Tulips.

I ate that bird...

4x5 ambrotype

Toyo View Camera

Schneider Symmar 150mm, f 5.6

Poe Boy Collodion

Hand tinted tomato and lemon.

I always preferred sketches and drawings, never liked painting or colouring, but I'm really enjoying this:

4x5 ambrotype

4x5 ambrotype

Tinted Pear

This is my first attempt of hand tinting a collodion image. 

I've been interested in the subject of hand colouring black and white and collodion photographs for a long time, but somehow there was always something more important on the way. 

And it really can't be easier to start!

For a quick trial I got myself a set of 12 Faber Castell soft pastels in Art & Hobby shop and gave it a try. I was a bit surpriced that the effect is so soft and weak, and it took a moment until I started to see any results. The image I've chosen for a test was a bit flat and overexposed and color actually made it much nicer.

I quite like the visible brush strokes here, I've removed them later and the result was more ordinary. Anyway it is very easy to remove the colour, even unintentionally.. 

Looking forward to further tests.

RHA Annual Exhibition

Just a short announcement : this plate takes part in the Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, taking place

25th May - 30 July,

15 Ely Place, Dublin 2.

Today there was a very vibrant varnishing day, all is looking great!!

Collodion, cyanotype and coffee

Cyanotype is not among the techniques recomended for collodion negatives printing, but I'm testing it from time to time...
cyanotype print from collodion negative,
security lamp 1hour exposure,
coffee toned

In James's workshop - part 3

stopped time...

4s/ f5.6 ambrotype

19s/ f5.6 ambrotype

1s/ f5.6, ambrotype



In James's workshop 2

I love workshops and ateliers.
These different tools, things gathered for years, often not in use anymore or forgotten. Things organised or disorganised with an organic manner. A creative mess, kind of an art work really... Often very personal, beautiful spaces.

4x5 ambrotype, 19 sec. exposure, f5.6, TOYO View C, APO Symmar 150mm (black paper in background)

4x5 glass negative, 11 sec. exposure, f5.6, TOYO View C, APO Symmar 150mm

4x5 ambrotype, 1min exposure, f5.6, TOYO View C, APO Symmar 150mm (black paper in background)

In James's workshop

Learning how to take and read glass negatives and positives.

Milan's Sail

My first cyanotype made by negative contact print (not counting a few plant photograms), that turned out quite ok. I wasn't satisfied enough with the results with medium format negatives, I got before, mostly because of tiny size. This time I used Digital Transfer Film to print an increased copy of neg, so I can see clearly how the process works :). But need to buy a proper paper, I was so excited with the chemicals I got, that forgot about the paper, but couldn't wait so I used what I found at home.ca 20min exposure, sunny irish late afternoon.