Please share your 4x5" photos!

[roboflick]

Beautiful!

My very first wet plate collodion ambrotype 4x5. Struggling a lot with the process (peeling, streaks, and the like), but I guess that's the point. It's not digital, and it's tough, which is a good thing.

Anyway, lots to learn, and this process will only get better, I'm sure. Gotta walk first, so here it goes...

 

[graywolf]

My very first wet plate collodion ambrotype 4x5. Struggling a lot with the process (peeling, streaks, and the like), but I guess that's the point. It's not digital, and it's tough, which is a good thing.

Anyway, lots to learn, and this process will only get better, I'm sure. Gotta walk first, so here it goes...

So cool! And people now think 35mm is retro.

 

[ssmc]

My very first wet plate collodion ambrotype 4x5. Struggling a lot with the process (peeling, streaks, and the like), but I guess that's the point. It's not digital, and it's tough, which is a good thing.

Anyway, lots to learn, and this process will only get better, I'm sure. Gotta walk first, so here it goes...

Extremely cool! The "defects" give this image a surreal, dreamlike look. I wish I had the motivation/knowledge/skill/[insert missing attribute] to try stuff like this.

Well done!

 

[jordan.dickinson]

Thanks everyone.

To be honest, my skills are very very limited as I'm just learning the ins and outs of this process. It took me about 4 months to get myself going. Equipment, chemicals, glass, and other materials made it a very slow process. Yesterday was the final push to mix chemicals and get shooting.

Anyway, I am still very very green on this whole thing, so I am just going to keep on pushing through the bad plates and disappointing results. However, I find that wet plate offers a look that is unmatched in other mediums. It seems the defects become part of the image, and with that I am truly excited and happy to step aside from digital, at least for a little while.

Thanks again everyone, I really appreciate the encouragement!

 

[Dave Jarosz]

Waterfalls

Waterfalls

Shot this in the mid 80's when I was just starting on my path to become a professional photographer. With all the hype of digital, I still feel there is nothing like the wet darkroom experience. Toyo View, 210 Schneider lens, Plus X film.

[/IMG]

 

[jordan.dickinson]

My most recent wet plate collodion plates, this time on aluminum, which is already blacked out, and a much cheaper solution than black glass (next on my list). Anyway, as I get "better" with this, exposure is getting more even, but I still need to figure out my scanning techniques as the dust is unreal!!!


ambrotype #4 - rolleiflex 2.8f by slantface, on Flickr

 

[jordan.dickinson]

More wet plate photos...


wet-plate-flower-4 by slantface, on Flickr


wet-plate-flower-2 by slantface, on Flickr


wet-plate-flower-2 by slantface, on Flickr

 

[JoeV]

Nice plates. What fixer are you using, KCN or conventional thiosulfate?

-Joe

 

[jordan.dickinson]

Hi Joe. Just using the conventional, less toxic fixer at the moment. I figure while still learning the process, I'll take all precautions until I get a better handle on the chemicals/procedures. This first set of chemicals will be, more or less, a test run, and will hopefully be able to work out all the bugs before going larger to my 8x10 camera.

Any advice or suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Thanks

 

[jordan.dickinson]

wet plate - blair by slantface, on Flickr

 

[okcomputer]

This is with a Shen Hao 4x5. Just looking through some old negatives and decided it's time to get a 4x5 camera again!

 

[jordan.dickinson]

Im using a Shen Hao 4x5 too, and quite like it. It's not the most expensive piece out there, but it really does the job well.

 

[Katie]

wet plate - blair by slantface, on Flickr

This is amazing!!

 

[jordan.dickinson]

Thanks Katie. Still figuring it all out, but I'm getting there...

 

[Jack Conrad]

My very first wet plate collodion ambrotype 4x5. Struggling a lot with the process (peeling, streaks, and the like), but I guess that's the point. It's not digital, and it's tough, which is a good thing.

Anyway, lots to learn, and this process will only get better, I'm sure. Gotta walk first, so here it goes...

Just wonderful.

 

[maddoc]

Albeit I am chemist (and should know about the process ....) I can`t give any advice (due to lack of knowledge) but find your work very good and inspiring. Looking forward seeing more !! 🙂

Hi Joe. Just using the conventional, less toxic fixer at the moment. I figure while still learning the process, I'll take all precautions until I get a better handle on the chemicals/procedures. This first set of chemicals will be, more or less, a test run, and will hopefully be able to work out all the bugs before going larger to my 8x10 camera.

Any advice or suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Thanks

 

[froyd]

Man, I really have to try harder to ignore this thread 😛

Slantface, those are magnificent!

 

[DonaldJ.]

To slantface, where do you get your chemicals and everything? if possible could you PM me about it. I have been wanting to get into wet plate.

 

[thomob]

wet plate - blair by slantface, on Flickr

BAM! Thats a great portrait!

 

[jordan.dickinson]

thanks everyone. Much appreciated through this tough transition into this new and difficult process.

Also, I cleaned up the dust on that other image (ambrotype #1) and replaced it on Flickr, so links are all screwed up...