I always have been fascinated by photography.
But with the introduction of the digital camera it all became too easy, too predictable …to me.
So I forced myself to go back to the roots of real analog photography.
Not just by making the photograph itself, but by controlling the entire photographic process.

This brought me back to the middle of the 19th century, to the amazing Collodion wet plate process.
And every single day I feel challenged to refine and improve myself.


For my website please visit : www.alextimmermans.com

Alex Timmermans
Holland


"You don't take a picture, it's given to you"

zondag 7 juli 2019

Today i finally had the time to run a quick test with my new fresnel groundglass made by Massimiliano Acanfora (Bomm Camera’s Italy).
I first saw this fresnel last year at the ECW on the Bomm camera of Dennis Ziliotto 
and this year on a bigger Bomm from Tom Klein. 

All I can say, the difference is huge!
It’s always difficult to make a digital picture of the subject projected on the ground glass.
 But when using the fresnel it’s easy. See the differences.
For focussing you don’t have to move your head anymore to see what’s happening in the corners. 
It’s like looking at an LCD screen, that bright.
The light is spread very equally. 
Even not covered with a dark cloth i am able to see the whole picture. 
This is one of the best investments I ever made on my wet plate gear!! 

For more information just contact Massimiliano or http://www.bommcameras.com

Standard ground glass


New Bomm ground glass







zaterdag 9 maart 2019

Several Petzval lenses for sale


Some of you might already know, I am downgrading my collection of wet plate gear.
Over the years I have collected quite some wet plate stuff.
But I have decided to sell most of it as I always use the same lenses and same camera.
So it's Time to let them go and have them used by others.

All 4 lenses are nearly the same size, 21-22cm in hight 
and rear lens part is about 9-9.5cm in diameter

No1 

Hermagis convertible Petzval Lens
Comes with Original Flange
300mm F 4.8
early serial number 9339
Nice sharp petzval ( I prefer to use Hermagis)
Downside: 
previous owner opened the back part with quite some force,
using "heavy" tools.
So the back glass has some chips of and look quite beaten of.
BUT, the projection on the ground glass looks just great.
Crispy as every hermagis.
And if you don't know you will never notice it as this part will be inside the camera.... :)


Asking price: SOLD!!!!



No 2

Very rare Alexis Millet cone Petzval
This petzval has access with a bajonet connection.
Aparture is inside the lens with rings.
no flange
330mm f 5.2
Very clean crispy glass. 
No scratches besides the normal tiny cleaning marks.
Rack and pignon sometimes slips, but who will ever use that??

Asking price:  1100,= euro




no 3

French Gasc & Charconnet Petzval
330mm 6.5
Ff you take out the fixed aparture it will be a fast 4.5
Front glass part has a few scratches and air bubbles 
Back glass all clear with also few air bubbles.
These are quite common and this will not be of any effect in the pictures.

Comes with it's Original flange.
Rack and pignon works smooth.
Asking price 950,= euro





no 4 

Very rare Dutch Lens!
Sold through J. Saarwächter Nijmegen.
330mm 5.2 petzval
Both front and back glass in good shape.
very slight edge separation front lens, but only 2mm
Will be of no effect.
smooth working rack and pignon

asking price:  950,= Euro















vrijdag 17 augustus 2018

Some news...


Hi All, 

It has been quite some time ago that I have posted something on my blog.
Really need to start blogging again. 
Problem is that you have to keep up with facebook, instagram etc,
Loads of things happened in the past period. Many exhibitions, new contacts, travelling etc.
But from now on I will try to inform you again every few weeks.

 This post is about a picture I had in mind already for a few years.
Wanted to do something with a grand piano, water, nature etc.
Don't ask me why. It was just a crazy idea which popped up in my mind.

Sometimes ideas can take a long time before I am able to life on a plate.
In this case it took more than 2 years…

Always the biggest problem is to find the right location and the needed props.
By coincidence I was able to buy the grand piano and because of the extremely warm weather we had in the past few months the water level at the spotted location was at very low.
So perfect combination for this new plate.






The making of video








donderdag 12 oktober 2017

New book from Corroda D'Agostini

Just recently I discovered that Corrado D'Agostini published a new book about antique lenses.
This time he wrote about the famous Lenses coming form Germany and Austria.
like Voigtlander, Petzval, Busch, Steinheil etc.
 
This book is holding more than 300 well documented pages full of history about these lenses.
Full with pictures and background information about the makers.
So A must have for those who collect and use these kinds of beautiful brass lenses.
 
HIGHLY recommended like his first book I wrote about French makers:
http://collodion-art.blogspot.nl/2012/06/fabulous-book-about-antique-french.html
 
The book can be ordered through his website: http://www.oldphotographiclenses.com/about2.html
 
Dimensions of the book: 20 x 30 x 2.5 cm