Bottle - clear glass ambrotype

Looks great Andrew!
I do have to object though....I object that it is empty and I could not partake in the sipping of this fine booze
Steve

If you need more empty Blanton's bottles, I'm happy to volunteer to drain them for you... Very nice shot.
Richard

Looks great to me...I like it!

Nice plate Andrew. I like the way wet plate collodion renders glass as a subject matter.

gene

On a technical point, I am interested in the artefacts on the bottom right, Andrew. I got something similar last week on one of my ambrtypes. I assumed it was putting the plate too early in to the silver bath (while the collodion had not tacked up). Is that your understanding? I ask because I thought it was an interesting artefact to master, so to speak...it could make for some interesting images...

I have some Aluminium sitting around, but not got round to pouring any since the workshop...grown quite attached to the glass...

Rgds, K

Kal, I think that might have been the reason. Interestingly, I never wait that long before placing the plate into the silver.... especially on warmer days. When I did this plate, it was around 68 degrees out so not that bad, and I waited for around 15 seconds or so as I held the plate flat and moved the plate up and down to shake the drip edge flat, once I see a skin on that area, I place the plate into the silver bath.

this was my first attempt at a clear glass ambrotype. I will say though that clear glass has a lot more tolerance to over exposure. I made another one, and doubled the exposure, there was little if any fog present. If I had done that on aluminum, it would have fogged badly. I kept my standard developer mix, and the usual 15 seconds. I think both negs will print, but the second (double exposed one) will print better on modern paper. Just curious what you do for exposure and development mix/time for your clear glass ambros??

If I have some more success with this, I may end up switching to an etherless collodion to avoid having to sub the edges.... Which I did not do with these and is evident with the tears at the edges. I hear that using alcohol (denatured, or 190 proof grain alc) makes a tougher collodion that does not require subbing. Subbing has always confused me as I thought the plate had to be scrupulously clean, yet here we are dabbing egg albumen and water over the edges with a Q tip. How are you supposed to dry the edges afterwards in the field without attracting dirt, dust etc. Seems like a step to be avoided!!

Andy, are you planning on printing these? Or leaving them as originals?
I like the glass a lot.

- Thomas

Thomas, printing is definitely in the plan eventually. This was my first ever clear glass ambrotype,and I over laid a tone that I sampled from my regular silver prints. I want to make them so they will print on modern paper, and maybe lith aswell I did one other neg after this and double exposed it. Came out great, nice and dense, with much potential for either contact or enlargement printing. The smaller size 4.5" x 4.5" neg will fit into my Beseler with a home made carrier and will give me many options for the final print. Or I can just contact print them small as well. Either way, I have many options now and the capability to do editions, or one off's... Also, glass is reusable... If I make a mistake, just peel off the collodion and I can do it over! I'm having so much fun with this.

That's great, Andy. I'm really happy you're exploring so many possibilities with this medium.

Shangheye said:

On a technical point, I am interested in the artefacts on the bottom right

Rgds, K

Click to expand...

you mean the right as we are looking at the plate now correct? they look like developer flow issues to me.

nice shot andrew.