"amazing discovery"

After reading some posts from Cor and Andrew at the Collodion forum i did the aceton test. It means adding a little aceton which should recover old dark red Collodion

I had a batch of collodion which was more than 6 months old.

Adding a bit of aceton (2ml at 100ml mix) cleared the collodion mix within 5 days. I assume the process hasen't stopped yet, so it might become a little clearer.

I did the test. I taped a plate and flowed the plate at the same time with 2 bottles. Not easy i can tell you (LOL).
As i had no model (My wife doesn't want to be photographed on Colldion...) i had to take some "dummies"

The left side of the picture is with "renewed" collodion'.
I have used 2 x 4 x 24 watt CLF bulbs. At each side 4 bulbs to get equal lighting.
Exposuretime was 6 secs which is just a little bit more as when i use a fresh collodion mix.
Developing time about 15secs. And ofcourse developed in one flow.
Well, as you can see the result is amazing !!

UPDATE !! : Another update ( not so good....)

I just varnished the plate ( at least i tried to do) with sandarac.
The aceton must have weaken the collodion as the varnish dissolves the picture in a rapid way.
I have never had this problem before...
The part with the old colldodion does not have this problem.

So this might not bring what we are looking for.

Alex

"Manon Navarro"

A few weeks ago Manon and Arjen joined me in my studio for making some nice wet plates.
They are running a fantastic studio for image-architecture in Amsterdam.
Real "photoshop-artists". Have a look at http://www.wentennavarro.nl/

I already posted Arjen's picture but i forgot to post this picture of Manon (sorry for that Manon.....).

I can tell you from my own experiences : she's full of energy !!!
They are already collecting lot's of things for there wetplate adventure, so soon they are able to show there own plates. Stay tuned !!

Note she has a brow spot in her right eye which makes it a bit darker than her left eye !

Dallmeyer 3b open

exposuretime 5 secs.

"poorboy" colldodion

KCN fixer

18x24 cm black glass

Buy yourself a decent loupe.............

In the past few years i have been working with a agfa 8x loupe which i thought it was good.
Well it WAS.

I have several old camera's and i noticed huge differences while looking at different ground glasses.
On my older camera's it was ok, but on my newer camera's it sometimes was very difficult to see the real details.
Last week i bought myself an (more than 100 years old) hermagis loupe. My first intention was to store it in my lens collection.

UNTILL......... a few days ago.
I just gave it a try and o boy, the difference is HUGE.
Also on the camera's which are very difficult to focus on it works like a charm.
This is really a piece of art !! So don't make the mistake i did a few years ago.
A decent loupe makes a huge difference.

Alex

 

Gathering with Monicque and Michiel

Today Monicque and Michiel joined me for making some collodion plates.
Very enthousiastic AND some pefectly flowed plates. Almost no spoiled collodion......
It's always very inspiring working with so enthousiastic people loving these kind of old photographic processes.

Some developing hesitations/faults , but nice pictures.

But it was warm in my studio....... 28 degrees at the end of April !!!!
It has never been so warm in April before.

Michiel made a small movie with his i-phone ( modern technique !!) showing his plates : Youtube movie
Also have a look at Monicque's weblog : weblog Monicque

 His first plate. (watch his beautifull tattoo !)

 

 

Monicque flowing her first plate ( she's got talent  !!)