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First Wet-plates

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 3:27 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by Susie Frith
Here are a couple of images from the wet-plate workshop run by Carl at the Clocktower.

I set the camera up, poured and developed the plates, but one of the others did the honours with the lens-cap for my "self portrait".

Image

The second shot was at the allotments, and was a bit over exposed and hugely over developed.

Image

Both are whole plate on trophy aluminium.

Hope you like them!

Susie

Re: First Wet-plates

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 4:22 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by George Hart
Susie, they are lovely! Congratulations on tackling such a medium! What is the reason for the light patch to the left of the door in the first photo, flare?

George

Re: First Wet-plates

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 4:33 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by Susie Frith
Thank you George.

It could be flare, yes. It wasn't my camera and so didn't have a lens hood!!

I think one reason why LF doesn't phaze me too much is because even in smaller formats I much prefer to use a tripod: even in 35mm I use a table-top one.

But tackling wet-plate was such a smooth process with Carl's workshop, I can't thank him enough. It really was a fantasic week-end, which left my brain teeming with ideas.

Susie

Re: First Wet-plates

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 5:37 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by Neil Barnes
Without wishing to criticise the image itself, was it taken with a very long lens? The depth seems very compressed - it's as if the steps are just lines on a wall... or is that an artefact of the process?

It's doing my head in!

Neil

Re: First Wet-plates

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 6:04 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by Susie Frith
Hi Neil,
It was an 8x10 camera with a reducing mask in the plate holder to go down to 6.5x8.5. From memory the lens was about 12", so it is only slightly long for the format. The same camera and lens was used for both shots.

Susie

Re: First Wet-plates

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 8:10 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by Neil Barnes
Thanks, Susie.

As you say, that seems about the right lens for the plate size. And on this screen, I see the image about 7.5" across, so only slightly larger than the original image.

Curiously, I see depth in the allotment image without a problem, but with the higher-contrast portrait, it's somehow just flat.

Am I the only one seeing this effect? Has my head actually exploded? Have I spent too long with Victorian 3-d images?

Neil

p.s. I love the look of the images... it's just this perspective thing that's hurting my head!

Re: First Wet-plates

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 10:08 am Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by Andrew Plume
Susie

these are a great start, good for you - one as far as I know with this process, is often going to be subject to the odd result - the white patch on your self portrait is an example - I don't feel that 'dof' is an issue with that image - the allotment image is very interesting...........................

best regards

andrew

Re: First Wet-plates

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 11:04 am Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by Fourtoes
A great start Susie.

Looking forward to seeing many more.

Tony

Re: First Wet-plates

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 8:19 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by Lucy Telford
Great stuff. Carl is a wonderful, patient and good humoured teacher isn't he? Had a great day down in Glasgow on Saturday at a "consolidation" day with him and now my tin has arrived :-)

Glad to see this process is gathering momentum...

Re: First Wet-plates

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 8:39 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by Andrew Plume
Lucy Telford wrote:Great stuff. Carl is a wonderful, patient and good humoured teacher isn't he? Had a great day down in Glasgow on Saturday at a "consolidation" day with him and now my tin has arrived :-)

Glad to see this process is gathering momentum...

yep me too, as mentioned earlier

best

andrew :lol: :lol: :lol:

Re: First Wet-plates

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 8:53 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by John Hamlen
Fabulous images Susie. Thanks for posting. I'm very envious. Must work out getting my hands on a plate holder for my 8x10....

Just trying to get my head around the process: Did you coat shiny aluminium, and end up with an in-camera positive the same way that ambrotypes look positive with a reflective surface behind the glass negative?

John

Re: First Wet-plates

Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 7:39 am Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by Fourtoes
Hi John,

In the first post it says "Both are whole plate on trophy aluminium."

So yes pour collodion onto the aluminium, sensitize, expose, dev and fix and you have a positive image as you mention.

Re: First Wet-plates

Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 8:25 am Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by John Hamlen
Cheers. This is most interesting! So does one end up with a daguerreotype-like reflectivity to the final "product"?

I was originally looking at going the ambrotype route and glass plates. This would be much more convenient and - I don't know - but maybe 0.5mm thick trophy aluminium has an outside chance of fitting a standard film holder?
Many thanks, John

Re: First Wet-plates

Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 9:15 am Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by Fourtoes
A Dag is a different ball game, some people do buff their ambros/tintypes, this buffs up the silver and gives it a shiney look.

Trophy Aluminium is probably more convenient, you dont have to clean it as its got a protective film you just peel off, if you drop it it doesnt smash, you dont have to deburr and albumen the edges etc.

Granted its a more expensive but its easier to work with in my opinion.

Re: First Wet-plates

Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 6:41 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by Andrew Plume
Fourtoes wrote:A Dag is a different ball game, some people do buff their ambros/tintypes, this buffs up the silver and gives it a shiney look.

Trophy Aluminium is probably more convenient, you dont have to clean it as its got a protective film you just peel off, if you drop it it doesnt smash, you dont have to deburr and albumen the edges etc.

Granted its a more expensive but its easier to work with in my opinion.

Tony - in your experience can you use (and in answer to John's point) trophy aluminium in a conventional 10x8 double darkslide?

regards

andrew