April 2013 Recap

April has been a busy month this year with three back to back to back shows. First we started at Prado then Heritage Square Museum and this past weekend Mariposa CA. 

    On April 6-7th we were in Chino, CA celebrating out year anniversary for the Civil War Circuit. Last year I attended the event with my dark box on my mobile cart and just asking re-enactors if I could photograph them. The positive response I received last year prompted me to attain a tent and start frequenting the Civil War and other living history events. 

   On April 13th we traveled to Los Angeles to celebrate the Fashion Show and Tea at the Heritage Square Museum. I have always dreamt of shooting at this location and I did! It was amazing to see these houses and all of the incredible work the volunteers put into restoring and reviving the history of the houses. Nothing I can identify more with the longing for things to be the way they once were and amongst the volunteers we met some amazing people who shared out passion of the past. Very thankful to have had the opportunity to be apart of the show and can not wait for next year!

     Finally, we just wrapped up the Civil War event up north in Mariposa, CA. A very busy weekend tucked away in the mountains forty-three miles away from Yosemite. A gorgeous an authentic looking setting. We left the backgrounds at home and opted for the scenery of mountains and lush trees. Had an amazing time and a big thank you to all the other sutlers and reenactors for such an amazing time.

     The studio has been super busy preparing for our last shows before we shut down in the summer. Our next show will be at the end of May at Roaring Camp in Felton, CA. Also the application process for University of Riverside is fast approaching! Which means times to build and strengthen my portfolio. Can not wait to go back to school to finish my B.F.A and pursue my M.F.A.

Thank you and we look forward to May!

4th Virginia Infantry Company A

Father and Son with the 4th Virginia Infantry

7 years old Union 20th Maine

HERITAGE SQUARE MUSEUM

FASHION SHOW & TEA

Heritage Square

9 seconds proped up against the barn

Gorgeous!

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Making a Replacement Ground Glass

         I am always shooting in the field, and with that comes wind, rain, and sometimes just bad luck. Awhile back my camera hit the ground and sustained some injuries including the inside housing for the lens board and the ground glass cracked. Due to time constraints I did not have time to make a new ground glass, but today was the day! Went to Michael's and bought some of Ms. Martha Stewart's transluscent frost paint. I thought I could easily apply it with a brush WRONG! Luckily the paint easily washed off with a light scrubbing and soap. It took me several times to paint the frost on before I thought of another idea. I decided to add water to the paint, and then heat it up for 10 seconds in the microwave, (only 10 seconds! No more because it will cook the paint). When I had the paint and the water completely mixed I poured it on the clean ground glass plate just like collodion. I rocked the plate and had it flow evenly all over the ground glass, and for the couple of pin size air bubbles I had my razor blade to pop them. I drained the left over "emulsion" into a plastic cup and let the plate dry in the sun, (water evaporating), for about an hour and then I baked it for 30 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, turned off the oven and let the plates sit in the oven for another 30 minutes. It was really simple and could have been done in 20 minutes had I come up with the water and paint idea in the first place. Now I know and now have two perfect ground glasses.

Broken ground glass

Purchased the Frost paint at Michael's regular price $7.99, but had 40% coupon.

Glass from Home Depot around $8.00

The directions really did not clarify how to apply this stuff so I assumed a sponge would work

To save some glass I created a line using painters tape 

Brushed on two coats and found it was to thick and I hated the lines it left

I left text under the glass to check to see how much "frost" I would get. The paint dried relatively fast and was hard to get rid of the brush strokes.

Comparing the old ground glass to the frosted paint stroke glass

Cut the glass in half, I probably should have done that first

I was getting frustrated with the lines so I started to cut out two ground glass pieces and just experiment from there

While still using the sponge I used the blue tape to prevent paint from getting on the back . I then went and washed off this paint and came up with the "flowing" idea.

Here is how the paint and water mixture looked. Notice 100% liquid, make sure there is no dust or contamination otherwise it will end up on your ground glass

Not to bad, let it dry in the sun and this is the even frost I got.

Into the oven

Out of the oven

Had to trace my plate sizes sixth, quarter, and half

Broken ground glass and the two brand new ones! Now I have a back up just in case Mother Nature throws my camera again

Before I installed the ground glass I used a matte fixative to make sure the pencil marks do not smear. This prevents the chemicals from removing the pencil marks, just a back up in case.

Installed and ready to go!

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Dickens Festival 2013

The Dickens Festival of Riverside was amazing. This was our first time attending the event and we had great weather and wonderful people stop by our booth. A great time was had by all! A big thank you to everyone who came out and attended the event. We can not wait until next year. 

Dickens Fest featured article in the Inland Empire Weekly 

Frank

John

Diablo the Magician

Teri McCoy

copyright Jessee St. John 2013

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Dickens Fest 2013 and Mr. Fezziwig's Ball

ANNOUNCEMENT:

I will have a booth Saturday night at Mr. Fezziwig's Ball in the Riverside Municipal Auditorium!

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Lens mounting

    When mounting a lens flange in preparation for use you need to make sure there are no light leaks. Light can seep in through the lens flange and your images will be fogged. Here is a cheap and quick photo illustration of how I make sure my lenses fit nice and snug against the lens board.

    At your local hardware you can pick up sheets of rubber this one was $5.00. At Dale McFaddens they sell rubbers already cut to size, and you can take your lens and usually find the perfect fit. I used the rubber because the hardware store is down the street.

    You will need screws and nuts to hold the flange tightly to the board. Take your lens board and flange to your hardware store and buy the screw that will fit in the holes. You will also need to pre-dremel holes into the lens mount so you can easily fit the screws in place.

   Cut the rubber to size, dremel holes into the wood, and screw in the screws and apply the nuts and you are ready to go!

Since lenses are worth so much now a days it is best to make sure everything is on tight and securely. The rubber was only $5.00 and I can use it for two other lenses I have and the screws and nuts were only a $1.00.  Simple solution that will save you a headache in the future.

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Website 95% Complete!

  It has been a long week getting this website done. I just need to finish one more section for the Cases and then it will be 100% done. ENJOY

Home page

Portfolio

Calendar for 2013

Pricing

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Web Design Contact Information Update

     For the new year I wanted to have a brand new website to reflect  my work. I use the ViewBook template and it is very constricting. There is not much advanced editing one can do. I would change the server, but the price was not to bad and my contract is until 2014. I contacted several people in regards to doing design and branding, (just for fun). I am so thankful I am Illustrator savvy because they wanted thousands and thousands of dollars! Seriously I do not know how other people tolerate such high design cost. I am thankful my aesthetic is simple and does not involve FLASH. 

    None the less I have almost completed the re-design. I hope you enjoy!

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Schedule of Events for 2013!

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Union Thermoplastic Cases

Ninth case. Shown in brown and copper. Original case on right

It has been almost a year I have spent researching and troubleshooting the union thermoplastic cases from the 1860s-70s. In the beginning I attempted to make custom wooden boxes and wrap them in leather or material. Continuing with the preliminary research I knew those cases were boring compared to the elaborate cases originally produced during the Civil War. I also noticed there was a need or hunger for the cases to be reproduced at a reasonable price fitting new tintypes and old. 

    The early daguerreotype cases made of wood and embossed leather are very pretty, but I found the design not as bold as the thermoplastic cases. Ironically, the thermoplastic cases are sometimes worth more than the actual tintype that they protect. I set out collecting and purchasing thermoplastic cases and tested how I could reproduce them. Molds and casts and tweaking the resin formulas used I am finally able to produce a produce that is so similar to the original! The cases I have come to now produce are close to the original thermoplastic formula containing wood grain and resin. The only difference is my cases are cold cases and not heated and compressed. 

Sixth case show in brown and copper. Original on far right

    In addition to producing a wide array of case sizes from 1/9th cases to the very rate 1/2 case I produce the foils that go inside of the cases. I am till working on the molds for the foils in order to produce a variety of foils from oval to scalloped. 

    Each case will come with a glass cover, gold foil, (or brass), and embossed velvet pad and insert. In order to keep the authenticity of the original union case it is necessary to have an embossed pad. After a few months of experimenting with different materials I have found the perfect one to hold the embossed impression. This material also feels 100% identical to the one originally used. 

Half case showing in brown and copper. Original on far right

     I am very excited to be close to market with these cases and can not wait to take them with me to Yuma, Arizona where they will be premiered at their first event. I will also have cases ready to the Dickens Fest in Riverside during February. Cases should be on sale online for custom ordering at the beginning of 2013. Options will include what color velvet, what velvet embossing you would like, (also custom velvet embossing designs are available), and what color case you would like. 

Ninth case show in brown and copper. Original on far right.

   I have worked very hard to be able to offer a range of colored cases. Most cases historically were black or brown, bu there are a few very rare cases that were red, green, and tangerine. Custom cases can be made to order by clients and custom color schemes can be formulated.

   Can not wait to get all of these cases ready to go! 

Sixth case foil shown in gold.

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