Collodion - Wet Plate Images

[paulbarden]

5X7 Ambrotype shot with the Voigtlander Petzval lens, which came to me from the local Habitat For Humanity store! (via a friend)
The fringed Tulips were a gift from a friend who works for Green Gable Gardens in Philomath, OR.
I shot this on very old "Coffer's #7" Collodion for negatives (A year old), and developed it as a positive. It seems old collodion can still work very well. Exposure was 3 minutes, wide open (No waterhouse stops used)

[robertraymer]

First shot from a project I am starting consisting of wet plate portraits of Firefighters. Shot on a Burke and James 8x10 with 4x5 reducing back, Rodenstock Sironar-N 210mm at 5.6. Newly Mixed Old Workhorse collodion.

[Punker]

5X7 Ambrotype shot with the Voigtlander Petzval lens, which came to me from the local Habitat For Humanity store! (via a friend)
The fringed Tulips were a gift from a friend who works for Green Gable Gardens in Philomath, OR.
I shot this on very old "Coffer's #7" Collodion for negatives (A year old), and developed it as a positive. It seems old collodion can still work very well. Exposure was 3 minutes, wide open (No waterhouse stops used)

Wow. A year old and only 3 minutes exposure? That's impressive. Just like the shot itself!

[Punker]

Here's one from the weekend I'm happy with.
The lighting wasn't nearly as dramatic but the long-ish exposure (12 seconds) increased the bloom in the highlights.



Seneca Improved View 5x7
Osaka Wide Field 120mm f/6.3
New Guy collodion on black aluminum

[Punker]

First shot from a project I am starting consisting of wet plate portraits of Firefighters. Shot on a Burke and James 8x10 with 4x5 reducing back, Rodenstock Sironar-N 210mm at 5.6. Newly Mixed Old Workhorse collodion.

Very cool. Natural light?

[edgately]

Maternity session in the woods. 8 sec exposure Darlot Petzval 4x5" Tintype

[rariola77]

4x5 aluminum
pastel chalk

[robertraymer]

Very cool. Natural light?

No.

1 Speedotron 102 at 1200ws with 11" reflector about 10-15 degrees camera right (image left) for key and 1 Speedotron 102 at 800ws into a large silvered umbrella about 30 degrees camera left (image right). Key was feathered slightly to allow slight shadow on the right side of the subject's face.

[paulbarden]

Wow. A year old and only 3 minutes exposure? That's impressive. Just like the shot itself!

Thanks, Nick!
It is my experience that if you store your Collodion properly (cool and dark) then it last far longer than much of the literature suggests. John Coffer states in his manual - specifically about the #7 for Negatives - that it is useful for maybe 2 months at most, and my experience clearly defies that statement. And yes - I did varnish the plates I made that day using year-old #7, and the varnish did NOT dissolve the collodion. It is also my impression that older collodion has much better contrast as it ages, which can be a plus.

[paulbarden]

Here's one from the weekend I'm happy with.
The lighting wasn't nearly as dramatic but the long-ish exposure (12 seconds) increased the bloom in the highlights.



Seneca Improved View 5x7
Osaka Wide Field 120mm f/6.3
New Guy collodion on black aluminum

You are really hitting your stride these days, Nick. Nice work!