Fun With a Ninteenth Century Camera

[DUCeditor]

As mentioned in a recent post to the Photo Sensor thread I've had a long fascination with 19th century photographic methods. Indeed, one goal I have is to delve into it deeply enough to learn to make my own plates using the materials and techniques available back then when nothing was 'off the shelf.'

About 25 or so years ago I was kindly given the camera that had belonged to my wife's grandfather shortly after he came to this country from Sicily back in 1892. With some work I became familiar with how it functioned and was having a grand time creating images in a style reminiscent of that era until the pressures of my photography business drove such simple pleasures out of my life.

Here is a 'mirror shot' of me back then -- the late `70s -- working with that camera.

That camera had remarkable capabilities as semi demonstrated in these two scanned portraits, one of my wife, one of my son, taken during that period. I say "semi" because these are just quickie scans of prints that in no way do the originals justice.

In truth though images such as those are not what made me love that camera. They could have been taken with modern equipment. What did draw me to the camera was stuff like that shown below. Again, these are just quickie scans that only give a hint of the qualities of the originals...

The first, entitled "Girl in Ivy", captures the feel of the time when that camera was made. A time of slow afternoons, of quiet conversation. I somehow think that was when I was meant to have been born.

Here is another, an intentionally moody print that emulates the spirit and feel of classic melodramatic novels such as "Jane Eyre" and "The House of Seven Gables" It is entitled "House in Vaughn Woods."

And here is one more, a still life simply entitled "Pears"

This, frankly, is the stuff I live for. And I suppose it is that part of me that gravitated to the SC line of Ducatis. Too bad those bikes didn't come with 'tickler carbs' and kick starters. Now that would have suited me to a "T"!

-don

[Bill_Anderson]

"House in Vaughn Woods" looks like it was taken 100 years ago and lifted from an old family scrapbook. Great shot. I hope you start using the old camera again.

[DUCeditor]

Originally Posted by Bill_Anderson

"House in Vaughn Woods" looks like it was taken 100 years ago and lifted from an old family scrapbook. Great shot. I hope you start using the old camera again.

Thanks Bill. I will, but obviously not until I've set up a darkroom again.

We have a cottage set aside for that very purpose. It'll have a large darkroom plus studio/display space. Got all the gear needed and then some, just need the time!

My goal is to get into the gum/bichromate process. (explained here:Gum Bichromate Photography )

Life is so full of possibilities it boggles the mind.

(and yet people say they are bored)

Weird eh?

Cheers!

-don

[Cerberus]

Wow Don! Those are sweet shots!

And the fact that a 100+ year old camera is able to produce the photos like those of your wife/son is quite interesting! I honestly thought this would be (almost) impossible. After all, they do look like they were taken w/ 1970s Canon.

I have to say that my fav photo of them all is "Pears" (it would be "House in Vaughn Woods," but that almost looks "modern" sort of photoshop-like). "Pears," on the other hand, looks like it's painted! And to me, that shows some true skill and artistic abilities - great shot indeed!



PS - I'm stilling trying to find a 1970/80s bike with a kickstart...

[Bill_Anderson]

Don: be careful with all of those chemicals in the darkroom. Didn't some of the early photographers get various forms of poisoning due to exposure to the chemicals they used to develop film?

[CAlexio]

very cool pics...

[DUCeditor]

Originally Posted by Bill_Anderson

Don: be careful with all of those chemicals in the darkroom. Didn't some of the early photographers get various forms of poisoning due to exposure to the chemicals they used to develop film?

Yes. Mercury poisoning was the worst. It was used in the collodian process.

Most b/w photo chemistry is quite safe.

When I was doing the preliminary work moving my studio/darkroom from urban Boston to rural New Hampshire I had the advice of a environmentalist who specialized in protecting municipal water supplies. My concern was that a property like mine requires the use of a septic system. I did not want to do anything that would poison the land or water.

Cibachrome, my then beloved additive color system was out as was E6, the color slide processing chemistry I was then using. But common b/w chemistry I was assured was completely harmless.

Safety and environmental responsibility has always been important to me. I wore a respirator when I mixed powdered chemicals and heavy gloves when I worked with the bad stuff. Ferricyanide I always handled with special care for obvious reasons. But b/w developer, stop bath and "hypo" ( fixing agent)? Not even gloves! You could almost drink the stuff. Although, that said, some people do, over time, become allergic to it. Been 52 years of exposure so far for me (I set up my first darkroom at age 12) with no ill effect.

The historic process I wish to pursue -- gum bichromate -- is not particularly toxic. Ammonium dichromate is the only real "chemical" involved. Unless you consider things like artist's water color pigments a chemical. But in any case it is just a matter of knowledge and care.

Thank for you concern.

-don

PS - If you'd like to see some examples of Gum Bichromate prints see here: http://www.google.com/search?q=gum+b...w=1600&bih=690

[RUNnDUC]

Don’t forget about Selenium toning and the related Selenium poisoning.

[Mad Dog]

the one of your son is real nice. Great tone and contrast. bet the original is a show stopper. Nice hobby and best of luck.

I remember the Civil War Doc done with plates found in hot houses. Amazing how they lasted so long and still presented stunning images.