Join Quinn this Saturday, January 9, 2021, at 1000 hrs MST on YouTube or Stream Yard for an hour of Wet Collodion Photography talk!
This week, Quinn will do a reading from the Alfred Brothers book, "The Manual of Photography" (1892). You'll LOVE this! Great info!
He'll also do a short segment on Lewis Carroll (Alice in Wonderland) as a Wet Collodion Portrait artist.
And finally, he'll take questions and review some emails he received over the past week.
Stream Yard: https://streamyard.com/ca69bai8b3
YouTube: https://youtu.be/snUYMB2cK54
(SUB & HIT THE BELL TO BE REMINDED)
Mountain Home Build Update - December 29, 2020
We had some snow fall last night. About 2” (4cm) of snow this morning and bright sun with blue skies. Our weather here is strange. It can be almost 50F (10C) in the middle of winter and dry. Then, every once in a while, we’ll get some snow. It always melts and the sun comes back. We have over 300 days of sun here a year. And at 8,400 (2.560 m) feet above sea level, that means a lot of (warm) UV light.
Our house is slowly being finished. The drywall guy has a couple of days left. The floors are completed and we need our power. The local energy company (IREA) said we should have the power installed in about 6 - 8 weeks. We just entered week 9 - hopefully soon. The holidays didn’t help our timeline and COVID hasn’t helped either.
The “struggle” (waiting for our house to be complete) is good in a lot of ways. We’re so used to having things “immediately” or “now!” that when you come back into reality (move to the mountains), you find things take longer up here. Sometimes, a lot longer. For example, there is no such thing as “two-day” delivery here. On average it takes a week to get an Amazon package. There is no “cable” here or “fiber” internet. There are a lot of places here where your cellular phone is a doorstop; there’s very little or no phone connectivity. We are very rural. So, having your house completed when you want it takes a little bit longer. Patience has never been a strong suit for me, this has been good for me that way. Jeanne handles it a lot better than I do.
December 29, 2020 - The mountain home and snow.
We designed the house. The layout and arrangement of everything. It’s perfect for us and our needs.
Entering the garage. We only have one truck. The other side is for my forge.
This is our “guest house” - a 24’ Wildwood Lite camping trailer. We lived in it when we first moved here in June. It’s very nice. This shows the views (from the back of the trailer) of the mountains and their elevation. Looking south-west.
You can’t see them here, but you can from the house and coming into the property. These are the “views” we have here. They are AMAZING!
Mountain Home Build Update - December 23, 2020
Are we there yet??
We’ve been on a rollercoaster trying to get our house finished. It’s been very difficult being so close to “moving in” and yet so far - not knowing when this contractor or that contractor will show up and if they’ll complete the work. Overall, it’s been a great experience even with the few bumps we’ve had to deal with.
The entire year we’ve been working on this project. We started in January when we put our house in Denver/Aurora up for sale. It’s been non-stop since then. The COVID-19 virus has created a lot of unexpected problems too. I had no idea the supply chain for certain products would be affected as much as it has been. And I didn’t realize how many companies were working with “skeleton crews”, meaning they had laid off at least half of their employees or are working limited hours. Limited materials and limited manpower make it difficult to build and complete a house. There are some good things about all of it too. One of those is time. This has given us time. Time to think through things, time to contemplate things. All good.
I can’t say when we will occupy our new home, but it should be soon. It looks like sometime in January. The holidays haven’t helped our schedule at all either. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and now the new year. Fingers crossed it will be soon!
We have learned so much this year. I’m not sure I would want to do it again, but if I did, I know I could do a great job. There are so many things we never think about when we live in the city or suburbs. How our power, water, septic, and infrastructure works. What it takes to bring those to a remote mountain in Colorado is a feat of significant proportion. And you better have a lot of cash on hand. This stuff is not cheap. I probably went 30% - 50% over budget on this build. In other words, if I projected that X would cost $100, I should have been prepared to pay $130 - $150 for it. If you ever do this, add the 30% - 50% onto your final number. And if you get lucky and you don’t use it - buy something nice for your new home!
And HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Jeanne today! I wish I could have given her a new home, but it will be soon!
Jeanne and I built a “water system” shelf in our utility room. This holds our 52 gallon compression tank and filtering system (not fully installed). The top shelf will house our router and WiFi stuff for the internet. Below, under the tank, will have Moshe’s litter box. A little private bathroom for him.
We completed (almost) our garage floor. We decided NOT to do concrete but opted for sand and then a later of 3/8 gravel. It’s very nice! (sorry for the poor light/shadows).
Our little shop/garage. With new gravel compacted floor.
Mountain Home Build Update - November 26, 2020
I hope this note finds you healthy and happy.
We’ve been very busy, or consumed, with our home getting set up. It’s on its way to being finished. We have hit a couple of rough patches, to be expected, but we’re getting there.
Right now, the house is set (on it's foundation and secured) and “dried in” - meaning, the weather will not affect the rest of the work. We have the “stitch and finish” crew working to finish inside now. The plumber and utility people will be here next week. The holiday and some weather stalled us for a couple of days. We are technically three weeks behind right now mostly due to not being able to get the home up the mountain and then into our property. It gets really complicated moving a fully built house and garage in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
It’s not too bad considering this is a complicated mountain home build and there are a lot of moving parts to make this happen. We are very thankful for where we are right now. The house will be finished in the next couple of weeks. We can’t wait.
Getting ready to set the crane up to put the house on the foundation.
Half of the house (about 50 tons) flying in the air! This was incredible to see. Amazing technology!
Half of the house coming into our foundation area. Our driveway is almost 800’ long. We have a very private lot - 12 acres. No one can see us here unless you’re in the air!
The other half being lowered into place. Almost there!!
We're Getting Very Close to Having Our Home!
Our foundation is almost finished. We have excellent weather and should have our house completed in a couple of weeks! The concrete crew is pumping 12 yards of “mud” for the first part of our foundation.
The forms are laid out for the concrete pour.
Very Grateful For Our Life!
It's a great feeling to wake up in the mountains and have nothing on the agenda except for cutting firewood. This is Ponderosa Pine and Aspen. These were either standing dead trees that I fell or trees that were cleared for the house build. I'm very grateful for my life and the people in it!! Stay safe! All our best!!
Photo by Jeanne Jacobson
We've Completed the Wellhouse September 2020
We just got word that our house will be completed by October 22. To say we are excited is a complete understatement! We’re elated. We’ve been working on infrastructure stuff. We did the 275’ water line (and power) as well as clean up for the construction crew.
We’ve completed one more thing for the homestead. A (Water) Wellhouse. I know it’s totally boring for those not directly involved, but I have to say, it was a fun project and our first “real” build on the land. It’s 8’ x 8’ x 8’-7’ in size. It’s a lean to build; 8’ in the front and 7’ in the back. Like a mullet haircut ;-) It will have a 9’ foot gutter on the back to catch rainwater. I know, it’s a well head, but we want to utilize the rainwater for our greenhouse and fire mitigation. There is a small window above the door for natural light. It works well. There is a piece of 14” x 32” clear plexi-glas there.
We chose the “Barn Red” color because we feel like it’s complimentary to the landscape (Red Mother Earth) and it will withstand the crazy amount of UV light up here. We will use this color for all of our “outbuildings”. I may end up painting a big “H2O = LIFE” on the side. What do you think?
It’s nice and spacious inside. I used R19 insulation all the way around (ceiling as well) and we have 1400 pounds of concrete poured onto R10 board insulation and a vapor barrier (the entire floor, extra around the well head). The well head is comfortable! And I have space for tools and storage. Really nice. I’m proud of Jeanne. She is the hardest worker I know. And she is never afraid to learn something new. We had a great time together building this and we really feel the pride of ownership and a job well done.
The Well House Build - September 2020
Every day I’m grateful for the opportunity to do this. “This”, is building an infrastructure for a home/homestead for Jeanne, and I. It feels like I’m alive again. The city life and hectic pace of all that was getting to me. And then COVID-19 hit and made it even worse. I’m so thankful we were able to escape that. Life here is GOOD. Even with the small inconveniences and little higher prices for everything, you would never be able to convince me to move back to suburbia. Ever. Life is so much better on the mountain. If you’re feeling blue and bummed out about the world and your life, make a change. Make a big change and invest. Don’t try to play it “safe”. Go for it. Whatever it is that you want to do, make it happen, no holds barred! Life really is too short.
Jeanne and I took on the Well House Project last week. We would probably be finished with it but a freak snowstorm moved in and we’re sitting by the fireplace for a day or two drinking coffee and planning. It’s a nice break, to be honest.
This is an 8’ x 8’ x 8’ Well House and Tool Shed. It covers our water wellhead and the line going to our house. The purpose of this is to protect the wellhead. However, I needed a place to put some general tools so we decided to make it worthwhile and do a full-on shed - about 500 cubic feet/64 square feet. If you were to buy something like this, it would cost at least $2500 USD. We’re doing all of it for about $900 USD.
I would encourage anyone to take on these smaller tasks and find out what you can do. You’d be amazed. For some reason (money) the world tells us that we CAN’T do these kinds of things. They say that we are not skilled enough, smart enough, etc. We can learn, we can experiment and we CAN do these kinds of things. Don’t listen to the lies. Don’t get trapped in an endless game of spending money just to spend money. Save some, get dirty, and sweaty. Make mistakes and learn. Live your life on your terms. Not someone else’s. After all, you’ll have the satisfaction of looking back and saying, “I did that!”
This is where we left off after the water line completed.
Here we have the 4x4 posts attached to the concrete we poured for the corners.
Concrete poured for the floor. We insulated and put a vapor barrier on this as well.
We have it framed in and ready for the walls and roof!
We ran short on 2x4x10 for rafters - after the storm, we’ll finish the project.
Studio Q Creative Retreats 2021 - 2022?
I wanted to share what we have been working on for the last two years. We had originally planned to offer one-week creative retreats starting in the summer of 2021. That’s not going to happen. The very best case scenario will be autumn of 2021 if they get the virus/vaccination under control and people aren’t afraid of traveling and living again (or attending workshops/retreats). That’s probably not realistic either.
We have been planning a homestead and building a creative retreat for years. Jeanne and I have been together for almost 30 years. 20 of those years we’ve been saving and talking about making something like this happen. Six years ago, we started looking for property in Colorado and looking in general in the Western United States. We found our place 4 years ago. And, as they say, the rest is history.
We’ve wanted out of the city for years. It served us well when we were running a studio space and working full time. After you leave the rat race (which I did on July 3, 2020), and COVID-19 hits, staying the city made no sense to us. We didn’t plan this because of COVID-19, like I said, we’ve been planning and saving for years, however, the virus definitely changed our plans just like everyone else, but maybe it’s for the best. Here’s why.
Our house should be finished at the end of October or the first week of November. The winter will be spent getting settled and doing small things to organize and get our life back to some normalcy. If the weather is good, we will set up our greenhouse in December. If it’s a cold and snowy winter, we’ll do other things and save the greenhouse for spring. In May or June of 2021, I’ll have the plans for the photo studio and darkroom to be constructed. By June or July, I should be able to work in the darkroom and daylight studio again (exciting!!). The forge will be set up in the same structure that the photo studio/darkroom is in or, I may end up setting up in our garage, I’m not sure yet. I’ll have to look at the space when it’s finished.
We have time. And we need time. So that’s a good thing. Like everyone, I want the madness (virus), aka COVID-19 to be contained and for everyone to feel safe about getting back to living and life. In the meantime, we’ll continue to build our homestead and our retreat center with the hope that someday, you might be able to visit for a week and exercise your creative muscles, digitally detox, and see this beautiful part of the world (it’s amazing!).
We have designed, and planned, an entire curriculum (in 2019) for the retreats. Here’s a sample of what we want to offer during the week-long retreat. You would be able to pick one activity and do that all week, or sprinkle some variety into your digital detox experience in the mountains!
OUR MISSION
To provide immersive and inspiring education in a peaceful mountain environment. Teaching hands-on skills and educating students on how to find meaning in their lives through physical activities, art, food, and philosophy.
OUR VISION
Our retreat offers unique training programs and workshops that enhance a sense of self, both physically and mentally and a sense of community. Students spend a week on the mountain eating healthy (ketogenic lifestyle - organic/greenhouse) food, being inspired, and spending time in creative activities. This residency will exercise the body and mind in a peaceful and supportive environment.
OUR VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY
We provide a unique educational experience in a beautiful location in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, U.S.A. The stress of the modern world and our (American) poor diet has had an impact on everyone’s mental and/or physical health. And not having meaning in our lives can create problems like stress, anxiety, and depression. We allow students to choose creative activities and learning experiences that they feel will provide relief from the modern world and allow them to discover what’s meaningful to them. It’s a time to examine themselves and to learn a new skill or skills. It’s also a chance to center their life for a week. Take a break from the monotony and relax. In the end, this helps them, their family and friends, and the community as a whole.
WHAT IS IT?
The Studio Retreat is a seven-day immersive creative experience in nature. The retreats are held one-time every year; June or September. Spaces are available for one or two students at each retreat. This is an “off-of-the-grid” experience and we encourage students to leave technology behind (phones, internet, etc.), or at least to a very minimum.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE IT FULFILLS?
Primarily, it’s a time to center and discover meaning in one's life. It also serves as a “digital detox” retreat. It allows the students to learn, create, relax, and play in a completely natural and organic environment. In the world we live in today, many people are suffering from burn-out, depression, disconnection, and live in a digitally toxic environment (screens, social media, news, politics, etc.). Our retreat allows students to immerse themselves into creative and hands-on (physical) projects as well as mental exercises and projects. To live, at least for a week, in a peaceful, healing, and quiet environment. Most will find that it will help connect them to nature and to themselves, in a healthy, positive, and productive way. Our goal is for students to leave the retreat with new skills, a sense of purpose and meaning in their lives, clear-minded and balanced.
WHERE IS IT HELD?
The Studio Q Retreat is held on Quinn and Jeanne Jacobson’s homestead in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado (on Navajo Mountain Mesa near Cripple Creek, Colorado). They own a 12-acre homestead with private living quarters for one or two students. Students can drive their own vehicle or will be picked up from Colorado Springs Airport and dropped back there after the retreat (about 1 hour 30 minutes from the homestead).
WHO IS THE DEMOGRAPHIC?
Veterans
Artists
Educators
Young Adults (18 - 25)
Potential Homesteaders
The Studio Q Retreat is geared toward anyone that feels the need to find meaning in their life. Students will find relief from the pressures of the modern world in an encouraging, and supportive environment. It’s also intended to give people a chance to learn new skills and immerse themselves in creative and physical activities.
WHAT WOULD I DO?
Our retreat provides both creative and physical experiences for students. We operate a (near) self-sufficient homestead, a historic photographic studio and darkroom, a full blacksmith and bladesmith shop, a greenhouse, as well as knife throwing ranges, rifle, and pistol range and an archery range. There are many local attractions and areas to explore hiking, fishing and hunting venues as well.
CREATIVE RETREAT WORKSHOPS & TOURS
“Educating and Inspiring People to Find Meaning in Their Lives Through Art, Food, & Philosophy”
HOMESTEADING WORKSHOP
In this workshop, you will tour the homestead, home, shop, studio, blacksmith shop, greenhouse, solar system, water well, etc. and walk the property talking about permaculture and plans. You’ll learn how the Jacobsons planned and executed the homestead start to finish. This includes a class that reviews major costs and “what to watch out for” when starting to plan to buy land and build a homestead. This course will cover self-sufficiency, operating a greenhouse, harvesting food, running a solar system, running a water well and rain catchment systems, raising chickens and other livestock.
19th CENTURY PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES WORKSHOPS
We offer several different workshops in 19th-century photography. You can select separate courses or build your own custom workshop. These last from 2 to 7 days, depending on the breadth and depth of the workshop(s) selected. Areas covered and workshops available are; The Wet Plate Collodion Process - Positives (Ambrotypes, Tintypes) and Negatives, P.O.P. Printing; Albumen Prints, Salt Prints, Collodio-Chloride Prints, Gelatin Chloride Prints, Carbon Prints, and Oil Prints (Rawlin's Process). As well as making Daguerreotypes, and Calotypes/Talbotypes (Paper Negatives). We also offer a short workshop in making chemistry and safely handling, disposing, and storage of chemicals as a stand-alone.
KETOGENIC LIFESTYLE WORKSHOP - SCIENCE AND FACTS
We offer a workshop in learning how to use the Ketogenic Lifestyle for better mental health, weight loss (obesity), lowering blood sugar, reducing blood insulin, metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, and better overall mental and physical health. We’ve been following keto for several years now ad have had terrific results (physical and mental health and weight). Learn the science and practice behind this age-old way of living and eating. People with type II diabetes can learn how to slow down or even reverse the disease. Each meal will be explained and the student will learn how to prepare the meal and track macros nutrients (percentages of each area of nutrition) and progress. They will learn how to adjust their diet to fit their needs. This course will include video lectures from Dr. Georgia Eade, a leading psychiatrist on nutrition and mental health. As well as video lectures from the leading medical doctors and nutritionists in the world. We’ll cover questions like, What is the science behind the Ketogenic Lifestyle? What is keto and what is not (food lists)? What is Intermittent Fasting (IF)? What is Autophagy? What is GKI and why should I care? How do I check blood ketone levels and blood sugar levels? What does it cost to live this lifestyle? And dispelling myths about the ketogenic diet.
BLACKSMITHING, BLADESMITHING, & KNIFE/AXE THROWING WORKSHOPS
We offer different workshops in blacksmithing, bladesmithing, and knife/ax throwing. You can select separate workshops or a single workshop. These last from 2 to 7 days, depending on the breadth and depth of the workshop(s) selected. Areas covered and workshops available are Introduction to Blacksmithing, making decorative objects; hooks, hangers, taper points, curls, etc. Advanced Blacksmithing: How to make tools; Hardie tools and tongs and basic forge welding. Introduction to Bladesmithing: How to make a knife (hunting, skinner, or a set of throwing knives). This includes “fit and finish” for the non-throwing knives. Advanced Bladesmithing: Making Damascus or Pattern-Welded Steel, and large blades (over 12") with fit and finish. Introduction to Knife/Axe Throwing can be included in a knife making workshop or selected separately as a third workshop.
“MEANING IN LIFE” PHILOSOPHY WORKSHOP (CLASSROOM)
We offer a workshop in the study of philosophy and psychology; based on, or in, Eudaimonia (a path to well being) or happiness and how to find meaning in your life. We give an overview of some of the best knowledge gained over the past 3000 years, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, etc. we explore what it means to “live a good life”. This workshop is mostly based on Dr. Clara Hill’s book, “Meaning In Life” and Dr. John Vervaeke’s Video Lectures, “Awakening From the Meaning Crisis”.
GROWING AND USING CANNABIS AS A MEDICINE WORKSHOP (21 years-old or older)
Learning how to grow cannabis and how to use cannabis as a medicine (to reduce stress, lose weight, lower blood sugars, reduce blood insulin), and feel much better physically and mentally. We cover questions like, What’s the best way to grow cannabis? How should I use cannabis? What does it treat or help medically? What does medical research show?
FIREARMS TRAINING & TARGET PRACTICE WORKSHOP
We offer workshops in both firearm safety (mandatory to shoot) and target practice. We work with handguns, rifles, and shotguns. These last one or two days, depending on the breadth and depth of course(s) selected (handguns, rifles, shotgun, or all of them).
ARCHERY TRAINING & TARGET PRACTICE WORKSHOP
We offer a workshop in archery and target practice. These are one-day workshops. Safety and handling instruction is mandatory before shooting on the archery range.
FISHING WORKSHOP
If you already know how to fish or not, you will enjoy a day on Eleven Mile Reservoir. Eleven Mile and Spinney Reservoirs are two of the top trout fishing locations in the state of Colorado! Eleven Mile is home to rainbow trout, Snake River cutthroat trout, cut bows ( a cross between rainbow and cutthroat), brown trout, northern pike, yellow perch, kokanee salmon, and carp. This is a one day workshop.
COLORADO WOLF & WILDLIFE CENTER TOUR
Colorado Wolf & Wildlife CenterThese majestic animals are so important for our future balance of nature and they are one of the most misunderstood animals alive. They have been brought on the verge of extinction through extermination in the continental US with a little more than 5,000 wolves remaining today. Our educational tours which are required first educates you about the wolf, its importance, and dispelling the old myths. The interactive part was designed so that those that can participate can have the most amazing experience. To run your fingers through their fur and a possible quick moment of looking in their eyes to capture the depth of their spirit and soul is something that you will never forget. Hopefully, when you walk out of that enclosure, you will have a better understanding of that animal and be a voice to help protect its future forever.
FLORISSANT FOSSIL BEDS HIKING & TOUR WORKSHOP
Explore hands-on exhibits and fossil displays in the visitor center and view the 14-minute Shadows of the Past movie in the visitor center. Explore outdoor exhibits (behind the visitor center) featuring massive petrified tree stumps. Take a self-guided hike on the 1/2 mile Ponderosa Loop, 1 mile Petrified Forest Loop, or 1-mile Geologic Trail. Ready for a longer hike? The Monument has 15 miles of nature trails beyond the self-guided fossil trails. Guided Activities: During the summer season, ranger-guided hikes and programs occur daily.
GUEST ARTISTS & GUEST SPEAKERS WORKSHOPS
From time to time we have guests teaching workshops, doing demonstrations, and giving talks/lectures on all of our topics. This varies from retreat to retreat. Please check with us for a particular retreat to see what, or if we have something scheduled.
We are offering classes and workshops based on our knowledge and experience. We are not medical doctors, and we do not promote our classes and workshops as medical advice. Please check with your physician before attending a retreat.
12 acres in Teller County, Colorado - Studio Q Creative Retreat (Quinn & Jeanne Jacobson).
Homestead Build - August 25, 2020
Jeanne and I completed the project.
The Project: Water Line to the House
We trenched (2’ - 7’ deep) and ran 275’ (84 meters) of 4” PVC pipe with 1” poly pipe and 10/3 Romex wire inside the entire length. It’s stubbed out at the wellhead and right behind the house. As you can see, there is a “hump” of soil over the water line. This adds more insulation to prevent freezing in the winter. Over the next two months, I’m going to have soil brought in and make the mounds even larger.
The electrical wire will allow me to put a breaker in the box for the well pump. Right now, we have a solar pump installed and working now (a nice RPS pump) but will convert to a 220 AC deep well pump when the house goes up in October.
This would be considered our first big job on the building site. It was taxing a bit. Dirty (dusty, very dry here) every day. We feel good about it. The next project is a Well House/Tool Shed/Shower and Water Access Building. A 10’ x 10’ simple (2x4 16” center) structure, insulated and powered. The wellhead will be insulated and the run of pipe we did today won’t freeze at the exit in the well-house. I have a place to keep commonly used tools, too. There will be a 55 gallon (208 liters) HDPE water drum on the outside of the structure that you can get drinking/washing water from if you are camping on our land. And finally, there will be a shower on the backside of the structure. Again, for campers or guests to use.
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