marvey
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posted on August 4, 2003 07:32:29 AM new
I came across some fantastic glass negative slides that depict rural farm life circa 1900 - 1920. Depicted are horses with farm machinery, hunting, interior Victorian homes, children with pets etc. Each slide is approx 3 x 5.
I would love to have some of the pictures developed - is this even possible? Does anyone have any experience selling this type of item does it have any value? They are not signed and the dealer did not know where they were from. I think it was mostly one family because the same people are in the photos over and over.
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tomwiii
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posted on August 4, 2003 08:42:43 AM new
Are they big? Like 4X4?
Perchance... Magic Lantern slides ala "Fanny & Alexander"?
 Ralphie LOVES Bergman
Ralphie loves Mr Blonde:
"Are you gonna bark all day little doggie, or are you gonna bite?"
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[ edited by tomwiii on Aug 4, 2003 08:43 AM ]
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paloma91
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posted on August 4, 2003 08:46:20 AM new
I know there are some very nice specialty foto shops nearby but I am in the SF bay Area that do that kind of work and are very well known for it. That won't do you any good if you are not close by to me.. You may want to call around and see if you have such an establishment near you! Hope this helps.
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photosensitive
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posted on August 5, 2003 05:21:15 AM new
This thread did it! I have lurked for years and never posted but when I read about marvey's glass negatives I had to register and respond.
I was a college photography teacher for many years before reinventing myself as a graphic designer/web designer. I also collect all things photographic including glass negatives. There are several approaches to getting images of the negatives. By the way I am assuming they are negative images (light and dark reversed) although several of the approaches would work for negatives or positives. I will mention three with the last being the easiest and the one I recommend.
1. Most photo stores would not have a clue how to handle them but a few specialty shops, as paloma91 suggested might be able to do it. Contact prints (made by placing the negatives directly on the paper) are most likely the only option since not many photographers have enlargers that could take glass negatives unless they are 4X5 inches which is a modern standard. If no shops in your area can manage it you might call any local colleges with photography courses to ask if they can recommend a student with an interest in photo historical processes. While I was teaching I recommended students for several such projects.
2. You or a local photo shop could back light the negatives on a light box and make digital or film copies that can be printed. This would work for both positives and negatives.
3. BEST option in my opinion and the way I print glass negatives and positives in my collection. Scan them on a flatbed scanner with a transparency unit in the cover. We use an Epson Perfection 2450 Photo although any scanner with a transparency option will do. If you scanner does not have this feature you may be able to locate a friend with one or even get an optional lid for your scanner that will allow you to scan transparencies. If they are negatives then any good graphics program can reverse them. Adobe Photoshop Elements is excellent and you can get it with many scanners and digital cameras or download a trial version.
The third approach is the one I recommend because older negatives can be a challenge and do not always print well on modern paper. The scanned image can be manipulated and printed in any size.
A collection like this is a real treasure. Good luck in finding a successful approach to making prints.
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AuctionAce
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posted on August 5, 2003 08:33:30 AM new
Playing the role of the Devil's Advocate here a bit, but what if the poster lays out a lot of money and time on the printing out the items and then finds the plates and/or images are only worth a small amount on ebay? Aren't they a bit like postcards, you need a buyer interesting in those particular images? There is at least some gamble to investing in the printing project.
-------------- sig file -----------Growing older is mandatory. Growing up is optional. .
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paloma91
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posted on August 5, 2003 08:40:41 AM new
I have lots of old negatives in all the stuff I inherited. LOTS. Not made of glass though. I have shipping schooners in SF bay. Ladies in bustle dresses etc. I called around and found the few specialty stores and checked them out. Talked to them. I picked one It was great. It really didnt cost that much to have a few fotos made up. They even did a few extra for me and fooled around with color on them and didnt charge me because it was so unique.
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fenix03
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posted on August 5, 2003 08:56:46 AM new
Photo - I am kind of old school when it comes to digitizing images and am used to having to have transparencies drum scanned. I have looked at a oupl of the flat bed scanners with transparecy capabilities and they definately interest me (especially since a drum scan usually starts in the $20 range) but was wondering about the quality. Do you have much experience with drum scanned images and if so, how would you compare them with what you are getting from your Epson?
Ace - if the poster had the images scanned, they would not need to actually have them printed out until the auction was successfully completed. You simply do a little research as to how much it will cost to turn your digitial image into a print, set an appropriate reserve and wait and see.
Truth be told, the resale value is in the negative itself. Unless the subject of the photo is unique or of historical value a modern print of it will not carry a great deal of value.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really Common Sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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photosensitive
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posted on August 5, 2003 05:03:36 PM new
AuctionAce___I was responded to the request for information on printing the negatives. The question of the potential sale vs the cost of prints is another matter. Without seeing them I can not make that decision. Based on her description of the subject matter some of them might well be of interest and collectors. In order to offer them on eBay at least a few of the most interesting negatives will need to be shown as positives and my advice on scanning is the logical way to go.
fenix03____We have been very pleased with the quality of the scans from the Epson. We had been having 4X5 Ektachrome transparencies scanned at a local professional lab (not drum scans but their "professional" quality) and supplied on CD ROM. This was getting quite expensive. At an archival digital printing workshop my husband made some scans of the same transparencies on their Epson 2450 which side by side with the "professional" scan were visibly better. They made great 20X24 prints and I am sure could have gone bigger. For wall-sized murals I think the drum scan would be needed but we are happy with the Epson for our purpose.
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fenix03
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posted on August 5, 2003 05:43:19 PM new
Photo - thank you : ) It' about time to trade my old Epson Perfection in for a real model (it was a quickie fix when my beloved Agfa finally gave up the fight). SInce I have about 60 transparencies I need to get scanned sometime soon it sounds like I should look at one with transparecy abilities. Saves me a few hundred dollars. I definately thank you!
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really Common Sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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