, Russel S, for all your hard work.

https://prairiechurches.ca/

Photo and site by Russel Sawchuk

Scanning Ambrotypes For Submissions

 

Scanning 8x10 Ambrotypes from last year, I am applying for some Art Grants. Also trying to sell some plates to the Provincial collection. All money made would be used to buy Silver to continue the work.Hoping to get the trailer Freddy and the RV Fanny on the road making new Ambros for the AMBROTOS KANATA project by mid May. I am going to put new tires on the darkroom trailer the beginning of the month.

 

AFA, Art Acquisitions by Application Grant, 2023 Attempt

Applied for a AFA, "Art Acquisitions by Applications"grant today. Basically its a attempt to get your work bought by the Alberta Government and added into their permanent collection. 

I got a print in of a monk years back but ever since then nothing but failures. Kind of took the wind out of my sails and I stopped applying.  With the new Canada based project AMBROTOS KANATA, wet plate/ambrotype project, I decided to give it another go.

I submitted 5 Cottonwood tree 8x10s from last September. I asked $1000 a Ambrotype plate, as these are one of kind 8x10 pieces, never to be replaced or repeated.

If I sell any of these to the province. I will use the money to buy "Silver Nitrate" which will allow me to make more Ambros.

Here are the submissions. I am hoping since they are 1 of a kind works and Alberta based, they might be more attractive to the selection jury folks. Any sales will also fuel new work.

Note* This is the first time I have scanned Ambrotypes! 

Note** For anyone in Alberta that wants to try, here is the link.

https://www.affta.ab.ca/funding/find-funding/art-acquisitions-application

Cottonwoods #2, AMBROTOS KANATA, Drumheller, Alberta, Canada, Sept. 2022

Cottonwoods #3, AMBROTOS KANATA, Drumheller, Alberta, Canada, Sept. 2022

Cottonwoods #5, AMBROTOS KANATA, Drumheller, Alberta, Canada, Sept. 2022

Cottonwoods #6, AMBROTOS KANATA, Drumheller, Alberta, Canada, Sept. 2022

Cottonwoods #8, AMBROTOS KANATA, Drumheller, Alberta, Canada, Sept. 2022

Video: New Battery Added To The Darkroom Trailer

Added a second battery to my trailer darkroom solar set-up. I now have 2x12 volt batteries running in parallel, acting as single 12 volt with more storage. I should now have longer power times to run my wash water pumps, fans and radio/cd player in the field.

The water pump for the sink and the lights runs off the original trailer floor battery. So a total of 3 batteries in the trailer plus the ability to plug in and run off 110 volts if available.

2112 volt batteries running in parallel = more in the field POWER

A Dream About A Wet Plate Dude

 

Dreamed of a man fighting through epic failures and difficulties while chasing his wet plate photography dream. He was worn out and exhausted. He had no more to give, had reached his breaking point. People yelled out that he should quit, he almost did but then suddenly changed his mind. The man in the dream smiled and said he would continue. His look of defiance at the end of the dream was inspiring. Then I woke uo. 

A rather epic dream, involved and long. The guy did not look like me but was a fighter. I will try to remember his spirit. 

The 8x10 Ambros are from the last working days of last season. Need to continue to climb upwards this year. Will work on the trailer today. I bought a second deep cycle battery I need to install.

8x10 Ambrotypes from the 15 year cross Canada wet plate project AMBROTOS KANATA 

Looking Forward To Being Completely Exhausted!

Most days when I am doing wet plate I become completely exhausted. Now after a winter of sitting on my lazy ass I need to become COMPLETELY EXHAUSTED. Bring on wet plate season 3!!

Last year after a day of making Ambros

Another Tent

Bought another tent. Thought about this one a long time but got a good price of $315 CAD (free shipping) so went for it. Other prices online often went $400 plus. I hope the quality of this unit is OK as it is a copy cat of the Clam version tents. The Clam version thou goes for $600 CAD plus.

Hope to use it to dry plates, cover cameras in light rain/wind and maybe to set up wash tables inside (for more onsite privacy). The tent will also prevent all the leaves and debris from falling into the trays onto the sensitive soft collodion. Never realized what a problem that was until I started to do place plates in trays outside.

Hope this was not a buying mistake. Money is always so limited; you want to spend it wisely. My thinking in general is that if it helps the production of the work, if it makes it safer, better, cleaner, then I go for it. Will use this tent in the coming season for the 20x24 work. It should be like a 3-5 minute set-up on location.

Brand:

VEVOR

Features:

Waterproof,

Item Height:

12 ft/ 3.66 m

Item Length:

12 ft/ 3.66 m

Item Weight:

35 lbs / 16 kg

Item Width:

12 ft/ 3.66 m

Camping Gazebo Tent

Maximum Coverage:

8 people

Max. Height:

90" / 2.29 m

Width for every side:

71" / 1.8 m

Transport Cases For 20x24 Photo Gear

One of the problems when you’re travelling across a rugged country like Canada, is getting everything to your shooting location undamaged. The long term AMBROTOS KANATA wet plate ambrotype project will require thousands upon thousands of miles of travel.

This is my 20x24 camera gear protection set up.  Everything bought on the cheap second hand, to save dollars. The tripod case is designed for golf clubs on an airplane.

I still need to figure out the wet plate plate holder. How do I protect a 20x24 inch holder? Maybe la hard shell suitcase. Any ideas?

Goodwill golf airplane bag used as a tripod bag.

20x24 camera hard case and lens Penguin case.

20x24 Linhoff tripod, wheels and Luland head.

Fragile 20x24 wet plate holder

Probably the main camera for the AMBROTOS KANATA project.

Drying Tent

Picked up a drying tent for the 20x24 plates. The idea is to set up this tent on location beside the darkroom trailer then add the light weight plastic shelving. I should be able to dry 5 plates at a time both after washing and after varnishing. 

The tent cost $109 CAD with free shipping. If this works I can purchase a second tent if needed. I can place one or 2 shelves in the space. I will need an alternate shelf system for the larger 35x35 future plate work. 

Will test this all out this coming shooting season. I need to be able to create Ambrotypes to completion in the field. Being in far off and remote regions of Canada will be difficult. Creating important work along the way and seeing that work will inspire me to keep going and work all the harder.

We’re going to make some beautiful, unique and wonderful things!!!

Update: Returning this tent for aa full refund, It its difficult to set up and was not NEW as promised. I will rely on the second and bigger fast set up tent I bought after this one.

Video Podcasts?

Podcasts? AMBROTOS KANATA YouTube channel? I am thinking of doing up a little video/audio recording studio at the front of the darkroom trailer. The goal would be to create content documenting the project, telling stories about the making of the ambrotypes and the journeys through out Canada.  I think I have all the required gear, just need to organize it and set it up. 

A pic of the space:

Season 3 Working Out My Systems

The trailer is a bit better, a bit more organized and clean. More work to do. No liquids loaded yet as we still have freezing temps in Edmonton.

Getting all the gear in will be a tight tight fit, especially with the coming HF3535 camera (150lb view camera, 35x35 inches). 

For now I am trying to figure out how to carry all the 20x24 canera gear and needed wet plate darkroom tools. I want to make 20x24 inch ambrotypes this season.

My 20x24  silver tank fits into the left sink so that’s good. In the sink I will have less chance of knocking over and spilling a thousand (?) dollars of silver.  I think there is enough overhead clearance to work the tank.

Still trying to figure how I can produce these ultra large plates to completion in the field. I need to be able to make, wash, dry, varnish and safety store 20x24 inch and 35x35 inch ambrotypes to completion in the farthest, remotest parts of Canada. I need to develop a system I can work through my 60s into my early 70s. Not too difficult right? 🙂

Over the last 2 seasons I I have mostly solved the the power, agitation and water problems . Still need to figure out how to dry the ultra large plates both after the wash and after the varnish. The trailer will not be large enough. I am thinking of some kind of drying tent rooms with shelving for the 20x24 and 35x35 inch Ambros. A tent would help protect from outdoor debris, insects, rain etc.