Videos: Scooter Day in Calgary

 

My Wetplate Process in Calgary this Weekend!

Part of email on the wet plate process in Calgary.

“On Saturday I spent a 12-hour day making Ambrotypes in downtown Calgary on a bridge near Chinatown.

The process is called wet plate collodion. You have about a 10–15-minute window to make the glass plate (with a photographic emulsion on it), make a picture onto the glass and then develop it before everything dries up and you lose the image.

In Calgary, I had to park my darkroom trailer far away from my camera positions. So to get back and forth fast enough I tried a new idea for the first time. I bought and used an e-scooter! So all of Saturday I first worked in the darkroom and made the plate, then scootered down to my camera (my wife sat in a chair all day watching my expensive gear at three locations), took the photo, then scootered back up a big hill to the darkroom trailer and developed and fixed the Ambrotype before it dried out.

So, after a 12-hour day of doing that I was pretty much spent! 

All that night I had to wash and dry the 14 plates made that day in the hotel parking lot. I had to get up and change out the washing plates every two hours, change the water, then dry the plates and pack the plates. In Edmonton I still need to varnish the glass Ambrotype plates. This is an 1851-year process, so a ton of steps. I admire the old guys who did this, back in Queen Victoria times. They had no e-scooters to help them out!”

Video: Ambrotype Plates for Plant Management!

Will show these two Ambros to the managers and other workers at the plant.

Petrochemical Plant, 11x14 Clear Glass Ambrotype, AMBROTOS KANATA, Canada 2024

Gerry Collodion and Vinegar Developer.

Petrochemical Plant Boilers

Petrochemical Plant Boilers, 11x14 inch Clear Glass Ambrotype, AMBROTOS KANATA, Edmonton, Albera, 2024

Gerry Collodion, Vinegar Developer and Hypo.

I will change out the Ambrotypes black background to a deeper black. That will give the image a more contrasty feel. Currently there is only a slightly dull a black sheet of paper behind the Ambro.

Note* I added the black metal background images, much more contrast.

Glossy black metal background creates higher contrast.

Blackish  paper background creates soft tones.

3rd 8x10 inch Ambrotype Added to Alberta Collection!

This is the 4th work I have in The Alberta Foundation for the Arts Collection, the 3rd Ambrotype. Will use the $1000 CAD to buy Silver Nitrate.

Carpentry Boy!!

With the large AMBROTYPE plates to come on the AMBROTOS KANATA wet plate project. I will eventually need to framework for exhibitions (I hope!). Large 24x24 inch (possibly 35x35 inch) frames cost hundreds of dollars. I probably will also need even larger diptych and triptych frames, which could run into the thousands of dollars.

To help with those costs I have decided to learn some woodworking skills and will try to make my own frames. I want it to become part of the creative process. Both the image and the frame should become a beautiful, expressive, creative whole (I hope!). Another old man retirement thing.

To that I have begun buying some carpentry/woodworking tools and watching tons of how to YouTube vids.

So far, I have a new mitre saw, a new table sander, a new worktable and a new shop vacuum, along with clamps, glue, measuring tools. I will pick up a used, secondhand table saw this morning, for $100. A new table saw cost too much, so trying to save a bit there. Most everything was bought on sale. I hope this is an investment on later savings.

I know nothing about carpentry, but this should be fun, creative and challenging. As long as I do not chop off a couple of fingers, things should work out nicely!!

Note* Also watching lots of safety videos!

Dewalt 12-inch mitre saw

Table sander

Skil 10 inch secondhand table saw.

FREE Work Bench

Picked up a FREE work bench with the BEAST after my nightshift. I am not sure how I will use it. Maybe for making frames or cutting/washing glass.

Problem Solving AMBROTOS KANATA

 My long term Ambrotype project of Canada is often about problem solving. Next week I will travel to Calgary for two days, to photograph their city skyline (the downtown sky scrapers etc.)

Problem #1. How to shoot ultra large format Ambrotypes (11x14 inch and 14x14 inch) far from where my darkroom trailer will be parked. Shoot from a bridge etc.

Possible solution. Got me a e-scooter! I will zip back and forth between the trailer and camera in minutes.

Problem #2. How to transport the plate holders safely from darkroom to camera and back to darkroom again. I will need to have both hands on the scooter at all times to be safe.

Possible solution. A backpack? That seems cumbersome and a it might fall off mid drive. After much online searching, I found a hanging bag that should work. It might even be able to carry two holders. It will probably require a tie down strap.

Problem #3. The place I will park the truck and darkroom trailer in Calgary, has a 3 hour time limit. I have 4 or 5 possible setups to do. 3 hours is very little time in the wet plate world.

Possible solution. Do SPEED WET PLATE. Shoot two holders each trip! Have the developer, glass and silver prepared early, wash, dry and store the plates at the hotel parking lot later that night. Will SPEED WET PLATE work? It will be hard, very hard. We shall see!

Here is the wet plate carry bag on the e-scooter.

Studying to Make Frames

 

I am learning to make frames mostly to save money, though I also think it will be fun. If I get good at it I will make huge diptych and triptych frames for the 24x24 inch Ambrotype works. 

It is fun to think what style the frames will eventually have!

Scooter Boy!!

Set up and rode the scooter for the first time today. It is powerful and fun to ride! I drove it on grass, over gravel and on pavement, no issues. Sorta an all-terrain scooter vehicle! 

I need to be careful thou, it could hurt me if driven improperly.

It could be a very valuable tool for the wet plate project. Allowing old me to make ambrotypes in locations that were impossible before.

Scooter is Here!

 

I might use it in Calgary next week off to do a Ambrotype of the Calgary skyline from a bridge. Might also try to use it for a shot of the Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton, before it is gone.

ZSnake Electric Scooter

Video: 14x14 Ambro, Jimmy Hendrix

 

$4.50 CAD 11x14 Ambrotype Frame

 Picked up a $4.50 CAD wood frame at Goodwill for the plant 11x14 Ambrotype. A nice bonus is that I can now use the original 2mm picture frame glass to make a new fragile Ambrotype on!!

Video: More plant Plates

 Some more plant plates, shot 2 weeks ago. For the long term AMBROTOS KANATA Ambrotype project. 11x14 and 14x14 clear glass Ambrotypes.

Mitre Saw

Looking to get a mitre saw for cutting my ambrotype frames with. My head is spinning with all the new and used options. It is all rather confusing.

Might get this better-quality Dewalt option. $479 CAD. More than I wanted to pay but dad always told me to pay a bit more for better quality.

Hope I use this tool enough to warrant the cost. If I can make my own exhibition frames, then it is worth it. I am not much of a carpenter, am hoping a better tool will help me a bit.

Note* I would be making frames up to 35x35 inches, with 11x14, 14x14 and 24x24 inch frames being most common. Possibly dozens of frames.

Video: 2 More Hours!

 I did not get enough sleep before going out (bad Thai dream wile me up) tonight but we got it done.

Videos: Buffalo on the Road

 Met these new friends!!

Video: A Day at Elk Island National Park

Spent the day at Elk Island's beaver pond. When I first started wet plate I spent a day with the car and tent doing 4x5 Ambrotypes. Today I had the darkroom trailer, the 1 ton Beast and was doing 14x14 inch Ambrotyoes much more confidently. How times have changed!

Made More Cement Ambrotype Trays

Bought another 12 smaller size cement mixing trays. I also adapted these trays with cork inserts (4) to create more separate between trays. This allows me to transport wet plates in water after Ambrotyoe shoots.

As I have improved my wet plate skills, I have been making more plates and larger plates. I was running out of trays early in the day. Now I have over 20 trays, that should be e ight for any 11x14 inch, 14x14 inch shooting day.

Note* I used six of these new trays during the most recent Elk Island shoot.

Trailer Darkroom Improving

My trailer darkroom continues to improve. Better lighting, better blockage of windows, better storage, better sink, better battery power, better silver nitrate systems, better filtering stand. Better, better, better!!!

Ambrotype Making Becoming Easier!

11x14 and 14x14 inch Ambrotyope plates now seem easy to do. The process has become faster with better results. Experience and standardization has made my wet plate life better!

I need to developed the same proficiency in 16x20 and later 24x24 glass!!!

Video: Pulp Fiction Plant!

 

Video: Petrochemical Plant, 11x14 Clear Glass Ambrotype

Petrochemical Plant, 11x14 Clear Glass Ambrotype, AMBROTOS KANATA, Edmonton, Alberta, September, 2024

Videos: Framed Ambrotype

Picked up a scratched frame for $3.50 CAD tonight, from Goodwill. My first framed 8x10 inch Ambrotyoe below.

Note* Picked up some stain tonight. Will try to cut down some of my existing frames to fit the work this week.

Scooter Boy!

 

Am planning a shoot of the Calgary skyline from a local bridge location. The idea being that I can park the darkroom trailer 1/2 a kilometer (up a long hill away) and still use it for the wet plate shoot. I will make the plates SCOOTER down to the camera position, make the exposures, SCOOTER up to the darkroom and develop the plates.

Plan on doing that for 3 hours plus. The scooter should help me do things I cannot do and help my 60-year-old body deal with some of the physical aspects, of making plates far from the darkroom trailer. That is assuming I do not do a header into a light post at 40-60 kph!! Probably wear a helmet of some kind.

Frame Making Machine, Not!

 I know nothing about making frames but am going to learn and give it a go. Bought some older wooden frames ($25 CAD) today off Facebook Marketplace and got an old miter hand saw (for cutting angles, $20 CAD) at a thrift store during the recent trip. I want to try to make frames for my 11x14 and 14x14 inch ambrotypes. Will need to cut down these Marketplace frames and rebuild them to the proper sizes, plus stain or paint them etc.

It should be a fun thing to do. Then I will have work ready to hang for exhibition, assuming I ever get the AMBROTOS KANATA ambrotypes exhibited!

I’m 

Majestic Tripod

One good things about having every bit of photographic gear ever made. Is that when you need something you have it already! It might be is hud away or covered in dust but you have the tool.

I bought this Majestic Tripod a dozen plus years back but never used it. Is it might now work with the 11x14 inch, 16x20 inch and 24x24 inch Chamonix Cameras. If the tripod and head are strong enough, I might have a better tool to use in high winds. The centre of gravity is lower and the tripod legs wider and closer to the ground.

Note* I also have a second set of short legs for the tripod.

Scooter Buy?

Thinking of getting a electric scooter. Maybe this model. it has the features I need. Powerful, seat, folds, leg stand, key, light, good breaks, good name.

I might try using it for the first time if I do the Calgary bridge Ambrotype shoot. The idea would be to park the darkroom trailer a bit away then scoot back and forth to the camera position on the scooter. It would make the impossible shoot possible and would also save wear and tear on 60-year-old me!

Another expensive item but it should be loads of fun and very practical. Any reasonable tool that allows me to complete the AMBROTOS KANATA project, is money well spent.

Duracell Headlamp Buy!

 Picked up 6 more Darcell RED and WHITE light headlamps. The red setting works great in the darkroom. The idea is to have backups, extra charged headlamps and to place some on the walls of the darkroom trailer.

I can finally see in the dark! Love it!!