Bievres photo fair

[Franglais]

Last weekend was the Bievres photo fair. Last year people were saying that digital would be the end of it but this year it seemed to be as big as ever.

1. There were lots of stands saying “Ankaufen” (we buy in German) – but they didn’t say how much they paid

2. How the once-mighty film cameras have fallen. 1 Euro = $1.30. I wasn’t tempted at all. I was looking for an as-new plastic 18-55 to go on my D60 (which I found for 59 Euros)

3. There seemed to be more people selling books and old photos than usual

4. Quinn Jacobson of Studio Q preparing a wet plate

5. Preparing to do the shot. Note the support behind the subject’s head to hold him still during the 2-second exposure

[Asylum Steve]

Last weekend was the Bievres photo fair...

Looks like a fun show, Charles. I still enjoy seeing all the used film cameras for sale. Makes me feel nostalgic...

[mtbbrian]

Quinn is a friend of mine from college.
He's been doing the wet plate process for about five years now, he does it very well.
Brian

[Asylum Steve]

Quinn is a friend of mine from college.
He's been doing the wet plate process for about five years now, he does it very well.
Brian

Wow. What a cool connection. I was really into alternative processes for a while years back. Did some work with gum bichromate, but that was about as far as I got...

[Franglais]

Wet plate is a fascinating process to watch. First of all it mostly happens in daylight because the silver salts are only added to the plate at the last moment. And just before he pours some liquid onto the plate which shimmers and glistens as he moves the plate about to cover the entire surface.

[another view]

Note the support behind the subject’s head to hold him still during the 2-second exposure

Interesting. Looks like you're posting a few more shots about the process which I'd like to see.

I went to my first show like this actually just last fall. Let's just say the prices were more "optimistic", like about twice the going ebay rate on a couple of things I had thoughts of buying. One guy tried to make a lower offer on a broken low-end lens and the dealer just ignored him. Very odd.

[Franglais]

As far as I can make out it goes like this:

1. The plate starts out in the "darkroom" which is actually a small tent with a red window
2. Red stuff gets poured over the plate. The plate goes into the darkroom which is closed and something else is put on the plate to add the silver salts. The plate is put in the lightproof camera back and stays put for a while
3. The photographer comes out and gets the model ready, puts the camera back on the camera, does the shot and the back goes back into the darkroom
4 and 5. I missed the processing part. When I came back 10 minutes later, the image was washing in a tray of water

[LightBright]

Those metal clamp's attached to the guys head to keep him still reminds me of my photo history class.
That wet plate process looks like allot of fun. Great shots Charles!