Anyone pouring glass plates in Vic ?

[ozwoodnbrass]

Hi , Is there anyone into pouring glass plates here in Vic? I've just started pouring Foma emulsion onto half plates by the Ellie Young method.
And I'm interested if someone else is doing this and how they can get a consistent coating and how much is the emulsion speed effected by reheating ?

 

[paul_c5x4]

Can't answer your questions, however, a tip to save constantly reheating the whole bottle of emulsion:

Get a plastic knife and chop/slice/gouge the solids up inside the bottle. Shake the resulting lumps out and store them in smaller containers - Plastic 35mm film pots are a good size for this. The small pots should be stored inside a black plastic bag (the type used for photographic paper is ideal). Fold the top of the bag over a few times and either clip or tape it down before popping in the fridge. Double bag if you're afraid someone will open the bag outside of the darkroom.

 

[removed account4]

hi ozwoodnbrass:
sorry for showing my ignorance, but what is the ellie young method ?
i know of her studio and expertise in many different areas of alternative photography
but have never heard of her way of pouring dry plates?

i don't have one method or person's method i use, just trial and error, and reading about how others do this.
it wasn't so easy when i poured my first plates, there wasn't an internet just old books, and they weren't easy to find ..

i usually chop out emulsion as paul_c5x4 suggests, and put it into a container with a lip to heat up.
beforehand i wash my glass down really good so it sheets and let them air dry.
i used to sub my plates with something for the emulsion to stick to anything from urethane to eggwhites to collodion to gelatin
but now i just pour the emulsions on the plate when its warm and runny and let it flow from edge to edge before pouring the excess off
into the container i poured with ... and i put the plate on something COLD to set the emulsion. and i do this 1 or 2x. i have a wooden plate drying rack
that i usually let them dry on for a day or 2 to dry out / cure //
i have some plates ( some metal some glass, some paper )i poured last spring that i haven't gotten around to shooting ...
extra time / age speeds them a little bit, not sure how much ...
but heating and reheating the emulsion will mess with it, make it foggy and ive had issues with the gelatin not being good anymore
so i had to sub PAPER for the emulsion to stick.
i have some foma, but haven't used it yet, ive only used home brew emulsion (years ago) and when i learned about it, rockland colloid liquid light ..

not sure if you know of these people or places?

Dead Link Removed
also reading what wildbillbugman writes here
and people at denise ross' http://www.thelightfarm.com/

they pour and use plates and might add to the method you already use, or might be of some help if you find yourself stuck.

have fun !
john

 

[SMBooth]

If you've done a Gold Street course , then Ellie would answer your question if nobody here can.

 

[ozwoodnbrass]

Hi Guys ,thanks for your help I now do cut out enough emulsion for the number of plates I want to coat. I have a level chilling plate and I'm now organizing a level warming plate to bring the glass up to the same temp as the emulsion Im pouring.
But I do have trouble with bubbles that I seem to miss. When I do see them I push them over to the edge of the glass. I'm hoping the warm plate will give me more time to ensure I've got most of the spots out.
I m using Foma ,the way Ellie did it in her workshop session, but I was hoping that someone else might be doing it here so I could swap notes with them.
Its a lot of trial and mostly error. HA HA
Incidentally is any one thinking of bringing their view camera for a run up to the Grampians ? I'm learning how to operate mine and would love a few tips .

 

[munz6869]

I wonder if anyone would be interested in an APUG get together in the Grampians in 2014? I haven't been there in years... and even though it's a hefty drive from the city, it's such a great spot... My field camera would love the trip!

Marc!

 

[Molli]

While I don't have any one camera with yearnings for any locale in particular, a few days away from the Mornington Peninsula any time between now and Easter would be something of a relief.

Tourist season is in full swing here. Sadly, and contrary to local lore, "tourist season" does NOT equate with, say, "duck season".

How long a trip were you guys thinking of making it? It's a bit of travelling for a mere overnighter.

 

[SMBooth]

OzWoodnBrass - This may help you out

http://largeformatphotography.com.a...dry-glass-plate-negative-robert-james-elliot/

As for the Grampians maybe when thing cool down a tad. I need to have a look where my friend house use to be.....

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

I wonder if anyone would be interested in an APUG get together in the Grampians in 2014? I haven't been there in years... and even though it's a hefty drive from the city, it's such a great spot... My field camera would love the trip!

Marc!

It's a good idea Marc; I haven't been up the Gramps for a few years either; it was a regular destination for me during the early 1990s when I lived in Castlemaine. Truth be told, after these dreadful fires, Spring will be spectacular as a lot of the native vegetation requires fire to regenerate, and that which has not been fired previously will bloom in profusion e.g. flowering of the grass trees (usually mid-August).

 

[munz6869]

Maybe we should start a separate thread to drum up interest?

Marc!

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

Maybe we should start a separate thread to drum up interest?

Marc!

Sorry? I thought this was the thread for drumming up interest on an APUG trip. Apparently not. Oh well, carry on Marc.