Yaum's Photo Diary

Ambrotype Music Vids

2026-10-17T02:25:36.753-07:00

Old Print Dryer Ferrotyper!!

2026-10-16T23:51:38.528-07:00

Found this $8x10 unit for $4 CAD

Exhausted!!

2026-10-15T09:52:27.719-07:00

The days shoot left me exhausted, every thing hurt. I had a hotel shower and a 8 hour sleep in a hotel bed that helped after!!

New UV Meter

2026-10-15T09:45:05.982-07:00

Using this UV light measuring tool today for the first time.. It is helping me with exposure. Will keep experimenting with the meter.

The way I used it was to just meter the sunlight that is on the scene. It gave me a sense of what I had. It helped. I did not feel as blind. The Uv number varied from 5.0 to 0.0 during the day. Most times around 2.3-3.5.

If the number changed between plates, I would adjust exposure. Still figuring that out.

13 Hour Historic Shoot at INDIAN BATTLE PARK

2026-10-15T09:44:30.989-07:00

Making Ambrotypes at Indian Battle Park, in Lethbridge, Alberta. A beautiful fall day!!

“Ain”t Photography Grand!!

It was a long day. I was getting mottled plates the first hour and a bit, figured out that. It was either the collodion or post flow set time to short.

After that problem was solved, things went well.

I really liked the cleaning vinegar developer today. It really popped the plate fast!! Probably added a bit of contrast.

Many "Fanny" RV Issues

2026-10-12T00:31:31.533-07:00

So, am on the last camping trip of the year and Fanny has had her problems! Put a brand new starter in the RV 4 days before leaving Edmonton ($1200). 4 days later, my new starter failed and I was stranded on a high mountain road, with no cellphone coverage. Spent 23 hours stranded, had to do a 15km walk to cellphone coverage to ask for help.

The motor home "Fanny" and the darkroom trailer Freddy" had to be towed 85km back to Calgary, for a new starter ($850) to be installed. The tows would have cost $1500. but I have an AMA membership, so there was no cost. Plus the cost of 2 nights in a hotel in Calgary.

3 days later, I was in Longview, Alberta, it snowed overnight and the furnace in Fanny did not work! I was forced to use the stove burners to add some heat, It was freezing, around -2c outside

So it has been tough, no Ambrotypes made so far!

Stranded on a mountain top with a brand new broken starter!

In the snow with no working furnace

My 15km going for help walk!

Off Making Ambros, Longer Trip

2026-10-03T00:30:50.049-07:00

Woo Family Story

2026-09-29T08:11:08.412-07:00

I have always felt Canadians are extremely fortunate, so many do not appreciate their extreme privilege and luck. Thought I would share a story.

This is the Woo family, Burmese refugees I know in Thailand. I first met them in 2013, they were asleep on the ground, covered in flies. They had recently come to Thailand to live and work in a garbage dump. The dump was a better life for them than the extreme poverty, war, ethnic genocide and dictatorship they had back home.

The whole family worked the garbage, scavenging for plastics cardboard and metals to sell. They also dug in the garbage to find food for the family. The photo is from 2017, they had become more prosperous thru hard, filthy and dangerous work. Their life was better in the garbage dump.

In 2021, the family father died, the children now only have their mother. I spent time with them again in 2025, lovely people, we (Canadians) gifted them some headlamps, food and pictures of their lost husband/father.

This family dreams of a better life. Living in Canada would be a godsend to them, a dream of dreams come true.

PLEASE DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE HOW FORTUNATE AND PRIVILEGED YOU ARE TO BE A CANADIAN

Quote: Nelson Mandela

2026-09-29T08:09:03.368-07:00

The Buddhiist Look at the Benefiits of Charity

2026-09-29T08:07:59.168-07:00

Quote: Mother Theresa

2026-09-29T08:06:25.979-07:00

24x24 Camera/Ambrotype Learning from Sept 13

2026-09-29T08:02:34.935-07:00

Will be TRYING to make 24x24 inch Ambrotypes today. I found a nice quiet area near my home. Will shoot a tree section. It’s a beautiful September day here in Edmonton. Wish me luck, lots to learn st this size. I have around 7 litres of Silver in a tray! The black tray is Silver Nitrate the white tray the Hypo.

Using a 600mm Fuji lens I bought years ago for the first time. Probably around $16000 CAD in camera and lens alone. Expensive shit, all the way around in ULF wet plate.

The Chamonix 24x24 is surprisingly light for its size. I should be able to shoot it into my 70s, now 62.

Followed the advice of you folks, ratchet strapped the camera down in a light wind. Using a relatively light weight Manfratto tripod with geared head.

Today is a day of learning and experimentation!!

Thank you to all of those who have helped me through the years, went from 4x5 to 8x10 to 11x14 to 14x14 to 16x20 to 24x24 (I hope!!). Could not have done it without u good folks

Freddy and the Beast

Fixer tray

Staked down camera

Silver Tray

600 mm

Portraits with Larry

2026-09-12T13:22:00.912-07:00

Am making some 11x14 and 14x14 Ambrotypes portraits with my friend Larry. It should be fun!

Update* Had to cancel, Larry was not feeling well and I was having under exposure issues

Test Shooting the 24x24!!!

2026-09-12T12:03:03.894-07:00

Will be test shooting the 24x24 inch Chamonix camera at Elk Island National Park on Sunday. It should be quite a challenge, fun, fun, fun!!! I might even get my first 24x/4 inch Ambrotyoe out if it!!!

Fanny RV problems x3

2026-09-11T15:51:14.212-07:00

Gosh all of a sudden I had a tone of Fanny RV problems.

- a flat tire last night after I started preparing the TV for the hitch repair appointment today. Called AMA, the guy came to change my tire then even fixed it for free. There was a leaky valve on the tire.

- today drove the RV to the hitch repair, welding shop for a 9am appointment. After I went inside to speak to the boss I came out and the RV would not start. This is the first time in 6 years that that has happened.

After a boost failed. I called AMA again. Their battery guy arrived down and tried 3 or 4 different ways to start it, boosting both batteries. It was not a battery problem.

- The AMA battery guy called for a tow truck for the RV.

- While I was waiting for the tow truck the hitch guy was welding the hitch supports. Then the tow truck driver arrived, had difficulty removing the crankshaft (bolts almost seized..

- Finally Fanny was towed to a repair shop. It is in line to be fixed, which will happen around September 21.

A trying and difficult day. If everything goes right, the motor home will be ready for a long British Columbia Ambrotype making trip, starting around September 25.

Note* I will need to leave Fanny on a public street next to the repair shop for 10 or 11 days. Am quite worried about that. I do not see anyway of avoiding that. Her motor trainer n crank shaft (is that what they call it?) is sitting inside the RV on the floor

Ambrotypes Framed with Foilage?

2026-09-09T00:33:20.151-07:00

Thinking of combining Ambrotypes and objects found near their shooting location. They would be housed in the same frames.

Multiple Plates Same Time Diptych

2026-09-09T00:32:33.062-07:00

When shooting Murillo diptych shots, it might be easier to shoot with 2 holders, the 11x14 and the 14x14, back to back. There should be more flow to the work that way with similar light and exposure.

Note* I might need to buy more holders from Chamonix in China. If I do that, I might ask if deeper holders allowing for 5mm thick plates is possible.

Finished Frames for Ambrotype Exhibition

2026-09-09T00:31:58.585-07:00

Thinking of doing 5-10 completed Ambrotype works that are framed (handmade frames) for exhibition. I need to see what the final/finished works look like. I can also video and photograph these completed pieces for exhibition!!

I NEED TO GET THE AMBROTYPE PROJECT, AMBROTOS KANATA, EXHIBITED!!!

Got Lucky with Wet Plate

2026-09-08T12:44:03.867-07:00

When I started out on my wet plate journey 10 years or so ago, I knew nothing, yet I dived in head first.

Got me a darkroom trailer for $8000 a RV to travel in for the project for $38000. Probably $40000 in lens and cameras. As well as countless older things and tools.

I was not 100% sure I would like wet plate and the final result of what a finished Ambrotype looks like but I ended up loving them as well as the process! The more I do, the more I want to do! The bigger plate I create, the bigger I want to go. Even 35x35 seems very doable.

I GOT DAM LUCKY WITH ALL THIS!!! Imagine after all that expense, effort and time, I hated Ambros. I coukd have hated everything, that could have happened.

Lucky, Lucky, Gerry!

Dust on Varnished Plates!

2026-09-08T12:43:00.358-07:00

I have been getting very small dust like particles on my plates after varnishing. Not sure what the deal is. Today I tried covering my varnished during plates with a plastic box. We shall see if this helps!

Honeyed Plates

2026-09-07T09:44:40.686-07:00

The honeyed plates from yesterday. I put honey on the plates to keep them moist for transport. They each get their own traveling tray. They look extra golden as a result

Setup up and Shooting at Nordegg Graveyard

2026-09-07T09:40:27.734-07:00

I am setup and shooting Ambrotypes at the Nordegg, Alberta, graveyard again. Came with the truck this time, as there is a hitch issue with the motorhome that needs repairing.

Running Water While Driving Trailer!

2026-09-07T09:37:14.509-07:00

So, I went into the trailer to get some alcohol part way through my trip to Nordegg graveyard. I opened the door to find thee pump running! What? Why?

Turns out I had forgot to turn off the pump button but that should not have been too much of as problem. What happened was that during my drive, things had shifted in the trailer. One of those shifts had caused something to hit the faucet valve leaver handle, turning on the water. The water then ran until it trained the entire tank (25 galllons) and filled up my sewage tank to the max, while also washing the floor pretty well.

Luckily I found out about the problem early, preventing the pump from burning out, because I went into the trailer to get some alcohol to clean my used books with (too wash off sticky price tag residue).

I then went to the Rocky Mountain House camping dump station to dump my sewage and refill my water tank.

After this I will make sure to always shut off my pump before traveling. Lesson learned!

Lots of Garbage Waste

2026-09-04T16:00:55.400-07:00

My black house garb as he bin are filling up with house window panel waste and broken glass pieces. I had to spread some of it out to my sister’s bin.

I have a bit of industrial level waste work going on right now! Starting to work in an Ambrotype making factory!

Cutting Window Glass is Difficult

2026-09-04T15:58:10.093-07:00

Spent the last few days cutting up a bunch of the old aluminum house window frames I bought for $30.

Separating the glass from the aluminum edge frame material is quite difficult without breakage. Some of the glass is only 2mm thick. If you look at it the wrong way and it breaks. If it is a tiny bit thicker it becomes easier but the 2mm stuff is a nightmare!!!!

I have had several large beautiful pieces break in my hand simply by holding the glass. It is very frustrating to almost get usable glass for Ambrotypes or to make black backing substrate material, only to have it break!

I am doing my best to save money and get usable glass this way but it is testing patience and hopefully expanding it. Need to remain calm when doing this type work. Even though at times you want to flog the stuff in frustration.