Silver Gelatine Photography · 27. April 2023
Spring is coming here in Switzerland! First shot this year in the garden with the ERWIN LÖBER field camera from 1895, lens made from 100 years old binoculars, 3D printed waterhouse stop f45, ILFORD Multigrade RC Deluxe rated ISO 6, exposure 4 minutes, developed in my Afghan Box camera (as a mobile darkroom). It was fun!
12. March 2022
Some time ago I printed with my "ENDER 3" a small pinhole camera with the idea to develop the picture directly inside the camera, using the "Peroxide Reversal Process". The camera measures 75mm x 75mm, focus length is 50mm. I made a simple 0,5mm pinhole using a beer can and a needle. For the process I work with ILFORD RC Glossy and I expose 4 times longer than usual, means with ISO 1,5 instead ISO 6. Developing is simple: After exposure I add 25ml of fresh developer into the camera for 2...
Afghan Box Camera · 28. February 2022
Spring is coming and the temperatures are raising. Time to take out the Afghan Box Camera and to test the new updates I made during winter. I optimized the paper holder for easier handling and I found a new tripod for the heavy camera.
Silver Gelatine Photography · 08. June 2021
Last weekend was really bad weather. No chance to go out to take some photographs with my Afghan Box Camera. So I had the idea to make some experiments in my lab. I picked an older paper negative I made with my old LÖBER field camera from 1896 and made a contact print to vintage FOMA 312 paper. Instead to develop in the developer tray I took a cotton ball which I dipped before in developer and splashed some drops over the paper. After 10 seconds I started to put more developer with the cotton...
Silver Gelatine Photography · 14. May 2021
Yesterday I made some experiments with my old LÖBER camera and the lens from a WW1 binocular. I tried to shoot a flower in my laboratory with old FOMA 312 paper and the vintage studio flash. Finally I had to fire the flash totally 15 times to get an exposure, with an f-stop of 22. It was a lot of fun and the result was OK. Because of the full expanded bellow of the camera, it was 40cm, I had to increase the exposure time by factor 6.
Afghan Box Camera · 02. May 2021
My Afghan Box Camera has no shutter, so I control the exposure with the lens cap. That works fine as long you have a model to photograph. During my tests with the camera I had the idea to shoot myself, because I like to hang out in the garden alone - only with my camera and whit a cold drink. I love it to be inspired from the amazing photographer Borut Peterlin. His YouTube Channel is really worth to follow, if photography is for you more than only taking pictures. He is using a self made...
24. April 2021
Almost all of the iron processes are negative processes. That means you end up with a negative, and there is almost no way to get a positive from a typical cynonegative. This because the contrast of the whites and blues are way too weak for a contact copy. But there exists a forgotten process from Louis-Alphonse Poitevin. This Ferro-Gallic Process is a positive process and is very fascinating. I worked some time ago with this process and discovered the potencial for Iron Photography. Actually...
Iron Process Photography · 16. April 2021
Today I made a small experiment with my vintage TAXOTA enlarger from the '60. I took off the lamp and replaced it with a can as light channel and a simple LED flash lite. Many people are trying to expose normal cyanotypes with an enlarger and a common 35mm negative, but often the UV source is too weak and the loss of light in the enlarger results in many many hours of exposure time. The standard formula is too slow for such a process. My new "Cyanotypia Cita" is basically designed for Iron...
Silver Gelatine Photography · 14. April 2021
A few days ago I got a really wonderful present from my neighbour. Her husband, which passed away last year, loved photography and he worked with the legendary EDIXA MAT REFLEX. He was a passionated animal photographer. She knew that I also love photography, especially with old and historical cameras. So she presented me her husbands beloved camera and a vintage ADOX KB14 film roll in a small metal canister. She also found the small refillable film container. The five meters of KB14 film has an...
Iron Process Photography · 13. April 2021
In this short video I show the sensitivity of the new "Cyanotypia Cita" process. This formula even works with a common LED flash light. To expose iron prints by using a normal light source opens completely new approaches for teachers and classes, because UV light sources are not always everywhere available. The other huge advantage is the simplicity of the chemistry. "Cyanotypia Cita" is harmless, easy to use and has a good stability for storage.