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Photo Palace Pan American Wet Plate Survey

Help me travel across America, document it using 19th century wet plate process and educate public about traditional photography.

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Photo Palace Pan American Wet Plate Survey

Photo Palace Pan American Wet Plate Survey

Photo Palace Pan American Wet Plate Survey

Photo Palace Pan American Wet Plate Survey

Photo Palace Pan American Wet Plate Survey

Help me travel across America, document it using 19th century wet plate process and educate public about traditional photography.

Help me travel across America, document it using 19th century wet plate process and educate public about traditional photography.

Help me travel across America, document it using 19th century wet plate process and educate public about traditional photography.

Help me travel across America, document it using 19th century wet plate process and educate public about traditional photography.

Anton Orlov
Anton Orlov
Anton Orlov
Anton Orlov
3 Campaigns |
San Diego, United States
$1,415 USD 15 backers
18% of $7,500 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal
Highlights
Mountain Filled 3 Projects Mountain Filled 3 Projects

Pan American Tintype Survey

 

In the spirit of Timmothy O'Sullivan and all other traveling wet plate photographers of 19th century I am going to travel across America and document it as I find it today.  This will be a new comprehensive overview American cultural and physical landscape.  I will be using the timeless wet plate collodion technique, producing tintypes and ambrotypes that will last for centuries to come.  While using this method each created image is completely hand-made and is entirely unique, as no two plates will ever look the same.  There is no negative in wet plate collodion - instead the light is captured directly upon a piece of aluminum or glass that just prior to exposure is prepped with collodion and bathed in silver nitrate and then developed before the emulsion has a chance to dry.  This requires having a darkroom within steps of the place where the photograph is captured and the darkroom inside The Photo Palace Bus is absolutely perfect for that purpose.  

  You might ask – why use this seemingly forgotten form of photography today?  For me the answer is simple: I chose it because of its easthetic beauty, level of concentration and skill required and distinctive quality of each photograph made.   Collodion images are known for their longevity and projected life of a well-crafted plate exceeds 200 years.  While changing owners they will delight many viewers who will experience them in exact same form as they left my hands. 

  While moving across the land I will also educate as many people as possible about history of photography and it's evolution through time.  I will raise awareness about the importance of hand-made images and encourage those who want to pursue artistic photography to continue working with traditional methods and use film.  To do this I will freely present the small, but comprehensive exhibit featuring over 25 different manual printing styles.  I will offer workshops and demonstration in various photo techniques and I will also learn from the more knowledgeable photographic artist I meet, after all – what is life without learning?

  The journey starts on June 9th, so as you are reading this I am already on the road, heading north from San Diego to Seatlle before cutting east toward Maine and then, closer to fall, south to Florida.

  Help me complete this historic journey – I truly appreciate Your support!

 

Major Expenses in Need of Funding

Diesel - this is the MAIN expense.  It will take at least $7K in diesel alone to complete this run

Chemistry and plates - shooting at least 200 plates of aluminum and glass and covering the chemistry needed for that is going to run another $1000-2000

Notice that the goal set by in this campaign is lower that the estimate of just the two major items listed above.   Note the absence of food, shelter and any extracurricular activities.  I hope that this campaign takes off and that all the expenses of traveling may be covered thanks to Your support. 

 

Other Ways You Can Help

Spread the word! Post this campaign to your favorite social media site, call your local radio and TV station, phone your congressman or congresswoman and talk about this art project to the next seventeen people you see!

Contact me at thephotopalace@gmail.com if you would like to donate some equipment or offer a place to stay - sometimes it's nice to get off the road for a night or two, and who better to suggest neat all-American things to photograph than local inhabitants.

 

More

To learn more about Anton and The Photo Palace Bus visit the gallery on this site - there is a video and a few pitcures for You to enjoy.  As I move down the road I will periodically post updates here, so keep an eye out for those.

Visit the BLOG - there You will find entries and photos from on and off the road, pages dedicated to educational programs offered, construction archives, inspritation and mission and much more.  I do my best to keep my audience informed on the progress of the trip by posting updates there a few times a week.

Thank You!

Along with receiving the perks You choose each and every contributor will be immortalized in the Supporters List on our blog - though some can give more than others it all matters A LOT to me and I am equaly grateful for Your support of any size.

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Choose your Perk

Well-wisher

$20 USD
I know how it is sometimes - you really want to help but the funds are just not there. I feel for you and believe me - I'm grateful for any support toward this journey. You will receive a message with personal thanks from Anton - believe me, every penny is gonna count here!
Estimated Shipping
July 2013
2 claimed

Go Postal

$60 USD
You will receive a post card printed on vintage Kodak postcard paper, signed by Anton with many thanks for supporting this project. These post cards look like they are straight out the 60s - I have a limited supply of that paper.
Estimated Shipping
July 2013
3 out of 50 of claimed

Silver Bells

$110 USD
I will hand-select a beautiful 8x10 Fiber Base Gelatin Silver print from my archives and sign my thanks to you on the back. You could even send me a message describing what subject matter most appeals to you (portrait, landscape or urban). International supporters - please add $20 for shipping.
Estimated Shipping
July 2013
3 claimed

Wet Plate Lover - Level 1

$220 USD
You will receive an original, signed and completely unique 3.5x4.5in collodion image made during this journey. There is nothing like holding a real plate in your hands and seeing the light play upon the silver. You can even specify if you want it to be aluminum or glass AND whether you want it to be a portrait, landscape or urban subject matter. International supporters - please add $20 for shipping.
Estimated Shipping
August 2013
2 claimed

Wet Plate Lover - Level 2

$330 USD
You will receive an original, signed and completely unique 4.5x6in collodion image made during this journey. There is nothing like holding a real plate in your hands and seeing the light play upon the silver. You can even specify if you want it to be aluminum or glass AND whether you want it to be a portrait, landscape or urban subject matter. International supporters - please add $20 for shipping.
Estimated Shipping
August 2013
0 claimed

Wet Plate Lover - Level 3

$500 USD
You will receive an original, signed and completely unique 7.5x9.5in collodion image made during this journey. There is nothing like holding a real plate in your hands and seeing the light play upon the silver. You can even specify if you want it to be aluminum or glass AND whether you want it to be a portrait, landscape or urban subject matter. International supporters - please add $20 for shipping.
Estimated Shipping
August 2013
0 claimed

Wet Plate Lover - Combo

$900 USD
You must really love wet plate images! Kudos to you! You will receive one plate in every size listed above - three beautiful unique images. Yes you can still specify the subject matter and I promise you - they will look stunning framed on your wall.
Estimated Shipping
August 2013
0 claimed

Wet Plate Bonanza!

$1,100 USD
You will receive a personal visit from Anton and The Photo Palace Bus and will have a collodion portrait made on your choice of support material and size and will be able to see the making process in action. Plus you will get to pick a gelatin silver print from the archives and any small plate taken during the journey prior to the visit. This will be an experience of a lifetime! Anywhere within continental US
Estimated Shipping
October 2013
0 claimed

High Roller - ALL OF THE ABOVE

$1,600 USD
All of the above and I mean it! High Roller supporters will receive a visit from Anton with portrait session with choice of support material and size, wet plate demo, 3 plates from the journey (one of each size), a choice of a gelatin silver print plus one selected for you by Anton and of course a vintage postcard to start off with. Anywhere within continental US
Estimated Shipping
October 2013
0 claimed

Major Vagabond

$1,850 USD
For the true adventure-seeker! Join Anton and The Photo Palace for one week! See the country while rolling along in a vintage school bus, see images being created daily, meet strangers and let them become your friends. You will also be able to chose any three plates created while you are on board. Modest hotel accommodations and meals provided. Travel to the meeting spot and back are not covered, but if the schedule works out I will either pick you up or drop you off at your abode.
Estimated Shipping
October 2013
0 out of 3 of claimed
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