Category Archives: Uncategorized

The wet plate process, once mastered, is relatively quick. From start to finish, excluding washing time and varnishing of the plate, an image can be produced in just a few minutes. A life time compared to an electronically manufactured picture made with a cheap digital camera, but when the wet plate process first came outContinue reading “The City as subject”

In 1851 Fredrick Scott Archer was credited with inventing the wet plate collodian process. How many failed attempts before he succeeded? How excited when his first image appeared? I have made countless Ambrotype since the one pictured above, and each one is still thrilling to watch as it becomes visible. I keep this small AmbrotypeContinue reading “Geranium”

A quick little project at lunch. This is my new drying box, a light tight place where freshly poured plates will be placed to dry. A few sheets of foam board, some gaffers tape, and a small, battery powered fan thatI bought at Goodwill. The fan will circulate the air, it is set up inContinue reading “Drying box”

One of the joys of working in the field with my portable darkroom are the many opportunities that I have to explain the fascinating process of wet plate photography. Perhaps because of the willingness of the photographer on the Erie Canal towpath, read the About section, I feel an obligation to do the same. ThoughContinue reading “Creating an image”

Winter arrived in full force the day after Christmas, so my work in the field was put on hold.  I made good use of the time by organizing my little work space, going through inventory, and filing items in boxes, or the bin as needed. Always on the list of things to do is cleaningContinue reading “Winter Work”

This is the post excerpt.