High Above Kamloops Lake

[Andrew O'Neill]

...just me, the 8x10, two sheets of film, a bunch of cactus, and a biting wind!

 

[mshchem]

Great video. I would love to see the image posted here to get a bit better view.

 

[MTGseattle]

Very nice.

 

[pentaxuser]

Thanks for the video. It looked like a lot of work but the final print was certainly an improvement over the cyanotype to my eye, Andy. What is the chocolate brown toner called? I couldn't quite catch what you said

Is there really such a time as 4:30 am?

pentaxuser

 

[Rick A]

Many years ago Kamloops was on my bucket list for trout fishing. Now I'm sorry that trip never materialized I would have had my camera along as well. I would love to see the finished print. Oh yeah, I've dealt with cholla most of my life, nasty stuff.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Great video. I would love to see the image posted here to get a bit better view.

Thanks! I'll post it in the gallery here.

@pentaxuser I used Tannivin from a local DIY wine shop.
@Rick A Kamloops and surrounds is a very inspiring place for me.

 

[MurrayMinchin]

Oh great...and here I thought I was the first person to ever set up a tripod on that slope!

Thanks for taking us along for the video ride

 

[pentaxuser]

@pentaxuser I used Tannivin from a local DIY wine shop.

Thanks We have nothing with the same name but it sounds like what we call tannin and it's sold in home brew shops. Not particularly cheap given how much powder seems to be needed but that's my problem

pentaxuser

 

[Sirius Glass]

I think the name of the cacti is "Jumping Chollas" and they can puncture the sturdy thick sole of a hiking boot into the foot. I know, it happened to me.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Oh great...and here I thought I was the first person to ever set up a tripod on that slope!

Thanks for taking us along for the video ride

View attachment 356298

View attachment 356299

I've been sticking my tripod in that area for 20 years! I'll be there again in March during Spring Break.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Thanks We have nothing with the same name but it sounds like what we call tannin and it's sold in home brew shops. Not particularly cheap given how much powder seems to be needed but that's my problem

pentaxuser

Yes, same as Tannin. They bring it in from the Okanagan, which is a big grape/wine producing region here in BC. I've tried it with less, but I don't get the tone that I like. Cost me about $15 Canadian for 100g.

 

[MurrayMinchin]

I've been sticking my tripod in that area for 20 years! I'll be there again in March during Spring Break.

Last time we went through on that road we found a trail which goes up the other side of the lake...it starts at the Savona cemetery. Didn't hike to the end of the trail because of time constraints, but it supposedly goes to a couple beaches...have you walked that one?

 

[MurrayMinchin]

Here's that trail: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/canada/british-columbia/sabiston-creek-trail

 

[MattKing]

Andy,
I confess I watched this with the sound off and closed captions on - which rendered "Kamloops" as "C Loops" - for some reason that made me chuckle.
What we end up doing when the Christmas decorations go up and I lose my normal computer desk to a spot for the tree!
I do like how your process ends up realizing the visualization.
The video camera makes the area look so much different than the way the print ends up looking.

 

[Mick Fagan]

Interesting seeing the slight difference with the second sheet where you gave another approximate 1/3 of a stop more development. At least I think that was the developing difference.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Last time we went through on that road we found a trail which goes up the other side of the lake...it starts at the Savona cemetery. Didn't hike to the end of the trail because of time constraints, but it supposedly goes to a couple beaches...have you walked that one?

I'm familiar with the cemetery, which is at the top of the lake, where the Thompson river begins. Not aware of any beaches, though.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Here's that trail: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/canada/british-columbia/sabiston-creek-trail

I will check it out next time I'm out that way! Maybe this coming Spring break. Summer would be suicide. Thanks!

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Interesting seeing the slight difference with the second sheet where you gave another approximate 1/3 of a stop more development. At least I think that was the developing difference.

Yes, I extended the development time for the second sheet. I have now found that I prefer a stronger dilution of 1+25 with PC-TEA and HP5 and rotary development. This will be presented in a video I am currently editing.

 

[pentaxuser]

Yes, same as Tannin. They bring it in from the Okanagan, which is a big grape/wine producing region here in BC. I've tried it with less, but I don't get the tone that I like. Cost me about $15 Canadian for 100g.

Thanks. How much did you need in terms of grammes to produce the effect shown. It looked a lot but of course that depends on what the spoon holds and how dense the powder is.

Do I take it that as it is tannin, it stains rather than tones the paper i.e. tannin acts more like strong tea rather than bringing about a chemical change in the surface of the emulsion similar to sepia?

If my assumption is correct might strong cheap tea produce a similar effect and be cheaper?

pentaxuser

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Thanks. How much did you need in terms of grammes to produce the effect shown. It looked a lot but of course that depends on what the spoon holds and how dense the powder is.

Do I take it that as it is tannin, it stains rather than tones the paper i.e. tannin acts more like strong tea rather than bringing about a chemical change in the surface of the emulsion similar to sepia?

If my assumption is correct might strong cheap tea produce a similar effect and be cheaper?

pentaxuser

I tend to use way more tannin than most people. Two heaping tablespoons per litre. At least once made, it seems to last quite a while. I'm going to experiment with the addition of Sodium Benzoate or dichromate in the mixture, to see if that will prevent mold from accumulating.
Yes, it does stain the paper. A strong black tea would probably do the same. I was using a tea years ago, but I usually ended up wanting to pour some for myself, and running out.
By bleaching in weak sodium carbonate first, then redeveloping in tannin, one can get pretty clean whites.

 

[pentaxuser]

I tend to use way more tannin than most people. Two heaping tablespoons per litre. At least once made, it seems to last quite a while. I'm going to experiment with the addition of Sodium Benzoate or dichromate in the mixture, to see if that will prevent mold from accumulating.
Yes, it does stain the paper. A strong black tea would probably do the same. I was using a tea years ago, but I usually ended up wanting to pour some for myself, and running out.
By bleaching in weak sodium carbonate first, then redeveloping in tannin, one can get pretty clean whites.

Thanks, Andy, Based on what I think you have said it would appear that I had stupidly forgotten that the tannin still remains good for more than one print which may also apply to strong tea as well of course The problem with tea is that it too can form mold after a few days, based on my knowledge of leaving it in the pot and then trying to reheat it. It's ok for maybe 24 hrs but then does start to build up "growths"

Great tip about using weak sodium carbonate

pentaxuser

 

[takilmaboxer]

I wasn't aware that true cholla grew that for north! We have plenty of cholla here in New Mexico, and it is truly nasty. Each tiny spine is hooked at the distal end, and when you pull it out, it rips the skin. It doesn't actually jump, it just sticks very easily and is hard to remove.
My camera kit includes tweezers for that very reason.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I wasn't aware that true cholla grew that for north! We have plenty of cholla here in New Mexico, and it is truly nasty. Each tiny spine is hooked at the distal end, and when you pull it out, it rips the skin. It doesn't actually jump, it just sticks very easily and is hard to remove.
My camera kit includes tweezers for that very reason.

We even have them on the prairies up here.