The legendary Russian collodion sorcerer, Sergei Romanov' describes wet plate as, ‘a strange and wondrous photographic process, which truly appears wondrous only now, after its usefulness has long since been superseded’. The wet-plate collodion process was the dominant photography process from the 1850s to the 1880s. Frederick Scott Archer has been credited with the invention of the process, which he created in 1848 and published in 1851.
It is the process of coating an aluminium plate (tintype) or a glass plate (ambrotype) in a light sensitive material (collodion - a cocktail of ether and alcohol), and then exposing it in order to create a photograph. It was all the rage back in the mid 1800’s. Interestingly the word Ambrotype is translated in Ancient Greek as "Immortal Impression", and whereas most photographers today rely heavily on photoshop or light room, in comparison, wet plate photographers rely on chemistry from the late 19th Century, a bit of collodion magic and, as Sally Mann describes, the angel of chance.
In short, wet plate photographers make a film base on a piece of glass or metal using collodion, then submerge this glass or metal plate in a silver nitrate solution to make it light sensitive, and then exposes the photograph usually in an old style wood bellows camera box resembling something Tom Waits would play and old brass lens with a curved piece of glass from the 19th century.
The process is called wet plate because during the entire process the chemicals on the plates must remain wet and cannot be allowed to dry. The end result is a one-of-a-kind piece of art, rendered in silver, that will last a lifetime or three.
“A lot of work you say? Absolutely, this process isn’t for people who desire the comfort of a Herman Miller chair and Adobe Photoshop, the physical work is part of what makes it special.”
― Quinn Jacobson, Chemical Pictures The Wet Plate Collodion Photography Book: How to Make Ambrotypes and Tintypes
Victorian Polaroids: 4x5 Tintypes
Portraits in Silver : Victorian Polaroids
Cost:
£395.00 for 3 4x5 tintype or ambrotype plates.
£595.00 for 3 8x10 tintype or ambrotype plates
Lawton Girls
“In a world where immediacy seems to be valued so highly, it was refreshing and magical to be part of an experience where time, process and patience were key in creating individual and unique wet plate portraits of my two girls. Something to treasure.”
- Louise Lawton
Half day or full day wet plate experience (Morning, afternoon or evening)
Bespoke costings for half and full days
Selection of plates/sizes, is unrestricted for this offer.
Martine
“Losing my hair was devastating. Alopecia makes you feel broken and unfeminine; it chips away at your identity until you no longer see yourself.
Paul is a highly skilled wet plate photographer - that’s clear to see - but he has captured so much more than a face in these images. The strong, beautiful woman you see is someone I had forgotten existed.
Thank you, Paul.”
-Martine Ellis
Jayne
“Doing this shoot was so liberating to be able to show my darker side and paul made it so natural and comfortable he's amazing thankyou so much.”
Jayne Joseph
Anne
“I have had the pleasure of sitting for two wet-plate sessions with the wonderful Paul Chambers. Seeing the level of care and dedication poured into the production of a single plate by Paul is truly mesmerising. Coming into the studio and sitting for the photo feels like being transported back in time to a slower and more magical world. Having a photo taken in this unique manner with someone as technically skilled and kind as Paul is a rare opportunity. I would recommend this experience to anyone.”
- Anne
Fire
”My experience with Paul was so so grounding. He is so good at creating a space where you can be truly authentic and unapologetically yourself, all while creating art that is so complex, and executes it beautifully. I’d recommend him in a heartbeat.”
- Fire
1851 Caresses and Collides with the 21st Century
Alchemy
“When I was shooting with Collodion, I wasn't just snapping a picture. I was fashioning, with fetishistic ceremony, an object whose ragged black edges gave it the appearance of having been torn from time itself.”
- Sally Mann
