Light Farm silver gelatin web tutorials

[dwross]

Kenton,

Yup, that's the stuff. I will have a shopping list ready by the end of the weekend. Meant to have it earlier, but I've been having way too much holiday fun! Every time I sit down at the computer, someone yells, "Stop working!!"
d

 

[kbrede]

OK, I'll cool my jets and wait for the the list. Enjoy the time with your family!

 

[Photo Engineer]

I agree with Denise that true panchromaticity is a bridge too far for us right now.

Denise;

For the fog, I suggest a tad of TAI. You can get it from the Formulary. Use it as described by Jim Browning in his formula or in my book.

PE

 

[dwross]

Excellent idea. TAI hasn't been in my toolbox yet, but it's probably time. I try to attack the basic ingredients and cooking procedures first. I've been thinking of TAI like going on blood pressure medication before you try diet and exercise! But, I will definitely give it a go. Thanks for the push.

 

[Photo Engineer]

Here is an experiment to try.

Coat the foggy emulsion and then add 1 drop of TAI. You now have 90 ml of emulsion with 1 D Tai assuming 100 ml of TAI free emulsion. Now coat that. Add 1 D. Now you have 80 ml of TAI + 2 D assuming 10 ml / coating and etc. At the end of the series, test. The first low fog is the one you want. So, if 80 ml with 3 D is best then that is your aim, or just use what Jim Browning uses.

If you overshoot, you lose speed. Not a big problem for uss though.

PE

 

[kb3lms]

Been quiet, but I've been following this in the background. The holidays have kept us busy this year but I have found some time to keep things moving along.

I've been thinking of TAI like going on blood pressure medication before you try diet and exercise!

Actually, I don't think that is the case. As you guys know, I have been fooling with controlling vAg and trying to get a handle on the process of a more controlled make. As the emulsion becomes more "precise", it also gets more touchy. I'd think about TAI more like a fuel additive to make your Porsche run better. One thing I am finding is that during digestion you go along taking 3 or 4 samples at 10 minute intervals with no fog and them all of a sudden "BAM" and there it is leaving you with a foggy emulsion you barely think you can use.

I haven't used TAI yet either, but I wonder if TAI gives you a chance to control the fog?

PE, you imply above that TAI could be added to an already fogged (as in over-digested) emulsion to salvage it to some extent? Is that correct?

TAI is a component of nearly every commercial (as in patents) formula I have read lately. Tani says we can use PMT or BZAT, too. He talks about PMT and TAI but doesn't say much about BZAT other than to say it can be used. BZAT has been of some help in D-76 to reduce fog but I have not tried adding it to the emulsion.

Guess I have to put TAI on my shopping list as well.

-- Jason

 

[dwross]

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE!!

PE, Thanks! TAI test info copied and filed with my recipe to try at first opportunity.

Kenton, The 1st installment of "Getting Started" is posted.

Safe highways and byways to all!
d

 

[Photo Engineer]

Jason;

TAI is the industry standard for "fixing" or controlling fog in emulsions. Yes, you can repair overly fogged emulsions. TAI is superb as a pH 7.2 solution which we called NAZ (Sodium salt of TAI). A drop or so will reduce fog.

Benzotraizole and Phenyl Mercapto Tetrazole are good too (BTAZ and PMT) and both are stocked by the Formulary.

Last time I was out there, I made them a batch of TAI solution and they should have some for sale. I have no license to ship this stuff so get the chemistry from them. I am trying to build up a stock of emulsion chemistry with them and here at home. Those coming to workshops here can get the stuff from me as samples.

PE

 

[Polder]

Hi to you all,

I would like to join in but in trying to order the chemicals in Germany all the time I get the answer : we are not allowed to sell to private persons. The internet, or the way I use it, doesn´t give any answers.
So does anyone have any experience with an internetshop in Germany?

Thanks

v.d. Polder

 

[Photo Engineer]

You might try to contact Fotoimpex. They may carry some of this.

PE

 

[dwross]

There seems to be a lot of wet plate work in Europe. Does anyone know where those folks get their silver nitrate? I would think/i.e. totally guess that would be the only real "issue chemical".

 

[Polder]

Hello,

I buy my films and paper at Fotoimpex, they don´t mention silvernitrate in their cataloque, I mailed them a couüple of days ago, but got no answer yet.

Thanks a lot,

p

 

[Photo Engineer]

Many new items or small moving items are often not in catalogs. A question will get you to the right person.

PE

 

[Polder]

Hi,

Thank you. I´ll phone them Monday.

P

 

[dwross]

Quinn Jacobson, the outstanding wet plate photographer and teacher (and all-around great guy) sent me this:

"There are several places he can get chemistry. The easiest and best price would be a place in Darmstadt - Wolfang Moersch Chemicals - http://www.moersch-photochemie.de/. He also has other contacts in the area. Have him contact Wolfgang.

I hope that helps."

And thank you, Quinn, for your help!
(see Quinn's beautiful art here: Dead Link Removed)

 

[Photo Engineer]

You all may be interested in the fact that Mirko, of Fotoimpex fame, has been in contact with many of the former Agfa people and has the ability to get most all photochemicals for emulsion making. That is whey I suggested contacting Fotoimpex. He may be willing to supply these and I am sure that he can get his hands on them very easily.

PE

 

[Polder]

Chemicals

Hi to you all

I am very greatfull for all the help i am being given. I´ll contact the firm tomorrow.

If in turn I gather some relevant information, I´ll report back.

Thanks,

p

 

[Mark Osterman]

Emulsion Tutorials

Great Idea Denise

Hope this cultivates a larger community of active gelatin emulsion makers. The more people who make emulsions, the greater the chance that this great technology will survive. Hard to be in Rochester and watch the industry being taken apart brick by brick. I'd love to see the new gelatin photography culture grow to be as poplular as all the other hand applied photographic processes. Good luck with the new emulsion "school." One day, we'll have enough interest and experience to hold a symposium.

Best,

Mark

 

[gandolfi]

There seems to be a lot of wet plate work in Europe. Does anyone know where those folks get their silver nitrate? I would think/i.e. totally guess that would be the only real "issue chemical".

I have said this before, and want to repeat it: I want to seek photographic asylum in the States!!

Denise: Here in Europe (and certainly here in Denmark) ALL chemistry are "issue chemicals"!
I can get some, as I work as a teacher in a school, but as a private person: forget it!

For some chemicals, ex potassium dichromate, I even have to seek police permit to get it....

We're all potential terrorists - or the Nanny society wants to protect us and our neighbourgs... or we have to protect the nature.. take your pick.

(I had a student from Italy: he told he liked his country, as everything is forbidden, but nobody cares.... )

 

[Photo Engineer]

I have had many notes from people complaining that they cannot get Silver Nitrate in Europe, as it is classified as a dangerous chemical. Therefore, they cannot make emulsions. This is going to continue to be an increasing problem world-wide as the anti-chemistry trend grows.

Add to that the fact that the price of chemicals we can get, and the shipping costs are going up as well.

I am very sorry to see this happen.

PE

 

[dwross]

Thanks, Mark. I've certainly got my fingers crossed for a symposium. It follows close behind World Peace and Universal Science Literacy on my wish list (and hopefully more attainable.)

Regarding the issue of buying chemicals. Artists will prevail. No one has ever imagined that photography is a cheap date. Even smart phone pics come at a price. If the cost of silver nitrate tripled, d.i.y. would still cost less than commercial film, not to mention the cost of ink cartridges, high end baryta inkjet paper, and Pictorico.

Ron, tell me again why people would take the GEH workshops if they think they won't be able to get the materials someday?

On a proof-of-optimism note, Henk Mantel, a.k.a. "Polder", is the latest Light Farm contributor. He lives in Germany and with a little digging (well, maybe a lot ) he has put together the materials he needs to start making emulsions. As I mentioned before, wet plate, which takes a lot more silver nitrate and is a whole lot more hazardous than silver gelatin, is alive and well in Europe. If there are challenges along the way to making our art, I think it makes the achievements all the more sweet.

Here's Henk's first article:http://www.thelightfarm.com/Map/Index/HenkMantel/GettingStarted.htm

Enjoy! I certainly did.

 

[gandolfi]

Denise: it is not a cost matter - if you can't get it you can't!

I still can as said above, but the majority of people here can't. And the way things are going, soon nobody can! (at least those that make silly unimportant things like photography...)

The future doesn't look great! But as long as I have my job - my future is ok....

 

[dwross]

Emil,

I'm very glad you'll be able to make your stunning photography for the foreseeable future!

If being able to get chemicals really is threatened in Europe (or at least select countries in the EU) perhaps a strategy of slow, incremental stockpiling is in order. Many professions and hobbies have disappeared or become very rare in the last few decades. "Setting by" the tools and materials is a fact of life for many artists and craftspersons. Happily for silver gelatin emulsion makers, the chemicals go a long way.

All my very best wishes,
d

 

[Photo Engineer]

Denise;

I think that Emil gave part of the answer. You can't get it, but want to learn is the other part. A third part is that several manufacturers have just simply quit making the chemicals used in photography and this includes sensitizing dyes and antifoggants. The demand for Hypo has gone way down and so has production while price goes up. What used to be shipped in tank cars now comes in 55 gallon drums.

So, laws prevent purchase, demand decreases and production either goes down or stops, but people still want to learn. OTOH, I must say that while early interest in workshops was world-wide, it is now decreasing to the US due to these problems and the cost of travel in some cases.

My book is selling well and I may have to go into a 3rd printing. And I've already had requests for V2.

PE

 

[AgX]

I buy my films and paper at Fotoimpex, they don´t mention silvernitrate in their cataloque, I mailed them a couüple of days ago, but got no answer yet.

see at the Moersch site, there is a link to a listing of a german chemicals dealer specialized in photographic chemicals:
http://www.moersch-photochemie.de/content/rohchemie


this is a german mail order dealer having a special subsection "photochemicals" in his listing
http://www.omikron-online.de/lshop,showrub,23407,d,1358043052-23411,chemthemen.photo,,,,.htm
I just realized that this dealer has restricted newly some relevant chemicals from sale to consumers. I can't see any reason for this.

a belgian dealer:
http://www.permadocument.be/texte/LE/LE-chem.html