China Day 1 - November 25, 2014

Greetings,

Since ALL social media is banned here in China and I don't want to mess around with VPN software, we're going to send an email a day to the people on our "interested" list. If you do not want to receive these, please let me know and I'll take you off of the list. No problem.

In a word, China is amazing. I know it sounds trite and cliche but it's true. I would encourage anyone that's adventurous and can handle long hours in an airplane to visit. We are lucky, we have people here that are taking great care of us.

Above are some photos from today.

Wet Plate Collodion Negatives - October 2011

Robert shows off his beautiful Albumen print - printing out in the contact printer!It always feels like good things end too soon. The Wet Plate Collodion Negative Making workshop was one of those good things ending too soon.

 I had a great group of people in my studio for the last three days. Doug Winter, Kathryn Mayo Winter, Robert Krawiec, Kyleigh Morgan (assisting) and Jeanne; they truly impressed me with their ability, passion and excitement. If you wanted to be surrounded by motivated and encouraging people, this group would rank high for those attributes. A big “thank you” to everyone! Jeanne kept us fed and made sure things ran smoothly - thank you!!!

Negative making is a fussy, unpredictable endeavor. It takes awhile to feel comfortable with it and “get the rhythm down.” However, once you do, it’s very rewarding.

The group I had here was incredible. Not only did they get it going, they got the mojo going fast! Almost every plate and every print was a success. And they were even doing some beautiful, creative portraiture work. It was very enjoyable for me to assist and watch the magic happen. There were tears and Goosebumps from this beautiful process. I don’t understand why more people aren’t working in this process!

We started on Saturday with introductions and conversation about art, life and the Wet Plate Collodion world. Saturday afternoon I demonstrated how to make a negative, redevelop it and then made a Salt and Albumen print from it. I showed them how to make Negative Collodion and Negative Developer and we talked, at length about chemistry. At the end of the day, they prepared glass (Half Plates) for Sunday.

Sunday was a great day. They all made Negatives, portraits of Kyleigh. I could see they were going to have some really beautiful prints.

And yesterday, Monday, we made Salt paper and Albumen paper and printed like crazy! Really impressive stuff! Remember, these guys had never made a Wet Plate Collodion Negative before or printed one on Salt or Albumen. How could you not be impressed? I hope to see them all again real soon!

Lef to right, Quinn, Jeanne, Kyleigh, Robert, Kathryn, and Doug.Some of the Salt and Albumen prints made from thier negatives! Impressive work!!

One of Kathryn's prints - toned Salt print - unwaxed. 

 One of Doug's prints. Toned Salt print - I apologize for the digital replication - the prints are really gorgeous in your hand!

One of Robert's prints - toned Albumen - Half Plate.

One of Kathryn's prints "printing out".

Doug dries one of his Wet Plate Collodion Negatives down while Kathryn takes a photo with her iPhone. 

Southern Utah University Art Insights Lecture

Last Wednesday, I traveled to Cedar City, Utah. Southern Utah University asked me to be a speaker for their Art Insights program. 

My wife, Jeanne, joined me and helped me with the Wet Plate Collodion demonstrations during the day. And Thursday night, she had to listen to another 45-minute talk about my work and process (thank you, Jeanne!).

It’s always a huge honor for me to do these kinds of things. I’m both encouraged and humbled by the response and comments from people.

Southern Utah University has a beautiful campus and I was surprised how nice Cedar City, Utah is – I’d never been there before – gorgeous views of the land and bright blue skies. The students and faculty were very kind and seemed to enjoy what they saw and heard from me. 

They had me give my lecture in the Great Hall. The references to Harry Potter they made about the space were spot-on. It’s big, elegant and holds a lot of people. I’m not sure how many people were there, but it was full (200+?). 

I’m always amazed that people come out to hear (and see) someone like me when they could be doing a thousand other things. It’s very humbling to me. I always try to be as sincere and honest (authentic) as I can be when talking about my work and my intent for the work. I think that most people want to listen about (and see) work that’s authentic and not gimmicky or made for consumption (shocking, crude, etc.). That’s what I try to give them – honest and real – like the people I photograph.

We would like to say, “THANK YOU!” to Deb and Harold Snider for hosting us in their beautiful home and for all of their wonderful hospitality.

Thanks to Jeremias Paul and Rheana Gardner from the photography department – I appreciated all the help and encouragement. I look forward to working with you again. And I would like to give a big thanks to all of the students of SUU and the general public that attended my “performative lecture” (Wet Plate Collodion demonstrations) and/or my Great Hall lecture. 

All photos by Jeremias Paul and Harold Snider (thank you!)

The Southern Utah University Photo Group! Half Plate Black Glass Ambrotype by Quinn JacobsonHarold watches as I flow the plate with Collodion - his image.Harold's Half Plate Alumitype in the wash pan.Jamie's in the sitter's seat and waits as I explain what I'm going to do. Getting ready to make a Half Plate Clear Glass Ambrotype.Fresh out of the wash - against my black t-shirt, I show the group how thin negatives appear as positives against black.Jeremais shot this - I love the shadow of the image!Kallie (forgive me if I spelled that wrong) sits for her portrait - the texture of her hair looked very cool!Do you see what I mean?Getting her "dialed in" as Jeremias makes a crack about Muybridge ;-)My brother in the blues, Steven Swift, sits for his portrait. (http://www.stevenswift.com/)Steven on metal!A closer look - Steven.This was the test plate to start the day. It's a portrait of Rheana.The Bunny Girl's work, Jamie - I was asked to look at some of the students work. Jamie's work had Gummo written all over it - she's from Ohio, too!

Back In The Saddle

After almost six years, I'm back in America and teaching Wet Plate Collodion to Americans, again. It feels good.

I held the first (of many) Wet Plate Collodion workshop in my studio from September 3 - 6, 2011. It was a great feeling to be back and to speak the language, understand the culture and have people laugh at my jokes. I had some fantastic people in the workshop, too. A big thanks to Chris Kirk, Rob Perisho, Jeff Graves and Izah Gallagher. They're great people with a great Collodion future ahead of them! I hope to see them all again in my studio soon!

 Summer preps varnish while the rest of the crew are cutting and cleaning glass, (left to right) Jeff Graves (Broomfield, Co), Rob Perisho (Chicago, Il), Chris Kirk (Austin, Texas), Izah Gallagher (Denver, Co), and Summer Jacobson (Denver, Co).

 This was just a joke. I thought it was kind of funny. Herr Graves drying his Clear Glass Ambrotypes.Summer helps Chris with varnishing. Chris did some of the finest varnishing I've ever seen (not kidding). "My GrandDaddy's Hat" Izah shows off her wonderful self-portrait. Whole Plate Black Glass Ambrotype.Chris makes a portrait of Summer as Jesse watches. The EXTREME Denver UV made using natural light a no brainer - really gorgeous images!"Cowboy" 7x5 Alumitype by Chris Kirk"Cowboy" 5x7 Alumitype by Izah Gallagher.

Summer Jacobson, September 4, 2011 Denver, Colorado - photo by Chris Kirk

Rob Perisho, September 3, 2011 Denver, Colorado - photo by Quinn Jacobson

If you're interested in joining me for a workshop/course in a historic photographic process like Daguerreotypy, Calotypy, Wet Plate Collodion, Albumen Printing and/or Salt Printing, keep your eye on this link or send me an email and we'll get you in! I have a nice big (safe) well lighted studio in the RiNo District in Denver, Colorado. 

Workshop: Making Wet Plate Collodion Negatives & Salt/Albumen Printing

(Limited to 4 Students)
$650
October 8-10, 2011

8x10 Collodion Negative – 15 secs – Intensified with Copper and printed on Albumen/toned – Quinn Jacobson, Barcelona Spain November 7, 2009This is real photography for serious artists and photographers! An intensive, three-day, hands-on workshop that covers all aspects of making Wet Plate Collodion negatives; including redevelopment, intensification and making Salt and/or Albumen prints from the negatives.

This course is designed for people who have worked with the positive Wet Plate Collodion process (Ambrotypes, Tintypes, etc.). Darkroom experience is preferred and students should have a good understanding of traditional silver gelatin negative making. Large format camera experience is preferred, too.

Demonstrations
Students will get to see the negative making and redevelopment/intensification process executed from start-to-finish and the workflow methodology that Quinn uses for his work. He will also demonstrate making a Salt Print and/or Albumen print from the negative. Also, this course starts on the Second Saturday in Denver, Colorado. Quinn will have the doors open for the public to see what takes place in the studio! 

Chemistry
Quinn will do an in-depth segment on chemistry. Chemistry for negatives is different than positives. It’s subtle but affects the quality of the negative. He will also work through the chemistry for redevelopment and intensification; two very different methods for making negatives. Each individual chemical will be discussed and described in detail. Students learn about each chemical’s function and purpose in making and redeveloping/intensifying negatives – this is very important as it relates to troubleshooting. Safety, storage and handling are also major components of this segment. Students will participate in making each of the chemicals for the process.

Plate Making
This workshop will use Half Plate and Whole Plate format sizes. Students will have the opportunity to work in both of these formats. The second day of the workshop is devoted to making negatives which includes preparations, glass cutting, cleaning, etc. pouring plates, sensitizing plates, exposing plates, developing plates, fixing plates and varnishing plates. The third day will cover printing processes.

Negative Redevelopment & Intensification
Quinn will cover both of these techniques and show the difference between them. Students will learn when to use hardcore redevelopment or a simple intensification.

Salt & Albumen Printing
Each student will select their best negative and make a Salt and/or Albumen Print from it. This course will not cover making Salt and Albumen paper, but will provide students the paper and supplies for printing the negatives.

Critiques & Troubleshooting
At the end of the third day, there will be an overview/critique about the images made. This critique is based on troubleshooting – things that went wrong and things that worked. It’s a very valuable part of the course.

What’s Provided?

• You can attend the workshop with nothing but a pen and notebook. Cameras, chemistry, substrate and facilities are all provided. You are welcome and encouraged to bring your own camera (if you can). Using your own equipment helps when you start making images on your own. Be sure to have a Half Plate and/or Whole Plate insert. 
• You will receive a copy of Quinn’s manual, “Chemical Pictures: Making Wet Collodion Negatives”. The manual will be used throughout the course.
• Lunch will be provided each day (it's unbelieveably delicious food). There will be drinks available at the studio (coffee/espresso, water, soft drinks, etc.) throughout the day. 
• On Monday night, we will have a small "celebration party" with drinks and nosh. We'll also award the Wet Plate Collodion Certificates of Training. 

Course Date: October 8 - 10, 2011
Location: Studio Q / Quinn Jacobson Photography
3519 Brighton Blvd. Unit G Denver, Colorado 80216
Time: 9AM - 6PM (with a lunch break)
Cost: $650

IMPORTANT: This is "first come, first serve". To ensure a place in the workshop, please send $100 deposit to sales@studioQ.com (PayPal) or email quinn@studioQ.com to make other arrangements.