When I posted all those years ago about my rebirth being messy, I never thought it would be an understatement.

It was, in all the ways possible.

Bad, and good.

I'm still here.

And Fates willing, I will be here for some time to come.

Kevin Scott Koepke

Success And Failure

The first tour of NYC was in many ways, successful. And in others, not so much.

The bike and the box work as intended; but I got said darkroom wet and it led to eventual failure of the structure. Also, I was stuck in the city overnight due to my negligence to heed the parking times. Sleeping on a tailgate is not for the weak...

Most of the plates were good, so I will be going out again soon...

The Alexander Gardner

Completed yesterday, the new mobile darkroom underwent trials today, and was an absolute success. This paves the way for further forays into NYC and beyond.

Mission accomplished...

4 Days To Go

Today I take another step to stabilization.

I signed a lease for a year for the house next to the one I am living in. It was being in the right place at the right time.

It ends the freefall my life has taken, but to recover from the hell I have been through it will take time. A lot of it.

Friday the Alexander Gardner will hopefully be ready; and by Monday I will be completely moved in.

After that, the future is mine to win...or lose...

Five Days And Counting...

...but I will hold my enthusiasm for now. 

The rat rod tricycle that I purchased has seen better days; nevertheless I am confident that Eddy's

Cycle City will make the appropriate repairs and modifications so that I can start making plates right out of the bicycle shop.

But this is not the first wet plate bike I have built. I already have one; Lightning Four.

Bear in mind that while I use a pedal stand as well as a kickstand for stabilization, there is a risk of toppling over (which has happened). I of course take the precautions now to prevent such events from happening. It can make plates up to 4x5, but great care must be exercised. There are limitations, but in a good day I can make 6 plates before my waste water jugs fill up.

The advantages of the tricycle are obvious. With the baskets installed plus the darkroom itself I can hold double the load, and there is very little chance of tipping over with the proper weight distribution. For my first road tests I will shoot 4x5 plates, although I am confident it can do 8x10 as well with the proper darkroom installed. Other small items will be installed, such as a bell and red flasher lights. Wouldn't want to get ticketed for not having taken the proper measures in NYC.

If all goes well the bike will be ready for trials Friday; I plan on going into the city Sunday or Monday next week to "stretch her legs"...

 

Beginnings And Endings...

On June 29th, 2016, my father passed away after a battle with cancer...

I have made preparations to move yet again; I am only waiting to sign the lease...

My personal life will remain just that; very personal...

A project long in the works is almost ready to go. 7 days and counting...

The clock is ticking...

Deja Vu All Over Again

I am now in the process of moving back to Clifton...alone...

As usual things did not go as planned. But I nevertheless keep grinding on.

I have taken steps to reclaim what was lost in order to secure my future; and have continued to work on my wet plate collodion tintypes. A new studio has been set up and within a matter of weeks I will be making portraits.

Still, a ways to go...