Shooting at last

After nearly two months of building, painting and plumbing I had to use the studio for shooting.  Now that the wet darkroom is operational ad the studio is cleared and usable I decided it was time to shoot.  Not wishing to work on my own I only mentioned it to Mina, and I had company.

We both arrived with cameras, Mina with a half plate Kodak and me with my 10x12 and then spent well over an hour preparing chemistry for wet plate, assembling lights and putting up a backdrop.  Mina was the first to shoot, opting for a still life.  We had a few teething problems, like a broken plate and a couple with scrape marks, then finally a good one.  Sounds daft but even tough it wasn't my plate I was so pleased that we had produced the first image in my studio.

My turn and I persuaded Mina to pose for me.  I owe her an apology!  My first plate came out ok but a little underexposed and true to form I managed to photograph an attractive young woman and make her look severe!  My second plate would have been better, but guess what I broke it!

I had a great night shooting with someone I enjoy working with and producing the first images from the studio.

Not the best p[late I have ever produced, but still a memorable one (sorry Mina!)

More paint and some curtain rails

More paint and some curtain rails. 

All the money that the rails cost and there are no curtain hooks!!! I then swept the floor which is why the pics look so foggy.

Tomorrow, when the dust has settled I just have to hang the curtains and the backdrop and we are ready to play.

The walls are changing colour!

Another trip to the DIY for another six sheets of plasterboard, plus curtain rails, a baton and hooks for hanging a background.  I really am going to miss carrying plaster board up the stairs!

I finished plaster boarding the studio and the entrance tonight. All that remains is the bottom section of the dry darkroom which will be below the work surface.  At the moment I am storing everything in there so it will have to wait. 

With the help of Jan and Shelly the first coat of paint has gone on the two long studio walls. It is starting to look like something more than a builders yard now.

Another night, another wall.

I've spent the night using up the plaster board and timber that I bought last week. I got home from Wales then changed and straight down to the studio. The wall at the darkroom end of the studio is now finished and filled ready for sanding and sealing tomorrow. 

My target is for Mina and myself to be able to start shooting wet plates on Wednesday evening. Looks promising.

At last - a useable Darkroom!

The end of another long evening! Now got running water, (and tonight it is mainly in the pipes and not on the floor) all sinks plumbed in, water heater fitted and working and the flooring finished. Just need splash backs and shelving to finish the wet darkroom.

I have timber and plasterboard stored in the van so the aim for next week is to get the studio ready for painting.  My friend Mina has booked a stall for us in a craft fair in two weeks so need to get some images produced.  Stops me getting bored!

More sinks

I spent last night ripping my old darkroom apart.  With it being in a small caravan nothing is ever simple to do.  To get my Nova sink out I had to remove the light proofing prop the large window fully open and even remove the window trim to make enough room.  After a couple of hours this and my deep tank unit were packed into my van.

The fun bit came tonight, getting them up to my second (third if you are American) floor studio.  Im going to be so fit by the time I have finished this studio!  I placed the sink and the deep tank unit where I plan to fit them and started to work out what I need for the plumbing. The good news came in the form of a message from ebay, a lens I had listed sold and was paid for, so I now have the cash to finish the jobs off!

I might even treat the deep tank unit to a new cover and ditch the silver nitrate stained one!

Getting there!

Andy collected my keys off me this morning and has finished the last couple of jobs on the electrical side.  He even found me an old water heater that may or may not work, but worth a try.

Tonight it was two coats of paint on the walls and the ceiling, they still look a bit rough, but Im happy as its the first time I have tried anything like this.  I discovered that the 3x2 metre vinyl flooring was actually 2x2, I should have checked the label!  So I fitted it to the centre, the easiest place and under the large sink.  I will have to get another piece for the two ends and seal it with silicon, I don't want water going through my floor onto the silk stored in the unit below me!

I mounted the water heater onto the wall, but not plumbed or wired in yet.  Almost there!  I will spend Monday night getting my Nova sink out of the old darkroom then I can get on with the rest of the plumbing.