Über Wet Plate Collodion Images: Barcelona Spain

16" x 20" (40cm x 50cm) Clear Glass Ambrotype - Barcelona, SpainYou wouldn’t be exaggerating if you said that the fun never ends in Barcelona.

Not only is it a wonderful city to wander around in, you can also make über Wet Plate Collodion images here – if you know the right people: Atelieretaguardia Studio.  

Tuesday morning we set up and prepared make some ULF (Ultra or Über Large Format) clear glass positive Collodion images – 16” x 20” or 40cm x 50cm. It takes a lot of people, money and time to do this. It’s not small task. We had six people working together to produce some fine large Ambrotype portraits. The silver bath was 6 liters – that’s almost 600 Euros ($900 USD) alone! It takes special equipment, too. Large silver bath tank/holder, trays, bottles, everything must be big, including the camera and lens.

 

These were made with a German 16x20 camera. We used a 700mm f/8 Hermagis, stopped down to f/16. The first plate (watch the video below), was exposed for 20 seconds and it was spot on! On the other plates, we maxed out bellows and moved the camera as close to the sitter as possible. The images almost filled the plate. The images we made later in the morning, when the UV was blazing, had exposures as short as 10 seconds! All four images are beautiful in their own right and are very special to the entire Collodion team.

It’s extremely enjoyable making these plates. This is only my second time doing this, but this trip has inspired a new project for me when I return to the United States. Yes, you could say a project dealing with Über photographs – even super Über photographs.

 

Johanne from Norway.

Barcelona Wet Plate Workshop 2009 Part 1

We wrapped up the first workshop here in Barcelona tonight. I can’t say enough about Atelieretaguardia Studio. They are wonderful people (Rebecca, Israel, Marti and Xavi) in a wonderful place. Thank you for inviting me again and hosting these events. What incredible memories for me! Johanne from Norway.

We had 9 people in the workshop; Mercedes (Spain), Marta (Spain), Rosell (Spain), Jana (Serbia), Bryan (Serbia/Ireland), Agnes (Spain), Ramon (Spain), David (Spain), and Johanne (Norway). Thank you! I’m honored to call you friends. You made some wonderful images over the last few days! And your varnishing techniques rival the “master’s”! Congratulations for a workshop well done! I look forward to seeing you all again!

It’s late, and I’m sitting here in our apartment, a short distance from the Mediterranean Sea. I’m listening to the people in El Raval live their lives. El Raval is a special place. It’s poor and it’s real, real as in authentic. We shop at the local stores, eat at the local cafes and enjoy being “among the people” – it’s very comfortable. Say what you will about El Raval, I love it, most wouldn’t.

El Raval is a neighborhood in the Ciutat Vella district of Barcelona, Spain. The neighborhood is also known as Barri xinés, meaning "Chinatown." El Raval is one of the two historical neighborhoods that border the Rambla (the other being the Barri Gòtic). The neighborhood is home to 200,000 people.


An area historically infamous for its nightlife and cabarets, as well as prostitution and crime, El Raval has changed significantly in recent years and, due to its central location, has become a minor attraction of Barcelona. It is currently the home to a very diverse immigrant community (50% of its population was born abroad), ranging from Pakistanis and Indonesians, to a more recent Eastern European community, especially from Romania. El Raval is also becoming one of the hippest up-and-coming neighborhoods of Barcelona where many artists live and work. It is home to many bars, restaurants, and night spots. (Wiki)

We have a few days now before the next workshop. We’re sleeping in tomorrow, and when we get up, we’ll wander around El Raval, drink some Cortados, watch the people, and enjoy being alive and being in this place.

(Photo above right: “Johanne From Norway” – Quinn Jacobson 8x10 Black Glass Ambrotype - demonstration)

World Wet Plate Collodion Day Book 2009

I'm happy to announce that the Wet Plate Collodion Day Book 2009 is ready to for prime time! You can order a copy, or two from Blurb:

The Wet Plate Collodion Day Book 2009

Please keep in mind that the preview of the book sucks (quality). That's the only reason I didn't release it sooner. Caron got her copy in the US and sent me some snaps - it looks great in print, so forget about the preview.

Please spread the word about the book. And ORDER one or two copies! This is a great project to support. We need to sell 250 – 300 copies!

Thanks to every one that participated! Great job! We did it!!

8”x10”, full color, perfect bound, 92 pages, 82 images, 51 artists/photographers – great work!

Photos by Caron Gonthier (thanks!)

The Cover shot!

Inside sample.

 

Inside sample.

 

Inside sample.

And the back of the book!

"Anonymous" 4"x10" Wet Plate Collodion Ambrotype

 Annonymous Ambrotype - 4" x 10" - Clear Glass Ambrotype - Viernheim, GermanyI made this image a couple of hours ago - it was overcast and cool. I used north light (for the mask/effect). It was a 20 second exposure with my Hermagis lens ~375mm - f/9.

This plate looks a lot better when you are holding it in your hand - believe me! It's hard to copy/scan plates, but especially difficult if they are on clear glass.

Here's a snap of my new camera, too:

 

New Wet Plate Collodion Camera & New Formats

I've got a new camera - an 8x10, Black Arts Camera - that Steve Silipigni built for me. The camera is new and I've chosen to work with some new formats, too.

For the duration of my project, and for the upcoming exhibition, I've decided that the square format and the landscape (4"x10") format will serve me better in what I want to do.  

My new setup includes: 4"x4", 4"x5", 5"x7", 6"x6", 6.5"x8.5", 8"x8", 8"x10" and 4"x10".

The history of the square format in photography begins in 1929 with the introduction of the first Rolleiflex. The Rollei’s designers, Francke and Heidecke, had been producing various rectangular format cameras since about 1920. Their decision to make the Rollei a square format camera rather than a rectangular one was based on considerations specific to the twin lens reflex (TLR) configuration, rather than aesthetics. The elegant waist level viewing system of the Rollei would have been miserable to use sideways when a horizontal picture was desired.

Around the middle of the 20th century, talented photographers such as Richard Avedon, Robert Doisneau, and Irving Penn used the Rolleiflex camera in their portraiture and editorial work—choosing the Rollei. Diane Arbus, one of my major influences, made her incredible portraits with a Mamiya TLR. In all cases the resulting negatives were square.

Today, I made a few images. I made some 4"x4" images and 6"x6" images. Here's the most successful image from today.

I'm looking forward to working with these new formats and this new camera! We'll see what happens!

 

 6" x 6" (15cm x 15cm) Black Glass Ambrotype

Imagine A New World 2009

The EU invited me to submit some work for the, “Imagine A New World 2009” photo competition. I think they saw my work/project here in Germany and thought that the theme fit (my assumption). Anyway, I submitted three photos/plates and one, “German Cleaning Woman #2” (this is a blonde Putzfrau with a cigarette) made it to the final cut.

Imagine a New World - In an effort to concentrate more on my personal work and less on teaching, the technical, etc., I’m going to pursue exhibitions, publications, and opportunities like this more and more. When it’s appropriate, of course. I feel that I’ve neglected my personal vision for what I really want to do in lieu of other’s desires to learn the Wet Plate Collodion process. I don’t think I’ll ever completely get away from the educational aspect but I’m going to focus more on my personal art and goals.

Normally, I think this stuff is cheesy and weird (photo competitions, etc.). However, this has a legitimate tone to it and if I do well, I’ll end up in Stockholm for the closing ceremonies and get a few Euros to help fund my project.

So, if you are interested in voting in the “People’s Choice Award” and you think I deserve six stars (how ironic), please take a minute to cast your vote. You have to register first, but it’s quick and easy. You can find my image on the third page.

GO HERE TO REGISTER or CLICK ON THE IMAGE!

Thanks! We’ll see what happens!

New York City September 29-30, 2009

It’s been a few years since I’ve been out walking around the city at two or three in the morning. Monday night we hit the Comedy Cellar and saw a few comedians. Dave Atell was very funny, he was the main gig. We seem to find ourselves out late here every night!

We were bumming around the lower east side and stopped in the Pink Pony for a Mocha and a Peanut Butter, Banana and Honey sandwich – it was wonderfully ironic.

We traveled to Midtown to Red Rocket Tattoo and I got inked. I choose Betty Rose at Red Rocket because she’s a Heeb, a woman and from Brooklyn. Those were important reasons for me. I wanted to start my piece here in New York City, and over the next year, or so, finish it in different places around the world (mostly Europe).

We saw, “HAIR” last night. We had front row seats at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre and the show was unreal. The cast messed with me a little bit - the performance was very “interactive”. There was full nudity and marijuana smoking (I’m not kidding) – some of the older audience members were visibly uncomfortable. I got a kick out of watching them, considering the storyline of HAIR.

Anything above 28th Street, for me, is somewhat undesirable. Times Square is a joke and disturbing to me. However, we couldn’t avoid the tourist trap today and went to the AMC Empire 25 theaters near Times Square. There were floor after floor of theaters (going up). We saw, “Inglorious Basterds” in theater 21. We really enjoyed the film. It’s a great, “what if” kind of flick.

We had dinner at Umbertos Clam House (my third time – always a winner), in the heart of Little Italy - it was super-delish! I was looking forward to taking Jeanne there (Summer had been there before). I won’t lie, we drank two bottles of fine Italian wine and consumed some unbelievably good seafood.

Tonight, we took a train to Battery Park and sat at the tip of Manhattan and stared at the Statue of Liberty. After we were finished staring at the Lady, we stopped in at the 55 Bar and listened to some live Jazz.

We’re back at the apartment now, and ready to do it again tomorrow!

The Pink Pony, Lower East Side - Ludlow Street, NYC.
Summer's Converse, Jean's shoe and these cool table bases that are in a lot of the cafes in clubs here in NYC.
The Pink Pony: Summer through the looking glass!
The Pink Pony Crew!
Quinn in excruating pain administered by Ms. Betty Rose at Red Rocket Tattoo in Midtown.

Greenwich Village (West) New York City

New York always fascinates me. The energy, the crowds; I have a "love-hate" relationship with it (mostly love). Every time I visit, I ask myself if I could live here. A lot of me says, “yes” and the rest rest of me says, “Not a chance.”

New York is "on” all of the time. It’s like an exasperating friend – the energy is palpable and exhausting. We were out until 3AM last night (Rocky Horror Picture Show). Coming back to the apartment on the train/subway, you could see the city that never sleeps in all of its glory. Do you want a Falafel at 3AM? A beer? A glass of wine? A movie? Do you want to see people dancing on the train? Playing music? What ever you want, you can get here at any time.

We’ve been hanging out with David, Caron and Issac the last few days here. It’s been a lot of fun. We’ve seen a lot; Sally Mann show, WTC chaos, Times Square, Katz’s Deli, etc. etc. My favorite has been this little neighborhood in the West Village. We have an apartment here and the flavor of the place is very nice. There’s this coffee house called “Jack’s Coffee” just 50 meters from our apartment – I love it. These are the things that interest me the most.

Jean and Quinn in Jack’s Coffee drinking Honey Macchiatos.  
Shade grown puppies!  

Jack's Coffee Shop

Honey Machiatto

Quinn and Caron - “Sally Mann, Sally Mann!”!