Wet Collodion Umbria Photography Workshop in Città Di Castello

Wet Collodion Umbria, a photography workshop on wet plate collodion photography, run in Città di Castello, Tiber Valley, Umbria

1 day full-immersion

Wet Collodion Umbria Photography Workshop plan:
arrival within 9:30 am
lunch break
workshop ends at around 5 pm

Lesson in Italian and English (we can have mixed groups)
Level of the course: basic, workshop hands-on

Application deadline 1 week prior course beginning

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A wet collodion workshop about all what you need to know on wet plate collodion photography, run in Città di Castello, Tiber Valley, Umbria

With this alternative process photography experience you will learn all the secrets of taking photos with wet plate collodion. Every participant will end up with at least one finished plate photograph to take home.

Chemicals and materials are included in the course fee.

What is wet collodion process?

Wet-collodion process, also called collodion process, early photographic technique invented by Englishman Frederick Scott Archer in 1851. The process involved adding a soluble iodide to a solution of collodion (cellulose nitrate) and coating a glass plate with the mixture. In the darkroom the plate is immersed in a solution of silver nitrate to form silver iodide. The plate, still wet, is exposed in the camera. It is then developed by pouring a solution of pyrogallic acid over it and is fixed with a strong solution of sodium thiosulfate.

The wet collodion, in its two ambrotype and ferrotype variants, is certainly the technique that allowed the spread of black and white photography on a large scale. Developed towards the end of the 1800s, it allowed the creation of the first negatives on a glass plate (ambrotypes) which were initially printed in contact on salt paper, but also suitable for enlargement. The ferrotype technique instead gives rise to direct positives on metal plates.

In both cases it is a matter of creating two objects that belong to the first ancient printing techniques used in photography, that nowadays go under the category of photographic alternative processes. The photos of this wet collodion workshop will be taken using a large format view camera, with 4×5″ metal sheets.

What should you bring for this Collodion Workshop

We put all the materials and equipments needed. You should arrive with a notebook to take notes (there’s a long procedure to learn) and an apron to protect your vests. Alternatively you can arrive with some dress you don’t care about. Chemicals used in this workshop stain fabrics in a permanent way! Be prepared for this.

Program of the Wet Collodion Umbria Photography Workshop in Città di Castello

• The course lasts a whole day. Meeting at 9:30 am at the location.
• We will begin with a brief lesson on the history of collodion, the technique and we will see a series of collodion photographs.
• After that the hands-on course begins, we will prepare the necessary solutions, Collodion, Development and Fixing.
• We will organize a set and start taking our collodion photographs in the surroundings of the location, in outdoor. Collodion needs sunlight to operate properly, because it’s very slow. In case of bad weather conditions we will shoot in the studio with flash lights.
• At the end of the course, each participant will have acquired the necessary knowledge and technique to be able to continue shooting in collodion if he/she wanted to.