Webster’s Wet Plate

I had a fresh batch of developer mixed that I wanted to try out, and also a new head lamp with a red filter, so I loaded up my rig, and headed to the testing grounds. My usual spot was occupied by a tent, so I moved down a bit further. Slow setting up. I am out of practice. Need to get out more, and establish my routine of set up, and breakdown.

I was not happy with the location, and the angle of the Sun was causing too much glare. I waited around for a bit, had a nice chat with a few people that were curious about my set up. I once again did not bring any business cards along, and regretted it. Need to carry those all the time.

After about two hours I called it a day. Packed up, and headed home. Some days are like that.

It seems so far away right now, but in one year I will be launching my Kickstarter campaign, Webster’s Wet Plate Wagon. So much to do between now, and then. Past trips I just got off the couch, and headed out, but now I will be doing some training before the big ride. The rig is loaded down with a fair amount of gear. I do not have the courage to put it on a scale to find out just how much.

Other things I need to do besides training, are to get out more with the gear, and develop a consistent routine of setting up, creating an image, and packing up. I have done it in twenty minutes, but would like to get the time down to fifteen.

I also need to build up my backer base. This involves contacting family, and friends, and encouraging them to reach out, spread the news about my campaign to help ensure I reach my funding goal.

I have also been pouring over my collection of road maps. Looking at all the possible routes. New places that I have yet to visit, and revisiting places from past bicycle journeys. I am so excited about this trip.

In hopes of raising a few extra dollars to fund my next big bicycle adventure I will be selling these nice mugs. The images are from prints taken using the WPCP. Printed on sublimation paper, and transferred to the mugs via a heat press.

I’ll have them up on my soap making shop until I get a business plan here. http://www.shipkeepersoap.store

I had a nice visit from my older Brother, and younger Sister. They drove down fron Maine to spend a day riding bicycles, touring The City, and enjoying a nice selection of food offerings.

I had been a little hesitant on riding, as my left quadricep has been rather sore for the past two weeks, and I did not want to make it worse. Turns out that what it needed was a sixteen mile bicycle ride.

We stopped for lunch at a little place that served a wonderful plate of pasta with a bolonaise sauce that hit the spot. We chatted over drinks about my future bicycle trip, and what I hoped to see, and accomplish.

The list of what I hope to see is to long for this post, but what I hope to do, beyond gathering a substantial number of images, is to bring as many followers along as I can muster. From the comfort of your own chair I hope I can give you a bit of the feeling of what it is like to go on a long bicycle tour. The excitment, and adventure, as well as the challenges, and struggles.

The departure is still a little over a year away, and I am so looking forward to being on the road again.

It is just a few minutes before 0200, and I have already enjoyed my first cup of coffee, and another is brewing. I am an early to bed, early to rise individual.

The past few mornings I have been working on my kickstarter campaign. I plan to launch a little over a year from now, and hope to spend that time crafting my message, and gathering support before I go public.

A year before launch my seem far away, but I have a list of things to work on before then. First on the list it to start training. On past bicycle trips I just got off the couch, and rode away. Now in my mid sixties I need to get off the couch sooner, and get some training in.

I also need to build up my base of supporters. I have a funding goal of $26,000. This is my budget for two years on the road. I would rather have 26,000 people support me with a dollar each than one person giving me the full sum. I want people to follow along on this great adventure, to take part as I pedal along, set up my camera gear, and create lasting images of people, and places.

Spring is here, and I am greatly looking forward to getting out to create some wet plate collodion work. I want to concentrate on glass plate negatives in hope that I can then produce a nice collection of salt, and platinum palladium prints. I will continue doing tintypes also.

I have also been giving more thought to my next bicycle touring adventure. I really can not put it off for much longer. The idea of spending as many of my remaining time left riding my bicycle is becoming more appealing. I would also like to include doing wet plate work too.

I am drafting a fund raising project, and hope to launch some time in May 2026. my goal is $26,000 for a two year tour of the United States. It is my hope to visit all the lower 48. given speed at which I travel, the desire to create some beautiful images I feel that two years is the minimum time that I would want.

If possible I would like to return to Maine, launch my fundraiser, work the Summer fine tuning my bicycling/camera routine, then hit the road Mid-September working my way down the Eastern seaboard before heading West.

Weather will play a major factor in route planning. Avoiding temperatures above the eighties is crucial. Ideally for the WPCP I would like to be in temperatures between 50, to 70 degrees, and as it happens I like those temps too.

Spring arrived a few weeks ago, and I have been looking forward to getting back to doing some wet plate work. Though a bit overcast this morning it was not raining, so I decided to throw some gear together, and set out.

When was the last time? Hard to remember off the top of my head. This means the chemicals are less than fresh. This will greatly affect performance, but it will be interesting to see how it goes.

I headed to the Bridge, began the slow process of setting up. I could tell that it had been awhile as I had to methodically unpack, arrange the gear in order, and prepare for the first plate.

I felt rusty. I had to look at every item to remind myself what it was, where it went, and what order it was used. Step by step. I felt confident that I had not forgotten anything, so I poured a plate, placed it in the silver bath, and went about getting ready for my first plate in months.

It was not until I was under the dark cloth about to pull the plate when I realized I had forgotten to bring my headlamp. The tintype is developed by inspection, meaning that when the developer is poured you watch the image emerge to judge exposure. At the five second mark I like to see a faint image. By ten seconds the image should be near complete, and at the 15 second mark the shadows should be visible. At this point the development process is stopped by pouring water over the plate. Not being able to see how the image is developing for lack of a headlamp ment that I could only count out the 15 seconds and hope for the best.

I was not happy with the results. Not sure having a headlamp would have made much of a difference. A combination of exhausted chemicals, and bad timing. I packed up my gear, headed back to the ship, put my gear away, and set about looking for that headlamp.

May first is world wet plate day, so I’d better get my act together.

I went out the other day to try a batch of tutti fruitti collodion. This is the remnants from the pour off bottle that is then thinned out. I found a recipe for Po boy colloidian, and thought I’d give it a try.

Po boy , unlike regular collodion mixes, does not use ether, but relies solely on denatured alcohol as its solvent. I was eager to try as this would be simple for mixing on the road.

The first pour was disappointing. I could tell by looking at it that the water content was too high. It seemed to do ok in the bath, but still not impressed with it.

The second plate was much the same. I also noticed the plate dried fast after pouring. It was warm out, and I had the plates exposed to the sun. Hot before I even started. I’ll make a note to keep them in the shade.

Though not happy with the results I will give it another try in the future.

Working on my New Year’s resolution? No, just going through all my wet plate gear, and accessories to see how I can lighten the load.

First off I am switching out the legs on the dark box. The ones I have currently are maple. Well made , but a little too heavy. Glued up some white pine the other day to see if I can make a lighter set.

My next project is to get a new set of bellows made for my other 8×0 camera, a Kodak Century that I purchased years ago. In beautiful shape, but missing bellows.

The wooden framed camera is about a quarter the weight of my other 8×10, the Kodak commercial view, which has a metal frame and bed. A very nice camera, but also heavy.

The chemicals, and plates are another story. A stack of tintype plates can add a few pounds, the glass for ambrotypes even more. I think it will be a matter of dividing up my supplies, packaging them, and having them mailed to me as I travel. Much like hikers do whilst walking the Appalachian trail.

More chemistry has been ordered. Silver nitrate, and gum sandrac to make more varnish. Have also ordered more fabric to make a better, and hopefully lighter hood for the dark box. Will post photos as I progress.

Post script:

Found some nice new cloth. It is both lightproof, and light! Between the new pine legs, and this cloth, I shaved six pounds of weight.