Dressed to Dance

4x5 Daguerreotype
Iodine: 70 seconds
Bromine: 30 seconds
Second Iodine: 20 seconds
Exposure: Studio Strobe 9600w/s @ f2.9 with 22" reflector
Lens: 8" f2.9 Dallmeyer Pentac
Development: 4:30 @ 70˚C

I have made a dozen images, a few good, some terrible, and most mediocre since December 2012, but have been too lazy to scan. I have learned quite a bit about iodine/bromine balance, mostly from doing dozens of ring-arounds. In this process I also learned that short second iodine times contribute the blue or green color casts which occasionally haunt me.

Season Disorder

Details:
4x5 Daguerreotype
Iodine: Strong gold-yellow, 60 seconds
Bromine: 50 seconds
Second Iodine: 25 seconds
Exposure: 9600w/s @ f2.8 with 22" reflector
Development: 4:30 @ 70˚C

Summer Relic

Details:
4x5 Daguerreotype
Iodine: Strong gold-yellow, 45 seconds
Bromine: 70 seconds
Second Iodine: 20 seconds
Exposure: 4:20 @ f8 (10ev)
Lighting: afternoon shade
Development: 4:30 @ 70˚C

Still a bit overbromated, but getting there...

Testing...

Details:
4x5 Daguerreotype
Iodine: Strong gold-yellow, 50 seconds
Bromine: 10 to 120 seconds
Second Iodine: 20 seconds
Exposure: 3:20 @ f11 (13ev)
Development: 4:30 @ 70˚C

I further diluted my bromine water to 1:200, extending my fuming times into a reasonable range. The test nicely shows how too much bromine (120 seconds) effects the image.

On their way out...

Details:
4x5 Daguerreotype
Iodine: Dark yellow (40 seconds)
Bromine: 7 seconds
Second Iodine: 15 seconds
Exposure: 9600w/s @ f2.8 with 22" reflector
Development: 4:30 @ 70˚C

I haven't scanned anything in a long time. Sorry internet, I just can't be bothered. Here is a recent endeavor made after my switch to bromine water. My current use, which still needs some tweaking, is 1.5ml bromine water to 150ml distilled water for seven seconds. It needs to be mixed for each plate.

Venetian Cat

Details:
4x5 Daguerreotype
Iodine: 50 seconds
Bromine: 8 seconds (1:100 bromine water)
Second Iodine: 20 seconds
Exposure: 9600w/s @ f2.8 with 22" reflector
Development: 4:30 @ 70˚C

The Aphid Eater

Details:
4x5 Daguerreotype
Iodine: 35 seconds
Bromine: 8 Seconds
Second Iodine: 10 Seconds
Exposure: 9600Ws @ f2.8
Lighting: studio strobe, one head, 22" beauty dish reflector
Development: 4:30 @ 70˚C

Stereo!

Details:
4x5 Daguerreotype
Iodine: 35 seconds
Bromine: 12 seconds
Second Iodine: 35 seconds
Exposure: 5:00 @ f11
Lighting: afternoon shade
Development: 4:15 @ 70˚C

Tried a cool new toy, a stereo lens set and shutter made by Wista for their 4x5 cameras, with a matched pair of 130mm f5.6 lenses. I have no idea how to make successful stereo images, but I suppose I will eventually learn.

That Cover Glass

I sent this image for exhibition somewhere in Texas, and it came back destroyed by poor packing with a smashed cover glass. Lesson learned: I will always specify how my plates need to be packed.

I put off replacing the glass until today, almost a year, and now regret it. The air leaked in by the cracked glass tarnished the plate in weird ways. A second lesson learned.