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Refurbishing Antique Bellows Cameras
The Blog writing has been on the back burner whilst I spent time refurbishing my two 1900s, mahogany and brass bellows camera. The Boots...
Simon Williams
Jun 13, 20192 min read
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North Somerset Artsweek 2019
It has been a very busy April/May – preparing 75 pieces for North Somerset Artsweek #nsaw2019 – but so worth it! We have had a great...
Simon Williams
May 11, 20191 min read
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Take, process, learn, adjust, repeat
Captured a few images today with the 1900s Hora half-plate camera on X-ray film – scanned and inverted. Just learning what iso this film...
Simon Williams
Apr 14, 20191 min read
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Antique camera at Hartland Quay
It has been a busy few weeks preparing for North Somerset ArtsWeek in May. I am exhibiting at The Theatre Shop, Clevedon BS21 6HX. ...
Simon Williams
Apr 5, 20191 min read
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Yorkshire Trip & a Half-Plate Camera
Taking the opportunity to stay a few days at Skipton this week, I packed the VW Camper with my “new” 1900s Hora bellows camera and basic...
Simon Williams
Mar 16, 20192 min read
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Pre-Flashing the Paper Negative
Another useful tip from an online forum – to reduce the contrast of a photo paper negative, the advice is to “pre-flash” it with a short...
Simon Williams
Feb 17, 20191 min read
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Vintage Photography with X-ray Film
With 5×7 sheet film being expensive, at over £1 a sheet, I have been looking for alternatives. I love the look paper negatives give to...
Simon Williams
Feb 7, 20191 min read
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Now to get things in focus
Having learned how to set the exposure on the 100 year-old Thornton Pickard I have been working on getting everything well-focussed. The...
Simon Williams
Feb 4, 20191 min read
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Bellows Camera in the Snow
With the sun out and the roads passable, I ventured up onto the top of the Mendip Hills with the Thornton Pickard and some film...
Simon Williams
Feb 2, 20191 min read
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Still life with a bellows camera
On a snowy day, staying at home was the warmer option and gave me a chance to apply what I have learned about exposure for this camera to...
Simon Williams
Feb 1, 20191 min read
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6 out of 6! – 6 Good exposures
On the frosty Mendip Hills this morning, I used the vintage Thornton Pickard camera to take some silhouette images of trees. Building on...
Simon Williams
Jan 31, 20191 min read
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Mastering Exposure – Vintage Camera
Very pleased with exposure of paper negatives today. (Images here have been inverted in photoshop from a scan of the paper negatives) ...
Simon Williams
Jan 30, 20191 min read
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At the fifth attempt – I’m happy
Finally, after five attempts, I’ve got a plate with; enough etch to make a relief print, a satisfying sky effect enough detail in the...
Simon Williams
Jan 29, 20191 min read
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Another step in my etching eduction
Having another go with my Clevedon Pier photograph. This time I used a thinner application of oil for the sky and less etching time....
Simon Williams
Jan 26, 20191 min read
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Latest etching – still learning …
Clevedon Pier – again from a photo – laserprint transferred onto aluminium with acetone then etched in copper sulfate and salt. Raising...
Simon Williams
Jan 25, 20191 min read
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Relief printing from etched aluminium
First prints from the aluminium etchings. Very pleased with these first lifts – on 200gsm, glossy card. [Update! – when dry the ink...
Simon Williams
Jan 20, 20191 min read
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Successful etching of the plates
Having successfully transferred the laser prints of my photos onto aluminium plate, the next step is etching in copper sulfate/salt. To...
Simon Williams
Jan 20, 20191 min read
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Success every time!
I’ve cracked it! Using acetone to transfer laserprint onto aluminium plate ready for #etching. Plates on the left in this photo the...
Simon Williams
Jan 19, 20191 min read
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Progress with etching – Exmoor tree project
After my initial experiments with the etching process, I started today to apply what I have learned to my Exmoor tree images. (See...
Simon Williams
Jan 7, 20192 min read
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Success with the antique camera and shutter
Well, some success and still some failures(learning opportuntites). Saggy bellows have caused a shadow on the negative and one or two...
Simon Williams
Jan 5, 20191 min read
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