Wet plate collodion portraits (Analog)
Portraits taken using wet plate collodion on aluminium plates.
Portraits taken using wet plate collodion on aluminium plates.
An fairly old photographic process, the wet plate collodion process was invented during the 1850's by Frederick Scott Archer, and is done by first coating a plate of glass or aluminium with a sirupy liquid called collodion, which is then subjected to a bath in a Silver nitrate-solution to make it light sensitive. A photograph is then captured onto the plate, which has an equivalent ISO-sensitivity of 0,3-0,7 (less than ISO 1).
This creates an unique look, due to the collodion being only sensitive to blue and UV light.
Aesthetically, I think it creates extremely honest portrais, peering into the subject's true self.
The plates are also tack sharp, and gives you the ability to create absolutely huge prints (after being scanned) with no loss of sharpness.
All photos are captured on a 4x5 aluminium plate using a large format camera (but you can do this with any camera that allows you to put a plate in it) and A LOT of light/flash.
More on this process at the bottom.
This creates an unique look, due to the collodion being only sensitive to blue and UV light.
Aesthetically, I think it creates extremely honest portrais, peering into the subject's true self.
The plates are also tack sharp, and gives you the ability to create absolutely huge prints (after being scanned) with no loss of sharpness.
All photos are captured on a 4x5 aluminium plate using a large format camera (but you can do this with any camera that allows you to put a plate in it) and A LOT of light/flash.
More on this process at the bottom.
Myself. Focusing and pushing the shutter release courtesy of photographer Øystein Grønvold.
Newly added (19.01.2014):
