RE: dags and ambrotypes

Yes this is all you need, the old glass plate holders. I see them on EBay
time to time. The harder thing to come by is a lens that’s fast enough. Look
for old barrel lenses, since you are not going to need a shutter anyways. I
have a very simple setup for my 4”x5” images using an old SpeedGraphic and a
barrel lens that I think is around 2.4-3.8, not knowing exactly what it is.
I’ve found a clever way of having more then one focal length by taking the
front element off the lens are replacing it with a three-step “close-up”
filter. With this getup I’m making images in about 20-30 seconds in bright
blue 11am-2pm summer sky using the Becquerel method.

-Chris
www.chrisportfolio.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Agustin [mailto:abarrutia@velocom.com.ar]
Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2003 6:12 PM
To: alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca
Subject: Re: dags and ambrotypes

Stuart. You can use any camera that will take the special glass holders.
They are usually arround in old photo shops for a couple of bucks. I´ve
never did 4x5 dags (only 6x6cm) but I know that Christopher Lovenguth (a
member of the list) makes 4x5 dags (and i think 8x10 too). I use a
Rolleiflex with a special back for plate holders.
I do recomend starting with smaller plates, and then build up your studio
when you achieve good results with them. Polishing a 4x5´ surface is 4 times
more job than with a 6x6cm plate.
Are you planing to develop with mercury fumes or using the bequerel
process?. Iodine or iodine/bromine sensitizer?.
Try to buy Barnier book "Coming into focus". It has a really interesting
chapter about dags.
Good luck.

Agustin.
----- Original Message -----
From: Stuart Plotkin <mailto:paleopod@optonline.net>
To: alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca <mailto:alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca>
Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2003 10:23 PM
Subject: dags and ambrotypes

So lets talk about some real old processes. I am brand new to the newsgroup
so I don't know what was previously discussed but I am interested in doing
some Dagureotype and ambrotype photography. My first question , if anyone
knows is assuming I can do the chemical processing, what type of camera can
I use that will hold the plates. I want to do 4x5 size prints. Any ideas-
Thanks Stu
Received on Fri Dec 12 11:38:08 2003