Landscape photography with a mobile darkroom.

When I started experimenting with wet-plate collodion, I imagined it would be a great medium for landscape photography: I thought that the vintage aesthetic of the process would marry well with the grandiosity and timeless quality of Colorado landscapes.

Flatirons, Co.

 So from the beginning I had in mind to take collodion photography on the road, which comes with an extra set of challenges. I have mentioned before while describing the process that everything (from preparation, sensitization of the plate to developing and fixing) has to be done within a few minutes (while the chemicals are still wet). In the field, this requires special organizational skills and a mobile darkroom.


In the early days of collodion photography William Henry Jackson explored the Rockies with a few mules carrying his heavy equipment, which included large cameras, glass plates, chemicals and a darkroom tent. Although I have seriously considered using a couple lamas for my landscape photography (and still love the idea of traveling through mountain vistas with a few of these wonderful animals) I had to revamp my traveling collodion wish list and be more realistic.

As a result, my first set-up looked like this:

All my equipment (camera, tripod, darkbox, chemicals, water, trays and tanks) nicely fit in the back of my minivan.

I constructed a darkbox out of cardboard, following a design by Tom persinger (http://www.f295.org/site/?p=1047 ). This lead me to this:

When getting ready to take a photograph, I would be sitting in the trunk of the car (where you can see all the equipment on the photograph) and preparing and processing the plates inside the darkbox (which is set on the folded back seats), the dark cloth laid over my head and upper body. My safelight was a red bike light taped to the roof of the box.

Although this worked very well in good weather, in inclement weather I was very exposed to the elements and had a lot of trouble (and poor images) when the wind blew (which is very common in the mountains...). Also my set-up probably looked weird to the passerby, for while parked on the side of the road, half of my body would disappear inside the cardboard box, whereas my bottom half would be offered to everyone to gaze at...

I still love the design of the darkbox and was amazed how easy it was to build (Tom's article was an invaluable resource) but I had to come up with another solution to improve my landscape photographs.

I have now upgraded to this set-up:

After doing some research and some thinking, an enclosed trailer seemed the best and most affordable solution for a serious mobile darkroom. Plus it looks great behind my Papamobile!
The trailer was fairly easy to light proof: some caulking and weather stripping were necessary but no major work was needed. Right now the inside is very very spartan, but has worked for me.

I have recycle the carboard darkbox into a table/storage unit.

I am still using the red bike light as a safelight and added a battery operated room light.

Now, as the trailer is a bare canvas, there are a lot of possibilities for improvement. I am planning to add counters, storage space and possibly a sink linked to a water tank. Anyhow, I am on the market for free used kitchen cabinets to turn the trailer into a dream mobile darkroom and will update you when the inside looks like this:

In the meantime, I've got work to do.

Denis

Collodion du jour - 103

Untitled from "A collection of somewhat random specimens".

Collodion du jour - 102

Untitled from "A collection of somewhat random specimens".

Collodion du jour - 101

Untitled from "A collection of somewhat random specimens".

COLLODION DU JOUR - 100!!!

Here it is: number 100 of Collodion 365. 

Vegetable Self-portrait as a happy wet-plate photographer.

As you can tell from this self-portrait, I am ecstatic to have made it this far. 

Doing this project has been a wonderful journey: I have started with little knowledge of wet-plate collodion and with virtually no practice of the process, but with great enthusiasm and an infatuation for the resulting aesthetic.  

The learning curve has been steep and necessitated an enormous time commitment (which has kept me out of trouble for the past few months). And although I still have much to learn and am discovering something new everyday, I am pleased with the photographs I have created.

I'd like to thank all of you for your support; it has helped me tremendously through the times of self-doubt and has encouraged me to keep going. The project and the images have generated interest and created opportunities (there should be several exhibitions in the not too distant future...) and I am grateful for the response it has gotten.

Wish me luck for the next 265 photos!

Best,

Denis

Collodion du jour - 99

Untitled from "A collection of somewhat random specimens".

Collodion du jour - 98

Untitled from "A collection of somewhat random specimens".

Collodion du jour - 97

Untitled from "A collection of somewhat random specimens".

Collodion du jour - 96

Untitled.

Although I could find a spot sheltered from the wind on the side of the mountain with a view on Gross Reservoir, I didn't want to give up and go home without at least one decent shot. I went to the other side and found this view of the pine forest and the peaks beyond. I had only time for one photographs before the sun set behind another mountain.

Collodion du jour - 95

Windy Point, Gross Reservoir, CO.

As winter is fast approaching, I imagine the opportunities to go out and take collodion landscape photographs will greatly decrease. However this week I was able to take my mobile collodion darkroom on the road and explore the area around Gross Reservoir. It is a beautiful lake on which I take me daughters canoeing and fishing in the summer, but of which I only know a small portion. My goal for the day was to find a nice vantage point and make a panoramic composite of several images. I stopped at Windy point and started setting up my tripod and camera and organizing my darkroom.
By the time I was ready to expose the first plate, the wind had picked up tremendously. I then realized I should have considered the name of the spot (very appropriately chosen) as a warning that it might not be a fitting place to take my photographs. The wind was so violent that it continuously shook the camera during the 50 seconds exposure, resulting in a overall blurry image. I just had spent half an hour getting all set-up in a spot where it was impossible for me to get the images I had been looking for... I would be unable that day to find a place which would give me a view of the lake and where the camera was shielded enough for from the wind to get a crisp image. Oh well, patience and perseverance appear to be key components of collodion photography.
I do have to say that in insight I enjoy the aesthetic of this particular photograph. All is well.

Collodion du jour - 94

Untitled still life.

Collodion du jour - 93

Kiwi.

Collodion du jour - 92

Untitled from "A collection of somewhat random specimens".

Collodion du jour - 91

Cece.

Collodion du jour - 90

Ben.

Collodion du jour - 89

Mike.

This was my first attempt at portraiture using artificial lights. Mike was kind enough not only to lend me some studio lights, but also to pose for the test. The lights were old-fashion continuous lights that ran very hot and produced hard lighting. Although they seemed very bright, the collodion photographs required an exposure of 20 seconds and more. Mike was a super model, very patient and stoic.

Collodion du jour - 88

Untitled.

Collodion du jour - 87

Untitled from "A collection of somewhat random specimens".

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'd like to wish you a great Thanksgiving!
I am thankful for my two daughters, Enora and Elaiza, who are wonderful and beautiful beings; for my wife, Rachel, who has always been supportive, for my family and friends and for the people who have shared their support and encouragements.
Thank you.
Denis

Collodion du jour - 86

Untitled still life

Collodion du jour - 85

Lime.

Collodion du jour - 84

Untitled from "A collection of somewhat random specimens".

Collodion du jour - 83

Untitled from "A collection of somewhat random specimens".

Collodion du jour - 82

Untitled.

Collodion du jour - 81

Untitled from "A collection of somewhat random specimens".

Collodion du jour - 80

Chardon 2, same subject, different take.

Collodion du jour - 79

Chardon from "A collection of somewhat random specimens".

Collodion du jour - 78

Enora.

Collodion du jour - 77

Untitled from "A collection of somewhat random specimens".

Collodion du jour - 76

Untitled from "A collection of somewhat random specimens".

Collodion du jour - 75

Bulb.

Collodion du jour - 74

Untitled from "A collection of somewhat random specimens".

Collodion du jour - 73

Clochettes from "A collection of somewhat random specimens".

Collodion du jour - 72

Untitled still life.

Collodion du jour - 71

Untitled from "A collection of somewhat random specimens".

Collodion du jour - 70

Rocky Mountain National Park.

Special Announcement: Collodion 365 print available.

Hello all,

Today is day 69 of Collodion 365; I am proud to have made it this far and am very much looking forward to continuing the project for another 296 days.


I thought some of you may be interested in acquiring one of the images from the project and have decided to offer one print of "Aubergine" through e-bay.

This is a great opportunity - not only to purchase a limited-edition (1/10) print of a tintype at a reasonable price but also support me in continuing the Collodion 365 project. The funding from the auction will allow me to purchase additional chemicals and photo supplies.

On e-bay, search for "Denis Roussel photograph" or click on the following link:
Denis Roussel - Aubergine

Thank you for both your encouragement and support.

Happy bidding,

Denis

Collodion du jour - 69

Rocky Mountain National Park.

Collodion du jour - 68

Gross Reservoir, Boulder, CO.

Collodion du jour - 67

View of the distant mountain range from Flagstaff road, Boulder, CO.

Collodion du jour - 66

Flatirons, Boulder, CO.

Collodion du jour - 65

Untitled from "A collection of somewhat random specimens".

Collodion du jour - 64

Untitled from "A collection of somewhat random specimens".

Collodion du jour - 63

Untitled from "A collection of somewhat random specimens".

Collodion du jour - 62

Trees.