Ern
19-02-2011, 3:35am
:gday:
Anyone here interested in alternative print processes?
I've played around with Gum-bichromate printing and a long dead commercial colour proofing system in the dim distant past but the limitations of the neg. sizes I had to work with left me frustrated (4x5 and half plate from a Thornton Pickard field camera).
Gum-bichromate's limitations in retaining fine detail cried out for a larger format to maintain the impact.
Lately I'd been thinking that computer generated enlarged negatives were making the prospects look a bit more promising....
But then I reasoned, if I'm going to be limited by the capabilities of a scanner and an Ink-jet printer to produce the negative why not just give up and Photo-shop the whole thing....?
So in my perversity I went shopping....(I like shopping, money is utterly useless if it's not spent) and found an Indian 10"x12" field camera.
I'm working on cobbling up a mount for the lenses from an Agfa process camera (that lives in retirement in our back room) and a Packard shutter, to it. I've also got an old Dallmyere convertible lens from the aforementioned Thornton Pickard that should give coverage at some of it's focal lengths.
Once that's done there is the problem of finding someway of elegantly matching it up with the Wooden Surveyor's tripod that lives in the toilet (don't ask). I'm hoping an Ebayed Ries tilt head (on it's way), a bolt and a couple of washers will do the trick... but nothing I want to do is ever that simple.
Next step is making some paper negatives to see that every thing is light tight and functioning properly while I track down a source of film (any suggestions gratefully accepted).
I believe there is an Ilford Repro film available in 10x12 (ortho for that genuine period feel), X-Ray film (ortho of course), Bergger PFB-18 (ORTHO AGAIN) and that maybe Foma produce a 10x12 (pan?). But finding a source now that's another question?
Then I might just make some prints, I've still got the ingredients to tackle Bichromate prints lurking about somewhere, then Salt and Carbon (more shopping there).
Of course then there's the question of a suitable pack animal for field trips. Mule, donkey, camel (one hump or two?) llama....?
Am I alone in my madness?
Tim
Anyone here interested in alternative print processes?
I've played around with Gum-bichromate printing and a long dead commercial colour proofing system in the dim distant past but the limitations of the neg. sizes I had to work with left me frustrated (4x5 and half plate from a Thornton Pickard field camera).
Gum-bichromate's limitations in retaining fine detail cried out for a larger format to maintain the impact.
Lately I'd been thinking that computer generated enlarged negatives were making the prospects look a bit more promising....
But then I reasoned, if I'm going to be limited by the capabilities of a scanner and an Ink-jet printer to produce the negative why not just give up and Photo-shop the whole thing....?
So in my perversity I went shopping....(I like shopping, money is utterly useless if it's not spent) and found an Indian 10"x12" field camera.
I'm working on cobbling up a mount for the lenses from an Agfa process camera (that lives in retirement in our back room) and a Packard shutter, to it. I've also got an old Dallmyere convertible lens from the aforementioned Thornton Pickard that should give coverage at some of it's focal lengths.
Once that's done there is the problem of finding someway of elegantly matching it up with the Wooden Surveyor's tripod that lives in the toilet (don't ask). I'm hoping an Ebayed Ries tilt head (on it's way), a bolt and a couple of washers will do the trick... but nothing I want to do is ever that simple.
Next step is making some paper negatives to see that every thing is light tight and functioning properly while I track down a source of film (any suggestions gratefully accepted).
I believe there is an Ilford Repro film available in 10x12 (ortho for that genuine period feel), X-Ray film (ortho of course), Bergger PFB-18 (ORTHO AGAIN) and that maybe Foma produce a 10x12 (pan?). But finding a source now that's another question?
Then I might just make some prints, I've still got the ingredients to tackle Bichromate prints lurking about somewhere, then Salt and Carbon (more shopping there).
Of course then there's the question of a suitable pack animal for field trips. Mule, donkey, camel (one hump or two?) llama....?
Am I alone in my madness?
Tim