Copper Plate Preparation

I am going to publish a series of posts about the Daguerreotype equipment that René Smets of Lummen, Belgium built for me.

All of this equipment is all based on his design and his work. Of course, I told him what I wanted and customized it where I could. And I gave feedback throughout the project, but the credit goes to René.

All material is copyright © 2010 Studio Q - Quinn Jacobson Photography and René Smets.

The plan showing how the Copper Polishing Vise will be used.

 Copper Plate Vise - this is an important piece of equipment. The surface of the copper plate dictates, to a large extent, the quality of surface that you will have on the silver plate.

My Final Workshop in Germany

Jasmine & Abel - 6"x6" Black Glass Ambrotype - 7 Nov., 2010It's bitter-sweet. I just finished my last Wet Plate Collodion workshop I'll do in Germany. Two photography teachers from Brussels came down; Erwin and Frederick. We had a good time. It's always fun, and I'll miss it terribly. However, there is a time to call it and this was it. I could be weeks away from being back in the United States and I need time put things away, both literally and psychologically. I need to separate a little bit. Time will do this.

Jeanne asked a friend, Jasmine, to come over so that Erwin and Frederick would have someone to make portraits of - other than each other or me. Although, they made plenty of images of one another. Jasmine brought her boyfriend, Abel. They were patient and kind, I ended up making this portrait for them.

There will be more teaching and more exciting things in the U.S. for me, I know it. I'm already looking forward to it!

Canson Crob 'Art Albumen: Part 2

This is a very nice paper - here you can see the progress in the contact printer and the final toned print. Only one coat of Albumen, too! The only thing I don't like about it is that it curl and folds when it gets wet. Makes for a difficult smooth finished print. Overall, I give it a 9/10!

Printing out in progress - about the 25 minute mark. The total time was 35 minutes.The finished print. Gold toned, Whole Plate Albumen print. October 31, 2010.

Canson Crob 'Art Paper: Albumen

I made some Albumen and floated some Canson Crob 'Art paper. I'll print out some negatives on this paper over the weekend.

This is only one coat - pretty impressive. It's a thin, almost vellum paper. It curls and wrinkles a lot when you lay it on Albumen, but relaxes okay after a minute or so. Make sure you have a "bubble mirror" when floating your paper.

This paper is also recommended for Calotypes. I'll give that a try, too.

Whole Plate Albumen Paper (Crob 'Art Single Coat)

Bienfang Graphics 360 Paper: Making Calotypes

This is my neighbor's house. It's at 48 Ludwig Straße. In 1942 a Jewish doctor and his daughter were taken from this home, sent to Auschwitz and murdered.

Technical Details:

Bienfang Graphics 360 Paper

4% KI + 1% Gelatin Bath 10 mins

Bright Overcast

20C / 68F

Exposure: 4:30

Aperture: f/8

Development: Gallic Acid / 15 minutes