Collodion - Wet Plate Images

[cbk]

Ok. Thanks. That was my next question... you paint over the varnish obviously? What paints do you use? I'd love to at least give this a shot but my nerves are bunk and hands are terribly shaky so probably futile

yes I paint just over the varnish. I tried to paint raw silver image but no luck

[nede]

Ambre
13x18cm collodion on aluminium
could'nt play for more than a plate with her...I only want to shoot fashion backstage now

[koraks]

Excellent image, gorgeous tones! You must have mastered the wet plate process to get results like these.

[nede]

thank you Koraks! all was working pretty well this day...

[nede]

yesterday we play "hide" with clouds...
Melanie, a very nice person and good photographer
20x25 ambrotype (ajusting curve to fit the plate on my screen)

[AlexGard]

Ambre
13x18cm collodion on aluminium
could'nt play for more than a plate with her...I only want to shoot fashion backstage now

Damn good exposure/development! No blown out highlights and detail all over. Nice work.

[nede]

thank you Alex!

[Thebes]

yes I paint just over the varnish. I tried to paint raw silver image but no luck

Wonderful information and truly beautiful work!
What kinds of paints do you use? I'd guess oils?
Are you able to achieve a durable enough surface that the final work does not require the protection of a front glass?

[cbk]

Are you able to achieve a durable enough surface that the final work does not require the protection of a front glass?

I varnish it again, but wit glossy acryl varnish, as fresh sandarac (alcohol) varnish dissolves the paints

[Tim Meisburger]

We had a wet plate day at my house yesterday, shooting card de visite to 8x10. Here are most of the attendees (10 photographers and still cannot get the framing right), shot on 5x7 plastic with a Universal Heliar at f/8 for 32 seconds. Nico Sepe is stoneface. I'm the guy with the side to side wobble (either too much beer, or I am generally unstable). Basil Tahan (a member here) is the other remarkably stable guy in the back.