I spent a few hours today preparing and making a couple of negatives. I’m going to use this space as my “photographic journal”. I’m also keeping the exact details in written form. This will go away someday and the paper and ink will be around a bit longer.
My first goal was to use a “highly iodized” collodion. It’s made with CdI and NH4I. This reference comes from Thomas Sutton’s book. I ended up modifying this idea a little bit today. This is what I did:
I added 50% of the “highly iodized collodion” with some “soft negative collodion” (it contains a bromide). I developed with ferrous sulfate and DID NOT redevelop. These are foundation negatives. I laid them on my light board and photographed them; that’s it.
Here are some specifics for reference:
Plates are Whole Plate (6.5” x 8.5”) 16.5 x 20.3 cm
They were made with a Dallmeyer 3B lens and f/5.6 stop (290mm)
They were made on December 1, 2021, at 1130 hrs MST and 1210 hrs MST
Exposures were 3 seconds (Aspen Tree) and 1.5 seconds (Dead Tree) - the UV up here is extreme! I can only imagine in the summertime. I’ve ordered a set of Waterhouse Stops from Markus H in Austria. I will definitely need them up here.
The temperature was 65F (18C) and RH was 20%
They were sensitized for 4 minutes in the silver bath and developed for 40 seconds with a 4% Ferrous Sulfate developer.
The silver bath was too cold: 40F (4C) that caused problems with sensitizing the plates.
Both plates were FULLY albumenized.
This plate turned out okay. Again, these are foundation negatives, no redevelopment of intensification.
Detail of the Dead Tree plate.
It was 65F (18C) today and 20% RH. This plate dried so quickly after pouring I lost the left side of it. I think the extra ether played a role too.
The detail of the Aspen Tree. I will keep photographing this scene in different light until I have a perfect negative.
Inverted negative.
Inverted negative.
Inverted negative.
Inverted negative.