townse5's photostream

Wet plate collodion is one of the the first photographic processes. It requires the photographer to sensitize, photograph and process the image all while the collodion substrate is wet. During the late 1800s wet plate photographers had to design and build the majority of their own equipment - the same is true today. After 4 months of acquiring chemicals, building a darkbox (portable darkroom), crafting a wet plate camera back and restoring a +100 year old camera here is my first image.

Thoughts? Well, my technique needs some serious work but I'm amazed the chemistry and exposure were dead on first shot. The collodion lifted from the glass (not an entirely bad looking effect) - something easily rectified by intense glass cleaning. Also, there is a yellow colour cast in the middle of the image, this I suspect is either from pulling the image from the fix too early or inadequately filtered silver nitrate (sensitizing) solution.

Why my GTI? Well, it was what was in front of the garage I was working in.

In the coming weeks I plan on testing out the process' aesthetic strength - portraiture.