Wet Collodion Portraits -Centre for Photographic Conservation
WET COLLODION PORTRAITS FOR GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY SHOT IN MY STUDIO GARDEN
Ian and Angela have been working as photography conservators since 70’s. Wet collodion is one of Ian’s favorite photographic process, set of wet plates was shot according to Victorian method-with daylight, in my studio garden, commemorating their anniversary. Ian and Angela were seeking portraits that embrace the imperfections of wet collodion process.
THE PROCESS
Session took about 3.5h and plates were processed ‘on the spot’
It resulted in four wet collodion plates- two on transparent glass and two on the black painted 4mm glass, 18x24cm in size.
After the photoshoot plates had to be varnished for protection and varnish took a week to dry after which point they were ready to be handed over.
SALTED PAPER PRINTS
After seeing the plates Ian and Angela decided they would like prints made from the collodion plates and to keep it historically accurate we decided on salted paper process-developed by Henry Fox Talbot in 1841. Four prints were made and within two weeks handed over to Centre for Photographic Conservation, finding a new home in Ian and Angela’s collection.
Two plates on transparent glass were contact printed directly with light sensitive paper, using an original Victorian printing frame and sunlight.
Two plates on black glass were scanned and negatives on acetate were produced to create two more contact prints.
It started with picking the right paper from the process that is then coated with table salt, light sensitive silver and exposed to sun light. Processing takes place in the darkroom. Each print would take about 3h from start to finish. Prints were tonned in gold improving their preservation.
Ian and Angela with finished wet plates