Bunny!

Picked up THE BEAST- BUNNY today. He can ride with me on my adventures. We can travel and make Ambrotypes together!

Frames Video Interview

 

Alberta Provincial Art Collection Info Page

Found these pages today on the Alberta Provincial website. Hopefully some of last works will be accepted as well. Last year's 2 bought ambros allowed me to purchase $2000 worth of silver nitrate for the project.

THE BEAST is all Ready for Work!

THE BEAST is a 100% legal now. I have the insurance, and over the last few days I got $881 of work done on it, allowing him to pass the Alberta vehicle inspection check for insurance. So THE BEAST is up and running for a total cost of $8540 CAD, not bad! Now I a reliable, good working truck, for the project and general things.

Nite* I also had the garage folks install a proper 7 pin trailer connector. A half assed adapter no longer needed!

Security camera view of THE BEAST!

Ambrotype Boxes

Today I picked up 2 of these custom made boxes for $70 CAD. 

After foolishly and accidentally breaking 2 of my 11x14 plates from last week. Protection of the completed work has become a priority.

Sunday in my Cemetery!

Forgot my food and my water but am having fun making ambrotypes anyway. Yesterday was world wet plate day!!! I am always a bit off with organized events, tests and teaching methods. Always been a bit of a lone wolf. Oh well, made Ambros the day before and the day after the rest of the world.

Collodion a bit funky, over exposed first plate but we are on our way. Am in the cemetery I will EVENTUALLY be buried in. This monument is maybe 150 meters from my grave. I can see dads graf3, next to ours, from the tripod position.

Monument Link, from Evergreen Cemetary.

https://www.davidmurrayarchitect.ca/cemetery-monument/

BEAST table in action

See link for Monument

The lovely BEAST and FREDDY the darkroom trailer!

Good Art

I have found I like to feel the image more now. What feels best is the right choice. So I try over and under exposure, I try different formats, sequences of pics, different compositions different lens. When you think about it, good art has no rules. It is best to just feel yourself through it. Follow your creative and artistic heart. 

This last week I used my 11x14, 14x14 Chamonix for the first time. I struggled to find compositions I liked when I used a lens with full coverage (450mm), so I went with wider lens that did not cover the whole plate. Those images just felt better to me. I am thinking of doing that more and more with exposure and tonality now. Letting AMBROTOS KANATA be a very personally felt thing. Follow my heart and not be to rigid in technical perfection. More Sally Mann and less Ansel Adams so to speak!

Overexposed, but you get the idea.

Ambrotypes Ahead!!

 

Postponed Again!!

 

Take Another Shot!!

 

Tack Boxes for AMBROTOS KANATA

Picked up two large, used, horse tack boxes. 36 inches long, 24 inches, 25 inches tall. 3/4 inch plywood with metal supports all round. Each box is 70 lbs and super solid. Cost was $60 CAD for 2. 

I plan to paint them black then place 1 on the flatbed of the beast and 1 in the trailer. The trailer box will be used to safely house my 24x24 inch silver tank. The idea being I will be able to safely travel with the acrylic leak proof tank, secure, inside box WITHOUT removing the silver nitrate.  This would only be done in shooting situations where I need a quick departure.  The silver and the tank should be well protected, inside this wooden safe.

New Larger Truck Magnets

The new larger truck magnets for the ambrotype project, look nice. Also got a stamp. 

I will place the magnets on the BEAST 1 ton or Fanny the motorhome. Hope it gives me a more official look when dealing with security, police and the general public.

Next Week Off

Will Shoot 11x14 and maybe 14x14 Ambrotypes next week off work! Having THE BEAST this year to pull the trailer, should allow me to make many more images.

Flatbed, 2 Functions

The flatbed is a multipurpose device. I will shoot from on top but today it is a table.

Video: First Ambrotype Shoot of the Year

 

Got an image on my first try this season using last years collodion mix. 45 seconds f64, 120mm lens on my 8x10 Deardorff. A promising stat to the season!

“Ain”t Photography Grand!!!”

The Beast and Freddy!

Hooked Freddy the darkroom trailer to THE BEAST (1 ton F350 Ford flatbed truck)  for the first time. She pulls beautifully. I might need to change out the 6 pin truck trailer connector for a 7 pin. I am currently using an adapter, not sure that is the best solution.  Will try to do an 8x10 dyptch today of a school park.

First shoot of the season!

Update* I found that driving, backing up and connecting the trailer to the hitch is way easier with the 1 ton versus the motorhome. I have been told a long vehicle with a short trailer is the most difficult to back up (like the motorhome trailer set up I use). I found today driving the 1 ton that I could hook up the trailer by myself and that driving was much easier, maybe 1/2 as hard.

Sunday?

 

Link: Interview Delayed

My interview with Tomasz the editor of FRAMES magazine was postponed today. Tomasz got called in to speak at a college he teaches at n Switzerland. We will try to reschedule in two weeks.

This is maybe for the best. I have been fighting a bad cough and hoarse voice all week. I should be in better voice, in 2  weeks time. These internet vids last forever, best to be understood!

Update* Rescheduled for May 1.

FRAMES

Magnet Signs

Put the project magnets on THE BEAST wet plate truck. Looks OK, a bit small. I like the quality, will order some bigger ones. The hope is the signs will help spread the word and distract visitors from interrupting me as I shoot.

Sign Magnets and Project Cards

Got my truck magnets (2) and project cards (100) today. Pretty good quality for $81 CAD. Let’s see how long they last!!

The plan is to put the sign magnets on the doors of the 1 ton BEAST truck and hand out the cards to curious visitors.

Link: Video Interview Scheduled

Doing a video interview for the FRAMES magazine photography YouTube channel, on April 17th. It should be a fun time, an hour or so of talk and photo stories. Thank you Tomasz for this opportunity to share.

Here is Tomasz interviewing documentary photographerAlex Frederickson.

Sample FRAMES Interview 

The HF3535 and the BEAST!

For a long time I have been trying to figure out how I can get the HF3535 camera into the field making Ambrotypes for AMBROTOS KANATA. The camera is huge and weighs in at about 150lbs plus holders and lens.

My latest thinking is to couple it with the new used BEAST 1 ton I bought for $7500 CAD.

The idea is to carry the camera on the flatbed of the truck and to use it as a tripod of sorts. I am also thinking of incorporating a large lift table, to allow for better compositions.