Webster’s Wet Plate

The Sun is out, and it is time to do some more wet plate work.

February 9th was the last time I was out with my gear. It was an unusually warm, and sunny day. A true false. I had hoped to get out more, but March had other plans.

Once the weather warmed up, and my water was turned back on for the season, I mixed up a fresh batch of chemicals to begin again.

My first few plates were crap, but I pressed on till I was getting better results. Part of the challenge is exposure times, and taking in to account the difference between the amount of UV light on a bright day in late March, and an equally bright day in August.

I also started off with standard rapid fixer for the plates, but was unhappy with the result, so I mixed up a batch of potassium cyanide fixer, and was rewarded with a much better result. Yes, care must be taken when working with cyanide, but I find the images far superior.

The bicycle is running well. Put “Sweetpea” up in the stand last week to switch to touring tires. All the difference in the world.

Next on the list is to work on getting gear weight down. The dark cloth for the box is made of light blocking curtain fabric, and is rather heavy, and also the legs for the box, being solid maple, need to be worked on. Chuck them up in a lathe to trim off a few ounces, or perhaps make a new set out of cedar. I have a friend that is skilled at making paddles for standup paddle boarding, and I could ask for pointers in making new legs.

Looking forward to getting out more. I have also given a good deal of thought to setting up a pop up workshop for folks who are interested in learning about the wet plate colloidion process, and perhaps doing some portraits for a little extra cash.

Be well, and keep in touch.

February brings in the first measurable snow of the season for The City, and it is just a dusting at best. Though the pier showed a little build up of a quarter inch the streets, and sidewalks remain clear.

I’ve enjoyed my morning coffee, and breakfast. Then out for a walk before getting a few projects done. On the top of the list is to come up with a way to secure the dark box in windy conditions. Then I have some silver nitrate that needs some filtering, as well as a little organization of gear, and supplies. Then for the rest of the day I’ll settle down with a book, or get out some road maps and dream.

It is the middle of January here in NYC. Normally the coldest month of the year, but it has been unseasonably warm so far, and at the moment it is fifty four degrees at 1345 hrs.

I set out after breakfast. Rode up the Westside bicycle path with the goal of getting to the little red lighthouse. Half way there I stopped to take off my outer layer, and finished the ride comfortably in just a cotton tee shirt.

I made one plate, a 4×5, that I was not that happy with. Over exposed. I thought of shooting another, but the wind began to pick up, and I was concerned about both the camera, or the box being blown over. I poured myself some tea, enjoyed the view, and the warmth of the Sun, then packed up for the return ride home. A nice tailwind helped me along, and I was home in time to enjoy lunch with my friend Gabriel.

I’ll get the bottles, trays, and tanks washed, then work on a way to tie down both the box, and camera, so I don’t risk having them blow down when I’m working.

Despite the unsatisfactory plate it was a wonderful time, and I’m glad I got out.

A fresh batch of chemicals has arrived, and it looks as though the unusually mild weather will be with us for the week. Calling for temperatures on Wednesday to be in the fifty degree range. Pleasant for January, but alarming as well.

I googled “bicycle travel with camera” came up with some interesting articles. Most were just people with digital gear, and road bikes as you would expect. It gets them out on a bicycle, and that’s always something I support.

Did see an article where someone converted a cargo bike into a wet plate darkroom. It looked Okay for short inner city work, but an impractical design for long distance.

I liked the little advertisement for the Poco camera. I actually own one, surprisingly. I’ll have to fit it out with straps, and fit it to my bicycle frame. The camera takes 4×5 dry plate holders, and has its own built in storage that holds three for a total of six plates.

In preparation for my trip I have been going to the gym a few times a week, and most days I have been going for a five mile walk. To add a little adventure to my walks I’ve been doing geocaching. All this in hopes of getting in shape for the long haul. Well, the Sun is up. Time for a walk.

A day off, and after my morning yoga session, boy those hips are not as flexible as they used to be, and my daily five mile walk, I decided to catch the ferry to throgs neck, and ride the path back to Randall island, one of my favorite routes. So, I gathered up my gear, going lite, so no trailer, or cameras other than my iPhone. Bought tickets through the app, and saw I had five minutes to catch the boat.

I hustled to pier 11. Not far from the Ship, and got in line just as they were boarding. Stowed my bike, and found a comfortable seat in the cabin. I pulled out my phone to check any messages, and it was not until I looked up that I noticed we were passing Governor’s Island, the exact opposite direction that I had planned to go. As it turned out I was just a little to anxious, and boarded the wrong ferry. I am now on my way to either Coney Island, or Rockaway.

I have accepted this a sign, and am going along with it. What else does this day have in store for me. Wish you were here.

Post Script

The ferry dropped me off in Rockaway in the middle of a passing shower, but it was only about a ten minute wait, and the skies cleared enough to hit the road. Another little sprinkle when I was riding down Neptune Ave on Coney Island, I kept a sharp eye out for the marauding gangs ie “The Warriors “ per Zacks recommendation. Popped into a Dunkin’ Donuts for a hot coffee, and then back at it.

Looking forward to my next ride.

Ringing in the New Year with a tintype of the ships bell, lightship Ambrose . January first, and I’m out in a tee shirt! Had to take advantage of this unusually warm Winter day to pull out my wet plate gear, and capture this image.

Built in 1908, LV87 was the lightship stationed at the entrance to Ambrose Channel, the entrance to New York Harbour. She remained as the entrance beacon to one of the busiest harbours in the world until 1932 when she was put on station closer to Sandy Hook, and was renamed Scotland.

In 1908 ships plying the world’s oceans did not have the electronic equipment we have today. No radar, loran, satnav, or google maps on smartphones. Location was determined with a sextant by shooting various celestial objects, and through complex mathematical formulas a position was determined, this along with a compass, a watch , and a way to determine ships speed was all that was available. Being in the middle of the Atlantic, and a little off course is one thing, being closer to land it was of great importance.

The job of the Lightship was of great importance, and not without hazard. It was not uncommon to have very close calls with ships, and on several occasions to be rammed, and sunk.

The lightship, as the name implies, had lights to aid ships to see her, and fog horns when visibility made the lights useless, and when the crew heard a vessel nearing dangerously close the bell could be rung as an added measure.

Ambrose/Scotland was retired in the early sixties, and was fortunate to escape the scrap yard when she became part of the South Street Seaport Museum here in Manhattan. If you are in the area check the museum’s schedule, and come aboard. You can even ring the ship’s bell!

With the colder weather I am now without a handy source of running water, though I have a few places available where I can fill up some carboys to supply both my domestic needs, and water needed for my wet plate work.

Organizing my equipment is high on the list of things to do, and I also need to just get some gear out of my life. Time to sell off a few cameras that I have collected over the years including a handful of 16mm movie cameras. Time to let go.

Ive also been printing out coffee mugs with images I have scanned, and just for the fun of it I printed one out onto an iron on patch that I then used to repair an old pair of dungarees.

I used a small travel iron to apply the patch, and image, but will use the press next time to see if it comes out sharper. If you are interested in one of these iron on images let me know. Asking $8

Well, I wouldn’t normally post twice in one morning, but I had such a fun time making a tintype of the Christmas tree down at the Seaport that I figured it was permissible.

Setting up my gear was watched closely by security, but once the recognized it was me they waved and walked away. Fairly small crowd though I figured it would pick up around lunchtime.

The camera always brings onlookers. For many it may be the first time seeing an 8×10, and one being used to boot. I had a handful of people who stuck around long enough to see the whole process along with a brief explanation. I truly do enjoy showing folks the wet plate process. It is so magical.

My first plate was over exposed, and I only had enough collodion for one more plate. I took a few seconds off, and was pleased with how it turned out. Now back to the ship to clean up, restock, and do some varnishing.

A bit cooler this morning, but it should warm up a bit later on. Whilst waiting I figured I’d get some washing done, not my laundry, though I should probably get some of that done too, but this washing involves tintype plates. The plates themselves are just anodized aluminium, and are readily available through various suppliers though not as many as a few years ago.

They are also a bit pricey. A single 8×10 plate is about $4.25, so when I am not happy with the image I put the plate into the reject box, and move on.

In the early days of my wet plate collodion education I went through a fair number of plates, but as my experience grew the pile of rejects diminished, and wash day became a monthly exercise rather than weekly.

Well, it is now above 35 degrees, and the Sun is out. Time to load up the wagon, And make some tintypes.

A recap in case you missed the previous post. I took a poorly poured wet plate, and rather than binning it I coated the surface with a glycerin solution with the intent of delaying the fixing step.

The large black spots are areas that did not receive developer, but the plate looks to have survived the day’s sittings on a shelf with little harm.

I am pleased with the results, but will try it a few more times with better quality plates. Thursday looks to be a near perfect day for a venture out with the bicycle, and gear. An early morning start with the goal of getting past The Bridge to find another subject.