46. Update

I am still obsessed with this oak tree that sits outside the building I work in (see blog post #40: Basics.) Every morning there is more construction activity at its fragile and tentative base. But at the same time, spring has sprung and it seems like the tree is surviving. This may sound ridiculous, but I am starting to sympathize with the tree. Working in education is a struggle right now. It seems so hard... every day I argue, beg, plead, plan, and finagle to get what my program and the students need. I never feel successful, but time marches on and some how we make it through, but I don't feel strong or secure, just beat.

I teach the history of photography and it is helpful to have physical examples of the early photographic processes to share with students. I bought some daguerreotypes a few years back, but because the salted paper based calotypes fade so easily, they are much harder to come by. Many years ago, a student and I decided to make a calotype and had moderate success. It was of this oak tree. With the current increased construction, I feel even more pressure to try document it. So along with all my iPhone snap shots of the tree, a colleague and I decided to reapproach capturing it with the calotype process. Yesterday, after a couple hours of research, mixing chemistry, and hand coating several layers of light sensitive silver nitrate on paper, we ran out of time and light to make an exposure. The last attempt several years ago was a four hour exposure. Tomorrow, we will attempt another calotype exposure... wish us luck. If we are successful you will certainly see the results here.