Collodion - Wet Plate Images

[Rael]

Well, I certainly learned a lot from asking an innocent question! Thanks everyone, for your answers (so far!)

[ClintBrewer]

I am new to wet-plate and wanted to post a few portraits I did back around the new year. Still need to scan some of my more recent ones but thought I would post a few.

All of these are 4x5 ambrotypes. I haven't had much luck making good scans yet (another process to I need to practice) so these are all photos of the plates.

[brandon13]

Here is a recent 8x10 plate on aluminum. As per a rather interesting discussion I can honestly say on my computer screen (Mac) this scan (epson V700) looks very much the color and tonality of the actual plate. I made an 8x10 print (Epson R3000) for the model which I often do for local models to say thanks and it also looks true to the actual plate. I am not endorsing these products but they work for me. I only sell original plates at the gallery that represents me, but I don't think there is anything remotely wrong or distasteful in anyway of making prints for sale. I have purchased digital ink jet prints as well Platinum Palladium prints from digital negatives that were from wet plate positives and I display them at my house. I just choose to sell plates, but it is just a personal decision. Peace.

[goamules]

I shot this quarterplate yesterday. My scanner software is kaput, so I had to manually adjust the twain input. This is pretty close to the actual plate color, but not perfect. My old custom New Mexico mule saddle.

[Rael]

Here is a recent 8x10 plate on aluminum.

Beautiful! What camera and lens?

[brandon13]

Beautiful! What camera and lens?

Camera is unimportant as long as it has adequate movements IMO. This is my favorite 8x10 lens which is a Dallmeyer 3A 16 inch f4 petzval. I shoot it 75% of the time on 8x10 inch portraits.

[Rael]

Camera is unimportant as long as it has adequate movements IMO. This is my favorite 8x10 lens which is a Dallmeyer 3A 16 inch f4 petzval. I shoot it 75% of the time on 8x10 inch portraits.

Very arresting image. How was it illuminated?

[knuf]

one of the better plates from my 2nd session . lessons learned :

- how long to wait for collodion to settle before dipping it into silver
- too fast dipping and design of dipper causes swirly patterns on lower edge with streaks to the top
- striations / crepe lines solved by rocking the plate correctly

9x12 aluminium, LED lights, 1s @ f5.6, OWH, MD-4 (15-20s), fomafix, epson v500 scan

[AlexGard]

Here is a recent 8x10 plate on aluminum. As per a rather interesting discussion I can honestly say on my computer screen (Mac) this scan (epson V700) looks very much the color and tonality of the actual plate. I made an 8x10 print (Epson R3000) for the model which I often do for local models to say thanks and it also looks true to the actual plate. I am not endorsing these products but they work for me. I only sell original plates at the gallery that represents me, but I don't think there is anything remotely wrong or distasteful in anyway of making prints for sale. I have purchased digital ink jet prints as well Platinum Palladium prints from digital negatives that were from wet plate positives and I display them at my house. I just choose to sell plates, but it is just a personal decision. Peace.

Saw this when you posted it a while ago. An amazing portrait... her hair looks incredible. As far as the standard "front on" portrait goes... this is great.

[Svend]

My first plates, 4x5, from a Speed Graphic and plate holder by Jody Ake.