My Archives: August 2003
Saturday, August 23, 2003
Pretty much given up on the chance for pony rides today but still holding out for cake and ice cream. 49 or not, there's still (and always will be, I hope) a bit of the kid in me. Not that today's been a party occasion so far. I was very adult and actually went into work this morning for five hours in an attempt to catch up on the start of the new semester workload. Managed to move quite a pile out of the way, which will make Monday less of a cast iron son of a bitch.
I wasn't quite the dutiful employee the full time I was there, thanks to AIM and a fast web connection. Spent a little time surfing the university job site and found an interesting spot for a "Marketing/Web Specialist". The job requirements sound like they were written after they looked over my resume, so I filled out an appplication form, attached my resume and sent it in. It's certainly a better use of my skills and education, now that I've finally gotten my degree. More chance for creativity, a bit more of an intellectual challenge and several kilobucks more in the old wallet. From past experience at the lightning speed of the H.R. department in processing applications, I might hear back from them sometime around December.
Not all work today. A few 8x10 cyanotypes printed and drying, with a few sheets coated with Van Dyke emulsion that should be ready by the time I finish typing this. Birthday loot so far has included two books on alt-process techniques and a gift certificate at the local photo store. One of the best gifties found me at work this morning, during a "blog break." I smiled. Thank you, dear bobbi.
Posted by coldmarble @ 04:56 PM ET [Link] [blab]
Friday, August 22, 2003
Quiet here, I know, but very busy with start of the semester crunch at work. Little energy left at the end of the day for any photo play but I did manage to drag my weary self to the darkroom for a few hours last night. I was working on a couple of 4x5 negs shot last winter at the B and O Railroad museum. I'd done them as cyanotypes earlier but had never gotten around to making silver gelatin enlargements for some reason.
One was the shot of the drive rods covered in snow, played with earlier as a BVD, which I want to use in a sort of triptych arrangement. I needed an 8x10 print to use as a positive for making an enlarged lith film negative. While I was waiting for the print to dry enough to make the enlarged negative, I knocked out a few more lith film negs as a sort of practice with the technique.
If the weather's as sunny as forecast, this weekend will be an alt-process play time. I'll also be placing an order with the folks at clearbags.com for some poly bags to display my smaller works at Angelfall Studios in the coming weeks.
Posted by coldmarble @ 09:32 AM ET [Link] [1 blab]
Monday, August 18, 2003
I didn't think I was quite that busy over the weekend but looking at what accumulated for scanning and adding to my gallery, I must have done more than I thought.
First up is an attempt at the Blue Van Dyke process, a combination of the cyanotype and the Van Dyke printing techniques in one image. It's still in the experiment stage for me, with little sense of control. Once in a blue moon, i get lucky though. For comparison to the regular processes, I burnt examples of all three methods using the same negative.
Drivers - Blue Van Dyke process
I wasn't happy with the results from this negative in b/w but it seems to work better as a cyanotype. I may give it a go as a Van Dyke, if the sunny weather continues.
Polaroid transfers:
Farmers Market Vegies - Image Transfer
Train and Dome - Emulsion Transfer
Posted by coldmarble @ 11:45 AM ET [Link] [blab]
Sunday, August 17, 2003
Never did get around to half of what I'd hoped yesterday. It was just that hot and sticky. Today's been a mix of housecleaning and photo play, with both the bathroom floor and oodles of alt-process work drying. The photo stuff was a lot more fun. Play time with Polaroid image transfers in the early morning, two or three of which worked nicely, a housework break, then some cyanotype and Van Dyke play in the afternoon. I even got brave and overexposed a couple of cyanotypes to try the Blue Van Dyke process.
I've tried the process before with mixed results. It's apparently much happier when the image has some strong lines and geometric forms, rather than a blend of soft tonal gradations. The result from today's trial looks pretty nice. There's a few areas of stronger blue, some of dark brown, but the largest part of the image has lovely mix of the two tones, a slightly faded blue and a light tan jumbled together. It produces a sort of abstract look that's quite different from my usual style but intersting in its own way. The first print's still drying and the second attempt is waiting on the Van Dyke emulsion to set up enough to print. Scans coming soon.
Posted by coldmarble @ 04:53 PM ET [Link] [blab]
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