Akershus Festning Calotype II

This is part of the fortress and castle in Oslo. From near this view, you can see at least 5 different styles of stonework, from different times when the fortress was added to or repaired. I have another calotype that might show it. Turning the other way, you look out over Oslofjord and the waterfront. It is a wonderful place. I returned to this spot 4 different times during our stay in Oslo, charmed each time by the view and the gate, wall and apple tree.

This did not come out as I hoped, but it illustrates something about "actinic focus" so I am posting it anyway. I wrote a lot about actinic focus with the inverted copy. This calotype has convinced me that it matters very much.

When I realized I'd made a mistake, I came back the next day and tried again. The conditions were not as good ( it was windy and the sunlight failed ) but I think that one will still make a nice print.

Trutat variant of a Pélegry calotype.
5x7 Eastman No. 1, Replica of Wollaston meniscus
4PM overcast but bright diffuse sunlight.
LV ~13, f/5.6, 12 minutes
forgot to correct for actinic focus

Development:
28 August
Image is faintly visible at start.
200ml of 0.7% gallic acid, added 2 drops of 12% citric acid and 4 drops of 24% silver nitrate.

Seemed to come up slowly at first, even though a faint image was visible. That has happened with every one of these. Perhaps the tannic acid preservative needs to be washed off before the development really starts, which makes them seem to start slowly. It was obviously developing after 5 minutes.

Stopped at 35 minutes. I waited until I could not perceive the difference between the levels of lighter and darker stonework on the far castle wall by reflected light ( still easy to see the difference by transmitted light ) and there was detail in the shrubbery.