The mental debate between the 19th century large format cameras and platinotypes versus my usual camera, scanner and inkjet printer has been resolved. The resolution came so much by testing and research as I had hoped, but by a need for an immediate answer.
The closing date of the bank card had come and thus was able to rebuild my stocks of paper needed to work on the backlog of imagery over the past two years. Prepared my list looked at the Freestyle site for Artista.edu paper which I had been using since they started offering it last year. Liked the more neutral to blue tones one gets with it even in Dektol but also liked the price a good 20% less than most papers.
Noticed on the site that the size and quantity that I needed wasn’t listed. A mild panic I am down to less than 50 sheets of paper. Calming down I realised that even if I bought the smaller quantity packages I would save almost as much.
Ring up. Am told that the company who made the paper Forte – is going out of business and thus there will be no more. Disoriented again but in a moment of lucidity I ask for the film – arista.edu 1s0 400 in the 10x8 inch size as it is also made by Forte. They have 38 boxes left.
I need 30 at least for the residency. I need this film as again the price is what will make the residency possible. A box of artista.edu is $35 the next inexpensive film is $55. Ring off to think and ask of our finances.
I wanted to buy the film slowly but surely over the next few months so as not to have bank card bill shock. That would be coming in the summer with the plane tickets and the car rental even though the car will come from T.J.
Realising that I had no choice, rang back and ordered the film 31 boxes of it and had it shipped to the rock. $1100 at least the shipping is reasonable $50 but now I await the bill from Customs Canada which could be as much as 15% of the cost - forgot the rule – personal effects no commercial value.
I was pretty pleased with myself as last week I had taken the camera with me on an outing with two grad students around the stateline area. The Hobo worked well noticed the problems that I may have – close down to get decent depth of field carry a screwdriver as the clips that hold the film holders loosen quickly, the viewfinder shows less than the film.
I was to crack open the box of Arista.edu film to make tests and see if it would be acceptable before committing myself. Now the tests will be more how to make sure that the film can be used as it is half way through its three week trip to the rock.
The film purchase has already used up – and then some – the funds that I was awarded – but won’t receive until 1 July (any irony here) – in a faculty enrichment grant.
Submitted my proposal, the maximum the school gives is $2000, I got $800 before taxes. Even though I was warned that even when one does get them they are next to useless, I didn’t expect it to be so close to useless. I wasn’t expecting the maximum but was expecting over $1000 after taxes so that one of the major expenses would be taken care off.
Actually I was fully preparing for this as I had been paring down the expenses so that they are now half of what my budget was even after I dropped the wish list items.
The platinum chemistry is solved, as is the paper. I will use argyrotypes for proofing materials, buy the Bienfang 360 layout paper from M. Francis Kelly in St. John’s.
The remaining major expenses were the film and a U.V. Printer. The enrichment grant will cover neither. It will just barely cover airfare
Find it typical that the AGNL and Parks Canada are giving me more not knowing me the place where I have worked for the past 14 years.
Yesterday with the Hobo in the car, I headed along the stateline with the Arista.edu film with me. 10 exposures made of signs no longer useful or pathetic, the political lawn ornaments in preparation for the next election and the ziggurat of a landfill just over the border in Illinois. To-day am heading to school to develop the film.
