False starts

It is a rainy Sunday morning. A perfect time to finish up a few chores such as laundry and general tidying up. I shall also take this opportunity to catch up on my posts.

The weather has turned warm, and I gathered up my gear, loaded the cart , and set out for the day. It had been quite awhile since I had done any wet plate work, and I was looking forward to getting back into it.

I positioned the cart in my usual spot near the bridge. Then began setting up my camera, and the rest of my supplies. A bright sunny day with a little breeze to keep it cool. Perfect conditions.

Plate prepped and poured. Into the silver nitrate bath then into the camera. Shutter cocked, released. A two second exposures.

Into the dark box to pour the developer. Ten seconds. Twenty seconds. Nothing yet. Had I not exposed long enough? Fifty seconds and still nothing. I developed for another twenty but to no avail.

Plate two, three and four the same though I change exposure times for each one.

I fear that my chemicals are to blame. Back home I checked and filtered the silver bath. It was within tolerance. Mixed a new batch of developer though the last one was not all that old. This left me with the colloidian to deal with.

I checked the label. Was it really almost a year old? Added some acetone as I had read that this my help. It did not.

Looks like it is time to order more supplies and start afresh. It will mean a budget reviewer and fewer meals out for the next two months.

This is good. Hope to be creating some new works by the end of next week. Will keep you all posted.

Now time for some ramen.