No this isn’t a daguerreotype. I wish it was. Really I do. It is however the best of the test photos that I took today. I am happy to report that my bargain basement lens is able to produce an image. Yay! Unfortunately as I suspected, it is pretty limited when used wide open. This particular image was produced using a hand made f-stop with an opening about the size of a dime. If I am doing the math right that makes for an f-stop of a little over 8. Pretty slow in the world of daguerreotypes. The rest of the pictures I took can be seen here. Wide open is pretty fuzzy. Exposure is all over the map since my shutter is a lens cap. I certainly have forgotten some of the refinements of wet chemistry (as you can see), but it was starting to come back to me after a few tries. I also had the fun of using an 8×10 camera for the first time ever. Hard to keep everything adjusted right and get those film holders to seat in place. More challenges – er opportunities. :)
I also cured the light leak in my fan exhaust. Pictures of that here.
All in all a fruitful day.
Daguerreotype Process | andy | February 1, 2009 | 
Comments (5)
8x10, camera, castle, charcoal filter, daguerreotype, daguerreotype process, fan, fume hood, light leak, photography, photos
A warm and sunny day is a treat in the Bay Area in mid-winter. We are supposed to be unhappy it isn’t raining because we are likely to have drought conditions this summer, but I just couldn’t mope around properly – too many daguerreian projects were beckoning. Read more »
Daguerreotype Process | andy | January 31, 2009 | Comments Off
8x10, acrylic, activated carbon, camera, castle, Chemicals, daguerreotype, fan, father, fume hood, Goop, light leak, magnetic, sheet film, superbowl
I had a fair amount of time this weekend to work on things daguerreian and I made small progress on a number of fronts. I finally created a lens board for my camera – amazing how quick something can go when you have the right tools. Version 1 was made using a wonky old backsaw and didn’t fit right. V2 was made with my new Ryobi portable table saw and looks to have 1/32″ tolerances. Read more »
Daguerreotype Process | andy | October 26, 2008 | Comments (5)
8x10, camera, castle, daguerreotype process, fan, fume hood, lens, photography, Plate preparation, Plates, polishing, silver, speed control
Many of us have heard in the news that the USA is in need of a major infrastructure rebuild. I decided to do my part these last two weeks and have completed two crucial upgrades to Castle Daguerre – power and a fume hood. (Well you didn’t expect me to build a bridge did you?) :) Read more »
Daguerreotype Process | andy | October 12, 2008 | Comments (3)
camera, camera construction, carpentry, castle, charcoal filter, electrical, fan, fume hood, GFCI, speed control
No this isn’t a daguerreotype. I wish it was. Really I do. It is however the best of the test photos that I took today. I am happy to report that my bargain basement lens is able to produce an image. Yay! Unfortunately as I suspected, it is pretty limited when used wide open. This particular image was produced using a hand made f-stop with an opening about the size of a dime. If I am doing the math right that makes for an f-stop of a little over 8. Pretty slow in the world of daguerreotypes. The rest of the pictures I took can be seen here. Wide open is pretty fuzzy. Exposure is all over the map since my shutter is a lens cap. I certainly have forgotten some of the refinements of wet chemistry (as you can see), but it was starting to come back to me after a few tries. I also had the fun of using an 8×10 camera for the first time ever. Hard to keep everything adjusted right and get those film holders to seat in place. More challenges – er opportunities. :)
