[Dafna Gazit]

Hello Rob,

Currently I am exhibiting my own Daguerreotypes exhibition in a "White Walled" art gallery.

As you recommended the light in the gallery is very powerful.

I was wandering weather too powerful light can damage the daguerreotypes or not?

thank you,

Dafna

[Dafna Gazit]

Hello John

Thanks for the advices.

I am trying to reduce developing time. I think that the hot and humid weather here had changed all my measurements and I can’t get it developed properly since.

I bought a polycarbonate desiccator- should it work exactly like the glass one or a little beet different? I think it can’t hold the vacuum for a long time. Do you have any tips for using it?

And one more question- is it possible to develop single sensitized (iodine) plate in cold vacuum?

Thank you

Dafna

[Dafna Gazit]

Hello again

lately (past 2 weeks) all the plates I try to develop in cold mercury are turning out like this(sample attached).

befor that I had succees in making cold mrcury development.

I cant figure out what went wrong. my desiccator is a good one that holds the vaccum for many hours. after few times like that I have added cilica gel to the desiccator because the humidity here is 60%. but it didnt help.

because of that I returned to the conforting Becquerel development.

Any suggestions?

Thank you,

Dafna

 

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[Dafna Gazit]

…the second plate

 

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[Dafna Gazit]

Finally a reasonable result with cold mercury development.

As you can see one of the plates was underexposed (portrait using indoor lighting), while the other was a little overexposed (outdoor natural lighting).. but at least finally I have something to work with.

In an attempt to prevent “dust spots” on the plates, instead of using calcium hydroxide for the bromine, I charged silica gel with the bromine (it took several hours to charge).

In both plates (mostly in the underexposed portrait) there are still traces of dust-like-spots.

Obviously the calcium hydroxide did not cause the “dust spots” in the former plates for they occurred in theses plates as well.

Can anyone tell me what is causing it and how I can prevent it in my future plates?

Many thanks

Dafna

 

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[Dafna Gazit]

Thank you John, I have found Mike’s post and I will try it.

[Dafna Gazit]

Thank you both 🙂

Regarding the dust traces on the plates – I think it was caused by the calcium hydroxide. ..

Is there another substance for mixing the bromine with?

Dafna

 

[Dafna Gazit]

Hello Gary

will you ship it it Israel?

What is the size of the box in cm.?

thanks

[Dafna Gazit]

Thanks you Rob. I will try that.

[Dafna Gazit]

Thank you

[Dafna Gazit]

One more question:

How much mercury should I put inside the container?

and, do I need to filter the mercury in order to clean it from dust and other foreign substances that may be in it?

[Dafna Gazit]

Thank you!

Wish me luck!

🙂

 

[Dafna Gazit]

… so if I understand you correctly than I was’nt right and I should use the paremeters like I marked in the photo below….right?

 

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[Dafna Gazit]

Hello again

I have this Gauge connected to my vacuum pump, but I am not sure how to read it for my cold mercury development… maybe one of you can help? It is the only gauge that the experts here could find for this purpose. In the second photo you can see that I marked the units that I think I will need to use, am I right?

thanks

Dafna

 

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[Dafna Gazit]

Hi John,

Thank you for clearing up a few things.

I will upload and share with you guys my next (and first) cold mercury developed Dag

🙂

Dafna

 

[Dafna Gazit]

Greg,

Thank you so much for the information and for opening my eyes about the true identity of Photolytic!

[Dafna Gazit]

Hello all,

I am also about to make my first Mercury Daguerreotype with vacuum desiccator!

I have pure bromine. How do I use it for sensitizing the iodized plate?

Photolytic, you mentioned that “Daguerreotypists usually mix the liquid bromine with calcium hydroxide”, what amount of calcium hydroxide do I have to use? Do I have to add anything else for the Bromine? Can I make a re-use of it for later Dags?

Can I use the Bromine without the Calcium Hydroxide?

Another question:

You mentioned above that you use vacuum of 50 to 75 torr for 2 hours.

In his article “WARMING UP TO COLD MERCURY”, John R. Hurlock writes about “25 mm Hg” for 24 hours. I am confused of the differences between units of vacuum measurements. Is “”25 mm Hg” is the same meaning for 25 torr?

Thank you

[Dafna Gazit]

Thank you, Photolytic, that was very helpfull.

you mentioned that there will be leaks anyhow, in that case is it possible during the vacuum developmaent time, to re- vacuum the Desiccator?

[Dafna Gazit]

I saw a picture of it. it suppose to be somthing like the attached file

 

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[Dafna Gazit]

Hi Li

I’m using distilled water that I bought. Thanks for the advice, next time I will check again before I buy them.

Thanks evryone for your advice.

[Dafna Gazit]

Thank you Jon Lewis, I will try that.

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