Think About Photography...

Review of "Blue Prints: The Natural World In Cyanotype Photos" by Zeva Oelbaum

2011-10-06T07:50:00.000-07:00

Blue Prints: The Natural World In Cyanotype Photos by Zeva Oelbaum

This book is special. Beautifully done cyanotypes. Each image has me trying to figure out how she made it. I have not verified this with the author, but I believe there is some digital manipulation going on. Nonetheless, the images are beautiful and well constructed. A very inspiring book for cyanotype makers.

The cloth book cover is blue. Everything is blue (except maybe one black image). Zeva Oelbaum has created wonderful images - some from negatives and some from objects.

If you like cyanotypes, get this book.

Tuberous Begonia

2011-10-05T17:38:00.000-07:00

Notes for "How to bind your own hardback book" Instructable

2011-10-04T05:08:00.000-07:00

I recently tried my hand at bookbinding based on the instructions at http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-bind-your-own-Hardback-Book/. I had moderate success. Several issues arose from my choices of paper, glue, and technique which I share below. Look over the instructions before reading further.

Overview

The book is a collection of photos taken by me. There is no text. All images were square of various sizes.

Below: My first hard bound photobook. 25 pages, 9"x9"

Paper

I wanted my images to stand out on the page. My idea was to print the image then glue the image to the actual book page. This would give the image some extra depth. The page paper I chose was Strathmore Bristol 300 Series (100lb 270gsm). This paper is very stiff. While it would be perfect for individual prints, it is much to stiff for a book. The pages do not bend well. I think a lighter weight paper would have worked better.

I printed the images on a Kodak Matte Double sided photo paper. I don't believe this paper is available anymore. I was satisfied with this paper.

Gluing image to page

My first attempt to glue my images to the book page was using a liquid glue like Itoya O Glue. Not only did I succeed in getting glue on the image, the paper would curl, making it harder to align on the book page. After about four pages of this method I switched to using a spray adhesive made by Krylon called Paper Finishes Spray Adhesive. Have plenty of scrap paper around and use a fresh sheet for every photo to have adhesive applied.

I was able to do a much neater job with this. I got better coverage and less curling.

Gluing up the text block (photo block?)

After letting the pages dry for a day or two, I began to construct the block of pages. Since I had a raised photo on each page, I thought it might help to put a spacer strip in the gutter of each page as I glued them up. The diagram below illustrates the process.

I did this to prevent the block from bulging so much in the middle. This seemed to work pretty good. I also put a crease in the page about 1/2" in on gutter side.

After all the this strips in the gutter had dried, I began gluing the pages together. I glued up 2 sets of pages, let them dry overnight, then glued the 2 sets together to make one block. I used the O Glue for this.

Making the cover

I made the cover from the backing board that came with the Bristol board. It was about 1/8" thick. I cut the board to size using a paper cutter. Since my paper cutter will not cut material this thick, I would cut on one side, flip over, and cut on the other side. This was a bad idea. Getting the two cuts to line up was just about impossible. I would have been better off using a straight edge and xacto knife. I ended up with three pieces: front, spline, and back which were not square and had a pretty rough edge. I trudged on. I can tell you that these pieces should be square. Particularly the spline. If the spline is not square, the cover may not close correctly and it will make attaching the cover and interior cover papers all the more difficult and imprecise. I recommend you get this part right to alleviate problems later on.

I used a Canson colored sheet for the cover paper. It was the only paper large enough that the local art store carried. I used another Canson sheet for the interior covers. The interior covers come after the block is attached to the spine.

I used a piece of cardboard as a glue spreader. I believe a brush would have worked much better. It is difficult to get glue to the edges of the board with the piece of cardboard. The cover sheets wrinkled almost immediately upon apply the glue. The good news is that they tended to flatten out after a night of drying under pressure. That goes for the outside and inside sheets. I used a stack of books to apply pressure to the book as the glue was drying.

Attaching cloth to the block spline

The Instructable suggested using hot glue to attach the cloth to the spline. Just be sure to work the glue into the cloth and block with a Popsicle stick or something similar.

The integrity of this glue joint is paramount to a good finished product.

The cloth is then glued to the cover. Do not glue the spline directly to the cover.

Next cut the inner cover sheets to size and glue to the front and back pages of the cover. The book is now completed.

Overall, I am pretty happy with the results. However, if my ruler had been straighter, and my glue less prone to wander, the results would have been better.

Inkpress DuoMatte 80 Inkjet Paper - 5x7/50 sheets

2011-09-22T05:10:00.000-07:00

Inkpress DuoMatte 80 Inkjet Paper - 5x7/50 sheets

I have recently reviewed Moab Entrada double sided inkjet paper. I was considering buying some more - until I saw the price. I decided to try another less costly brand for making photobooks. The photobooks I'm making are really just practice books, so I don't need the more expensive Moab paper. I selected Inkpress Duomatte 80 paper. The paper is 215gsm and 12 mil thick. It is very white and smooth. It takes the inks from my HP D5460 printer very well. Printed images have good color,contrast, and brightness.

One of my concerns was how well this paper would do when printed in heavy color on both sides. When printing in heavy color, the paper does curl a bit. But it seems to flatten as it dries. Printing on the 2nd side in heavy color behaved much the same way, curled when wet, flattened as it dries. When all the prints are made and dry, I bunch them together, lay flat, and put some weight on them. They work fine in my photobooks.

The paper has a wonderful feel and the bright white color is beautiful. I recommend this paper for projects requiring single or double sided prints.

Papers for Cyanotypes

2011-09-11T05:06:00.000-07:00

I have used the following papers with success for cyanotypes using the old and new processes. They are listed in my order of preference.

1) The Langton Prestige - Daler Rowney - Hot Press, 140lb, 300 gsm - very smooth finish. Able to maintain details.

2) XL Series - Canson - Cold Press, 140lb, 300 gsm - very smooth, more sensitive to exposure than #1

3) Montval - Canson - Cold Press, 140lb, 300 gsm

4) 300 Series - Strathmore - Cold Press, 140lb, 300 gsm - rougher surface, not capable of as much detail

5) Watercolor Cards - Strathmore - - Cold Press, 140lb, 300 gsm - make nice cyanotype cards

Here are the links for Canson, Daler Rowney, and Strathmore.

The papers are available from AC Moore, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Dick Blick, Daniel Smith and other stores.

IO Gear Bluetooth Adapter - GBU421 R

2011-09-07T07:58:00.001-07:00

I recently purchased a Polaroid POGO photo printer. It prints 2"x3" photos via a camera or Bluetooth. The Bluetooth on my Android phone didn't work. But I wanted to print from my computer anyway. So I bought the IO Gear Bluetooth Adapter #GBU421 R from NewEgg.com. After loading the driver and installing the device I was able to print to the POGO from my computer. You cannot add the POGO as a printer in Windows 7. However, you can "SEND" the print to Bluetooth which will send the photo to the POGO printer. Pretty cool. I also am able to transfer files from my Android phone back and forth between the computer and phone using the Bluetooth adapter. I have only had the adapter a couple of days but I have had no problem with it so far. It is tiny, so don't drop it.

Cyanotype of Trees

2011-09-05T15:23:00.000-07:00

This cyanotype was toned in ammonia. Then the saturation was adjusted in Picasa.

My Review of 6V 2.2AH SLA .187 FASTON

2011-08-27T17:46:00.001-07:00

Originally submitted at Interstate Batteries

6V 2.2AH SLA .187 FASTON

Hard to find battery

By HWPhoto from Greenville, SC on 8/27/2011

Pros: Good Value, Powerful, Reliable Performance, Charges Quickly

Best Uses: Emergency Equipment

Describe Yourself: Value Oriented

Primary use: Personal

Was this a gift?: No

This was a replacement battery for a spotlight. It needed to be exactly the same battery as used. Interstate was the only place in USA I could find it.

(legalese)

Tempered Glass Surface for Alternative Photography

2011-08-20T12:02:00.000-07:00

I have been looking for a piece of tempered glass to use as a flat surface when coating my papers with sensitizers. Today I found the perfect solution at a local shop. I picked up a tempered glass cutting board for about $10 at World Market. It is approximately 12"x16". It had a crinkly texture on top but was smooth as glass on the bottom. It is about 3/16" thick. It also has a nice print and plastic feet attached to the backside. Since I am going to use the smooth side, I had to remove the plastic feet and the glued on photo. I pried the feet off with a knife. I used a single edge razor in a holder to scrape off the glued on photo. Then I glued on the feet to the crinkly side. After it was washed up and dried I have a nice flat surface for using a coating rod to coat my papers.

UV lights for Exposing Cyanotypes

2011-08-09T14:48:00.000-07:00

Setup for exposing for cyanotypes

Material:

2 UV fluorescent bulbs 15W ea
2 Lamp sockets with 6" reflectors
1 thin board or chip board

Cyanotype Image

2011-08-06T14:45:00.000-07:00

Fig Leaf

Paper: The Langton Prestige by Daler Rowney
Watercolor Paper
140lb, 300gsm

MAde with new canotype process by Mike Ware, bleached with ammonia

Another way to expose cyanotypes

2011-08-05T04:23:00.000-07:00

I have been making cyanotypes for about 2 months now. I started with the sunprint kits from The Lawrence Hall of Science store. These are nice kits for starting. The paper is extremely lightweight and if you like the process you will want to be able to print on heavier paper. As part of this desire, I also wanted to make a way to expose without relying on the sun. This would give the opportunity to have more control on exposure - from an intensity and time standpoint.

I searched the web for ideas, and there are a few choices. Here's a youtube video for a rather large uv light table. I also saw examples using 18" blacklight florecent tubes. You can build one with anywhere from 2 to 8 tubes depending on what size you need. They can also be purchased for great sums of money from Freestyle Photographic Supplies.

I decided to start out small. I bought 2 15w blacklight bulbs and 2 6" clamp on reflectors from Home Depot. I clamp the lights to a boom on a microphone stand and position the lights about 5" from my sensitized paper and negative. I plug the lights into a power strip with a switch.

I have exposed images up to 6" x 6" with this method. I believe the 2 lamps would work with up to 8" x 10". Anyway, the total cost for the lamps and reflectors was about $25. A cheap way to get started.

My next step is to get the sensitizing chemicals and sensitize some decent paper. More on that later.

Moab entrada rag natural 190

2011-07-30T18:14:00.000-07:00

Moab entrada rag natural 190 is a 100% cotton rag paper 190 gsm weight. I recently purchased and used some of this paper in a 5"x7" double sided weight. I made a 15 page book of some of my sepia prints. I print with a HP D5460 Photosmart print. I had to manually switch the paper to print on both sides. The paper stood up well to the handling by me and the printer. The images are perfect. The paper has a nice feel. I didn't have any problems with paper feeding with my printer. This paper sells for over $12 for 25 sheets but for this project, I wanted a good paper. I am really pleased with the results.

Square Tag

2011-06-19T15:59:00.000-07:00

If you use a photo database like Lightroom or Aperture, here's a quick tip. For square format photos, tag with "square". This will come in handy when you are searching for a square photo for a frame or card.

Add Mod Podge Brush Stroke to Photo for Texture

2011-06-12T15:15:00.000-07:00

I am always looking for ways to create something different with my photos. I tried Mod Podge Brush Stroke today and I like the results. This product is a thick emulsion which dries clear. It adds texture to your photo. The medium is applied with a brush. Simply brush on thick. Alternate the brush strokes, even pretend you are painting the image. It goes on white but will dry crystal clear. I like the texture on a photo. It gives the photo some added depth. The Mod Podge Brush Stroke sealer comes in glossy and matte. It also adds a layer of protection to the photo.

Thor and Blue Monster

2011-04-30T16:56:00.000-07:00

My Review of Wesco Superlite Folding Cart, Capacity of 175 Pounds

2011-03-12T04:42:00.001-08:00

Originally submitted at Adorama

Wesco Superlite Folding Cart, Capacity of 175 Pounds

Excellent Folding cart for photographers

By HWP from Greer, SC on 3/12/2011

Pros: Supports Heavy Weights, Carrying Capacity, Strong, Easy to Use, Easy Assembly

Best Uses: Carrying photography equi, Carrying Other Equipment

I use this cart to carry my photography equipment around on trips and photo shoots. I store my equipment in hardshell boxes and soft cases. This cart works very well. Wheels are large for easy rolling and stability.

(legalese)

My Review of Olympus Zuiko 9mm - 18mm f/4.0-5.6 E-ED Digital Zoom Lens for the E Digital SLR System.

2011-03-12T04:36:00.001-08:00

Originally submitted at Adorama

Olympus Zuiko 9mm - 18mm f/4.0-5.6 E-ED Digital Zoom Lens for the E Digital SLR System.

Excellent Wide Angle LEns

By HWP from Greer, SC on 3/12/2011

Pros: Fast / accurate auto-focus, Lightweight

Best Uses: Landscape/Scenery, Indoors/Low Light

Describe Yourself: Photo Enthusiast

Was this a gift?: No

When you need a wide angle lens for your Olympus E system cameras, this lens is an excellent choice. For price and features it is a great lens.

(legalese)

Tip for Cleaning Flowers for Macro Photography

2011-03-06T06:56:00.000-08:00

I have often used a soft brush to remove bits of dust and dirt from flowers prior to making closeup photos. Another good tool for this is canned air. I like the #M brand, called 3M Dust remover because it has a trigger mechanism which controls the force of the air. This way, you do not damage the flower when removing dust and dirt.

Olympus E-PL2

2011-02-25T07:58:00.001-08:00

I recently received a an Oly E-PL2 camera. This is one of Oly’s PEN series camera, featuring a mirrorless body and micro-four thirds lenses. The camera does not come with a view finder. The 3 inch screen is used to compose the photo. My camera came with the 14-42mm zoom lens. I got the red colored body.

This is a beautiful camera. It is compact and fits my hand. The 14-42mm lens will contract and lock to a small size. When using the lens, it unlocks and extends. I also purchase a micro-four thirds to four thirds adapter to be able to use the camera with my other lenses. More about that later.

The biggest challenge for me is to learn how to take photo’s using the screen for composition and focus. Previous point and shoot cameras which I owned still had a view finder (Fuji S3000 and S5000). The biggest issue so far using the screen is the inability to see the screen in sunlight. I don’t mean direct sunlight, I mean sunlight. And forget the sunglasses. Oly does offer an evf for the camera for around $250.

To make up for my deficiencies, I set the camera to ISO 500 to be sure I have a fast shutter speed. This doesn't help verify the focus, but hopefully the autofocus will do it’s job. And it does reasonably well with the kit lens.

As I said earlier, I bought the adapter for micro-four thirds to four thirds lenses. The four thirds lens I have tried is the 70-300mm f3.5-f5.6 lens. This lens will sometimes focus but it is incredibly slow. I use the S-AF-M mode with this lens. Sometimes I think manual focusing would be faster.

The camera feels solid. The kit lens less so. Very lightweight and has a plastic feel. The lens adapter is also very lightweight and seems to be made of plastic. They both function very well.

I like this camera. The size is perfect. It will take some effort for me to get used to using it.

Asphalt Plant

2011-02-15T14:46:00.000-08:00

Asphalt plant located in Simpsonville, SC.

Late afternoon Sun

2011-02-06T07:31:00.000-08:00

Blue Ice

2011-01-05T16:31:00.000-08:00

Old Truck in the Snow

2010-12-27T12:15:00.000-08:00