I took two cameras up to North Creek, hoping for a quiet couple of days of hammock camping in the forest and making some tintypes along the creek. I arrived just in time, this location is within the Jefferson National Forest, and we're in the thick of deer season right now, so the campground was full of hunting camps.
I got one of the last spots, but it was perfectly suited for my needs: right beside the creek, and the weather was perfect. Crystal clear, cool early November morning. I brought my Eskimo tent and just wanted to get this beast up and running again to see where the flaws are in the process so I can work on fixing anything that was out of order. Thankfully, most everything worked fine! I need to get a floor for my Eskimo tent and patch the zipper around the door with some fabric to limit the light leakage, but other than that, I was pretty happy with my results.
I brought along my large Star 8x10 and my vintage Speed Graphic that was generously donated to me by my photographer friend, Carl Breitenger. I modified the film back to accept wet plate quarter plates fairly easily, and it takes great pictures!
I also brought along a vintage Brownie Box camera that I purchased at the suggestion of John Coffer, and I think I was most surprised and pleased with this one. Unfortunately, I didn't get any footage of it in use. I'll probably make a video about just this camera sometime soon.
The woods were quiet except for the occasional distant rifle shot echoing through the hills, a reminder that I had the forest mostly to myself while the hunters were deeper in.
Anyway, I had a great day, made some photos—nothing to get too excited about—but the point is, everything works, and I am ready for more work.
Enjoy.