Have you ever heard the saying, “practice makes progress”? I think I’m on my way. Keeping my head down and doing the work.
I did a rough count of my negatives and I’m almost at 100 plates. I’ve been averaging about 10 plates a week (5 - 7 days). That’s a lot of glass! I purchased 200 plates to do this project. I’m working in Whole Plate for reasons I’ve explained before. And I’m printing (primarily) Palladium Platinum. I will (and have) made Rawlins Oil prints of this work, but the goals I have for this will be Palladium Platinum prints.
I hope to be finished with the majority of the flora work by the end of next month. We do have two trips planned for this month - Tava Kaavi (Pikes Peak) and Garden of the Gods. Everything else will be local landscapes, flora, and objects near me. If you read my statement, you’ll see where I’m headed. This project becomes clearer and clearer to me each day. I’m grateful for that. For me, it’s very important work and I’m compelled to make it. I have a possibility to get it in the right place (I’ll announce it next year) for posterity. I hope I can make that happen.
For now, I just take each day and enjoy it. It’s my escape. I’m transported, or in the zone while in the process of making this work. It’s several hours each day that I’m alone and away from the computer, social media, news, and all of the noise we have to endure each day. It’s a real relief and I’m very grateful to be doing it.
LITTLE CAT'S EYE
Native American groups crushed and boiled some Cryptantha species for external use as a lotion for itching, boils, and fatigued limbs.
TIP NUMBER 209: My negatives (both wet and dry) are strong and vigorous because of the correct amount of salts in the collodion. The iodides are very important. I also follow Sutton’s advice about bromides. Very little double decomposition occurs in 2 - 3 minutes - you need more time for the process to take place.