Wet Plate Collodion in the Digital Age

bit.ly/BHEventSpace
www.francescomastalia.com/
In this digital age of blazing fast cameras and instant photography, why would anyone want to take the longest route possible to take a photograph? Lets explore this 150-year-old process and unveil the magic of this beautiful and mysterious photographic technique.
Through the history of photography and leading up to the wet plate era, see why wet plate collodion became such an important photographic process. Take a step-by-step look into the technique and art of wet plate collodion, using antique brass lenses, and the benefits it holds over any other modern process.
Francesco will also show and discuss his latest documentary project titled "ORGANIC" Farmers & Chefs of the Hudson Valley. Driving over 14,000 miles with a large format wooden camera, portable darkroom, and an 1870 brass lens, Francesco photographed over 100 farmers & chefs using the wet plate collodion process. He will talk about working on a long-term project and doing working that has meaning.
This seminar is primarily focused on portraits.

[@BandH]

Glad you liked it. Thank you for watching

[@NickVenture1]

Thank you for your presentation. By the way I first looked at this video because the title made me think that there will be an explanation how to use digital image files in combination with the Collodion process.

[@brett1354]

We as human beings . . .we're stimulated through our senses and the more your senses are involved in something, the more you can connect with it." Which is precisely the point. Well done there . . .right up to the point where you break that connection by going digital, anyways.

[@MikeyColon]

This was great! I learned a lot from this instructor and very informative. Thanks!

[@ZombieRayzor]

This is my favourite vid! (So far) Keep 'em coming. 8-)

[@JWheeler331]

As a wet plate photographer myself, I enjoyed this video. I like hearing the stories of other people and the subjects. Nice plates also.

[@IainHC1]

Really enjoyed it :-) Thank you

[@farouklens]

Great presentation!

[@MrSmieglitz]

Francesco! Nice to hear your voice again. Great presentation. I'm struck by how similar our outlooks are regarding collodion and digital. (Although I might argue Nadir over the man Brady himself.) I've also embraced the whole-plate format and dark glass for the reasons you mention. I can see why we both ended up at Coffer's that weekend. Damn buttons! Your new book project looks interesting. Wishing much success to you with it. Hope to cross paths again soon at one of the Jamborees or elsewhere.

[@leFergid]

grand show

[@tangyorange6509]

The part where he talks about losing film hit me. Even though film is going well now, I don’t think we can say the same in 15 years.

[@alanthedrum]

Ah the smell of the darkroom and watching the picture emerge. Nostalgia.

[@richardd2063]

Really well presented, shame the vid looked like it was made in the darkroom, but very interesting, thanks! I do wet plate aswell, i have a 12" Cooke lens and i shoot 10" X 12" on Black plexi and Glass. Your pictures are wonderful.

[@michaeltobin1710]

Is the video camera used to shoot this video the same age as the wet plate camera?

[@JWheeler331]

I’d be interested in knowing where to find black glass. It’s the perfect medium but I can almost never find it.

[@CalvinBlackArt]

Just spray the back of the plate with black spray paint.

[@michaelvincent121]

This video was poorly lit, really... That's what you trolls got out of this. This was a very enjoyable video regardless.

[@huf67]

I bought my first camera when I was at a garage party. I saw this old camera sitting on a shelf and thought to my drunken self "I wonder what the photographers life was like that used this camera ? I wonder what the lives of the people he photographed were like ?".... And from that it was born.

[@Ric9hardify]

I bought my dark room equipment and supplies from B&H

[@rhoydotp]

very nice! can't wait for a plugin that can do this! LOL :D

[@NickVenture1]

You made this video in a dark room.

[@_H_2023]

I want the plate camera,you can keep the modern one :) Liked this thanks.

[@BillyGoatsPhotoscom]

wow I cant believe that B& H would let you create a video and not have the lighting set right . It is so dark in the video.

[@JasonRenoux]

Shame that nobody backstage realised the scene was not lit properly for us to see.

[@MrAlexgarciac]

B&H should bring some lights and common sense to video these lectures. the quality of the content is GREAT. the quality of the video could not be worse... if this reflects the quality of the gear they sell... I will stick to amazon. come on B&H!!!

[@MichaelWellman1955]

Don't you think you can achieve the same shallow DOF using LF wide open and using shifts and tilts?

[@BandH]

A wet plate camera is essentially a large format camera. While it is not using film, the size of the plate is usually similar in size to a large sheet of film (depending on the size of the camera). As such, yes, you can get a similar effect using a large format camera at or near a wide open aperture, and enhancing or choosing the area/plane of focus using tilts and shifts. I will state that the bokeh characteristic of the Petzval lens is rather unique, especially at large apertures and towards the edge of the frame, which may not be exactly reproduced from a more technically advanced lens.

[@peter2712]

38.32 please don't store lens in chemical cabinet.

[@photowizard100]

Where is the studio lighting? Too dark, most unprofessional.

[@jeffmyer5263]

No light!

[@AtlanticPicture]

This film vs digital argument is getting old... In the beginning of photography painters accused photography of ruining a visual art medium... So... Looking forward for the next presentation where a painter will compare wet plate/film to his/her brushes and canvases.. :)

[@davecasey9281]

Bh use your heads when making these great vids turn the lights on. Not rocket science.

[@TheSoulOfGenius]

LEWIS Daguerre. Cringe lol

[@jeff6660]

It's not about the process it's about the image. I you don't a personal identity or style to your work then all else is useless.

[@nickfanzo]

Digital photography is so sterile