Wet Plate Collodion Process on a budget (300 EUR camera and chemistry included)

[@kirkvo]

I made my first tintype today! It wasn’t great but I made an image. My heart was pounding the entire time. Now I get to practice and learn. Thanks for all the info you provide. It gave me the confidence to try wet plate! I’m hooked

[@marie-jeannefethiere3111]

So happy to have come across this, after a couple workshops on colloidal wet plate and lighting, I’ve been struggling to start practicing without having to spend $500 for another workshop…who has that kind of $ 🤷🏾‍♀️? For the 1st time I’m feeling the confidence to get my gear and start shooting…many thx and hugs

[@avroml]

Sir, I salute you! Your channel is a hidden gem! I'm thrilled to have found it in the depths of KZbin!

[@hayleyj9656]

Thank you. This is such a great overview. I feel you have given enough wisdom to negotiate this amazing process. This video is a treasure trove.

[@LinasJu]

Really informative video from PRO and sooo entertaining. Man, at the end-ish of video I glanced at subscribers and "yeah, well done 11M! with photography! Under what rock I was all the time" I thought to my self ..Then looked with a good eye. But was not surprised about you just about subject, your charisma deserves 11M subs. +1 for sure.

[@Arturo.H.M]

Great explanation. I like so much how you talk and explain, with passion and like an old friend.

[@apomnikow]

Love this episode! Thanks so much for sharing. Can’t wait till the next one.

[@youarenotaghost3702]

Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful method.

[@kirkvo]

I'm itching to try this with a Polaroid 110B. All of your videos great but this one is top notch. It shows that the technique is in reach for most people.

[@BorutPeterlinPhotography]

I have also one old 4x5"polaroid. Yes, knowledge is all we need then the ideas will find a way into artwork.

[@brianrae1624]

I also recommend to anyone looking to get into this process to check craigslist "free" section for some of these components like trays and safe lights. I got a Kodak safe light with filters, also two other safe lights, and the same one in this video also for free plus many many chemical trays, expired paper, film developing tanks, several enlargers including two that can enlarge 4x5 ... people don't know that these things are still valuable to some people and they are throwing it away for nothing.

[@mariefrench2809]

Fantastic vlog! Thank you for sharing!

[@rjs54jr]

I like your attitude. Thank you.

[@emburaman]

Man, you're just a lot of fun to watch... Great stuff!

[@bodudas8346]

Dude man, you live next to the railroad tracks !!!! that is an automatic Cool dude king designation. --- I was attracted to your site after buying a Kodak No. 3 Model A and looking for help. what I found was those amazing Colloidion photos you took.

[@burnhamny]

You're making a very good case for the Kodak 3A - very nice

[@23salamandra]

Amazing!

[@Jim-BobWalton]

Beautiful images. A just time captured! How long did the portrait of the children take? It looks like a short exposure time as they’re sharp (little movement). Do you have an approximate ISO sensitivity for the emulsion?

[@BorutPeterlinPhotography]

Usually expousure is about 6 seconds. Thank you

[@navneetshivalkar5442]

Thank you so much, you the first to give the process cost break down for this process.. could you tell me how many images can you expect from one batch of chemicals.

[@BorutPeterlinPhotography]

About 40

[@navneetshivalkar5442]

Borut Peterlin Thank You ,,

[@johnmartin8526]

Awesome !

[@peterlukac8458]

Great video, very informative.

[@majki3144]

My favorite topshit KZbinr.

[@waynegriffiths5143]

I’m absolutely blown away by the quality, that massive print was awesome!

[@calvinf9218]

You can synthesize your own silver nitrate using HCl and KNO3 look at NurdRage video showing how to do this

[@BorutPeterlinPhotography]

Hm... Where does silver comes from? I'll check the video. Thx.

[@calvinf9218]

@@BorutPeterlinPhotography hah, of course i forgit to include that 🤦‍♂️. The silver comes from pure source that is included in the reaction. It would be cool if you could make a vlog where you try to synthesize your own AgNO3 to see how well it works compared to pure AgNO3 that yoh purchased

[@ejmphoto]

Thank you for this! By the way, HOW did you make that LARGE print??????

[@silviapares2606]

That's helping me so much! Thanks for sharing ^^

[@khesyamaraon478]

His humor is

[@wouts7404]

Appareil photo Kodak N°2A Folding Pocket Brownie Is that the small version of that camera?

[@dennisleavell3580]

Did you have to do any modification to the Kodak 3A? Or do you just cut the glass plate to fit inside space already there? It looks like there isn't much room between where the plate would go and the back panel.

[@BorutPeterlinPhotography]

Barely enough for 2mm glass plate. I pushed the doors a bit, but it works. Nothing was modified.

[@ingridchristie9909]

Great video. I've been wanting to try this for many years now. The man who invented this process is my great, great, great uncle on my grandfather's side - Frederick Scott Archer. I'm going to give this a go and have looked at brownies for sale. Did you have to convert yours to take the plates or was it ready to go? I don't want to buy the wrong one obviously. A few years ago I visited the photographic library in New York to look at some of Frederick Scott Archer's collodion photographs. Your advice on the brownie would be very much appreciated. Thanks. Your work looks fabulous.

[@BorutPeterlinPhotography]

Oh, that is an awesome information about your ancestry. No, the Brownie can fit 2mm glass plates or even better tintype plates. The only thing you need to do is to tape the hole on the back of the camera. And do have in mind that with 2mm glass plates the Brownie closes very tightly and it doesn't close totally, but it is light tight. Good luck

[@RobertSmith-bx5lt]

Congrats. I love your work. Unfortunately it will be very difficult to do this in Portugal. A few years ago I had to run half country to find a place that could sell me kalium bromate, because I wanted to make an experience with my printing. It is hard to find a store that sell photo chemestry at this days (and I live in one of the major cities), and I tried to make my own chemestry at home. I had to quit, because it's impossible to find all the stuff needed. But it's very nice to watch your videos and tutorials. Keep on the good work.

[@BorutPeterlinPhotography]

In Portugal there is the best wet plate collodion atelier on the planet! I know that for sure Casa-Estúdio Carlos Relvas.

[@RobertSmith-bx5lt]

Hi, Borut. Yes, Carlos Relvas was one of the biggest photographers in the early years of Photography in Portugal. Unfortunatelly, the house is a museum and no more prints are done. But we can enjoy beautiful works from Carlos Relvas. Keep on with your vlogs. Are you gonna put a new print on ebay soon?

[@Foche_T._Schitt]

Current Price in US I found. Silver Nitrate, ACS, 99.9+%, 1 lb (.453kg) $333 USD

[@BorutPeterlinPhotography]

Yes, you can find these prices also in EU, but look further, ask a drugstore, ask a friend who works with chemistry, you'll find the normal price eventually.

[@BorutPeterlinPhotography]

Check Alibaba, It's about 500€ per kg.

[@argentum_on_glass]

@@BorutPeterlinPhotography i was on alibaba,... but will i find 99.9% ... most of it is technical... how important is this...?

[@BorutPeterlinPhotography]

@@argentum_on_glass it's perfect.

[@daved2082]

I watch these videos and they clean the heck out of the glass. I work with float glass at work and use a large industrial glass cleaner. Float glass has a Tin side and an air side. In production, molten glass is poured onto molten tin like a river where it flattens out smooth without wrinkles and to a uniform thickness. The Tin side leaves a haze that can be seen using a UV light. I'm curious if the tin side or air side produces better results?

[@BorutPeterlinPhotography]

I haven't seen any difference, except the adhesive property, that should be neglectable.

[@sashakolodin]

dude you are awesome

[@polamation]

Great video!

[@johnnykaldani633]

By what process did you use to make such a huge enlargement of a glass negative? What were the materials and tools involved?

[@BorutPeterlinPhotography]

Silver-gelatin paper. Classic black&white darkroom photography. In my vlog series we will get there too. !-)

[@someblokecalleddave1]

@@BorutPeterlinPhotography 10" x 8" enlarger or 1/2 plate? I tried to get a look at the one in the darkroom there, but I don't recognise it, I'll have to check out your blog, great video though!

[@rikki139]

Thanks, it's great.

[@micheledesantis5762]

I was just wondering how did you make a silver gelatin prin from a glass negative? Did you adapt an enlarger to be fitted with a glass negative?

[@rickshaw84]

I AM WONDERING THIS TOO! my guess is to replace the lens on the large format camera with a bulb and use it in reverse?????!!!

[@nathanvessels2323]

do you need a plate holder with the brownie? or do you just put the plate directly in the camera? I've never used one

[@BorutPeterlinPhotography]

In the camera. It's not the easiest way to do it, but it's fun way of doing it

[@nathanvessels2323]

@@BorutPeterlinPhotography sweet! Thanks great video btw. What size plates did you end up using?

[@KCAPELGAE]

Great video, thanks! I recently got a Kodak Jiffy Six-16 and have been wondering what to do with it, I believe you just gave me the answer just have to give it tripod threads first.

[@gianlucafaletti1287]

Hi, the big BW print that is visible from 6:53 of your video is obtained with a negative wet collodion and a 4x5" enlarger ? What kind of wet collodion process do you use ? To expose the glass in the Brownie 3A folding camera (if I found it to a good price), what are the dimension (also the thickness) of the glass plate that you use ? The problem of the wet collodion is that is necessary shot picture near where you prepare the plate, or it's necessary a portable darkroom (!?). Until now I never try it for this reason. I would like to try..... Thank you for your help. Gianluca

[@BorutPeterlinPhotography]

the format of the plate is 10x15cm, so you need 5x7" enlarger. The thickness is 2mm and it hardly closes. You must force it. All the rest you will find out later. I recommend taking a workshop.

[@cristianebregge8004]

Amazing.

[@baudworxitsolution9677]

hi borut i was watching your video my question is with all that stuff you have how does those chemicals reacts ontemperature as you said some are explosive?

[@draganbojovic4509]

Hi Friend, What is the impact when taking pictures with that high f stop on resolution when you enlarge that big. Regards, Dragan

[@omnesilere]

Diffraction is basically a moot point when using large format. 6x9 is close to a 4x5, the quality of the lens is going to be much more of a factor.

[@Pixelwaster]

There goes the price of the 3A on ebay....

[@joshtippett8236]

would love to see a video on enlarging these ambrotype negatives

[@BorutPeterlinPhotography]

Great idea! But I'll make a big print, a comparison between 4x5" film negative vs. 4x5" collodion negative.

[@joshtippett8236]

@@BorutPeterlinPhotography love it! can't wait!

[@terrywbreedlove]

Great blog

[@victor.marchenko]

true art and craft! dont understand why spray and pray photo vlogers get so much more views.

[@sosparanormal3120]

How do you load the plate into the camera?

[@fotolookconde]

Thanks for the video! I am trying alternative processes and uploading videos on my KZbin channel dedicated to film photography!

[@fabianrose3688]

Who turned away at 5:35?

[@omeshsingh8091]

6:40 WOW!

[@ashfitzgerald3499]

isnt that print 100x enlarged? cus 10 times in 2 dimensions so 10^2?

[@BorutPeterlinPhotography]

Yes, I believe you're right.

[@juliadruelle3675]

Zdravo Borut ! Thanks a lot for this video! I'd like to start wet plate photography and this reinsured me a lot. I have a question though : can I expect to take portraits with the Kodak foldable brownie? Is it possible with this f4 (or f11 then) to reduce the exposure time to a time more suitable for portraiture? If not, which camera and lighting set would you advise for portraiture? Are there lighting solutions for such a practice that don't cost 1000+€? Thank you! Julia

[@BorutPeterlinPhotography]

Well, portraits will take 20+ seconds in the shadow of a daylight. My best portrait with this camera is my profile image, holding a dog. That was done on a bright sunny day in a shadow, 6 seconds. So start with daylight.

[@TerrySunify]

Awesome, please do a similar video on carbon printing. :)

[@oskarwrona8177]

Did you need to modify the camera to use the glass? I see that oryginaly is meant for film.

[@BorutPeterlinPhotography]

No, or actually just slightly. Use glass 2mm or less.

[@tamassanta6819]

Hello friend, I just got a question, regards I know the salt printing process is a contact technique, is it possible to enlarge negatives on the paper?

[@BorutPeterlinPhotography]

In the 19th Century they were using solar enlarger, catching and redirecting sunlight so they were enlarging collodion negatives, but only up to half of needed density. Second half of the density was hand drawn or retouched. So to answer your question, it's possible, but not very likely

[@sebastienchateauvieux7149]

very interresting.... Working in a lab, for me, most of the products are easy to find... but... is it easy to convert a old camera to a collodion system...? for the moment I have a RZ67 and a C330...

[@BorutPeterlinPhotography]

Yes, polaroid back is your answer. C330 is my favourite camera, don't destroy it with AgNO3 :-(

[@sebastienchateauvieux7149]

ok... I will try with my RZ67 ans my polaroid back....and keep the C330 I need to cut glass plat...

[@thelivingmanpart2]

where do you buy the chemistry?

[@sinbindinchin]

It's impossible to buy chemistry of any kind anywhere in the world, chemicals however you can buy, chemistry is what happens when you use the chemicals.. Are you in the EU? There's a website but I can't remember what it is right now.

[@BorutPeterlinPhotography]

Collodion and ether I buy in pharmacy store, I do have to sign a document and prove my identity, because it's dangerous stuff, the rest I buy on Ebay. Developer FeSO4 I buy in agro store.

[@am-bushgaming4811]

@@BorutPeterlinPhotography do you make it? There was a vido posted by NilesRed where he made silver nitrate, main problem being its Nitric acid which is not fun stuff

[@Stop4MotionMakr]

"Inkjet is not photograph" - no truer things have been said since.

[@jotaserna944]

Apenas superemos la pandemia, me procuraré los materiales. Bendiciones y un gran abrazo

[@teresashinkansen9402]

Is it possible to use some other bromide? Cadmium bromide is quite nasty and a PITA to dispose anything with it were I live.

[@BorutPeterlinPhotography]

Sure, potassium bromide or Lithium Bromide is an alternative. Best is Cadmium Bromide by my opinon, but as a starter, potassium bromide is recommended.

[@teresashinkansen9402]

@@BorutPeterlinPhotography Oh that's great! Thanks for the answer, this video is quite inspiring to go out and try this old process. Best regards.

[@andrejesus474]

but where do you buy the wet plates though ?

[@BorutPeterlinPhotography]

You buy ingredients. There are few wet plate suppliers. Take a workshop before you start. It'll save you time and money

[@Fracazio9484]

Hi Borut, Just to understand if is a forgetfulness or not: Do you diluite collodion only with alcohol? no Ether? could we know how much for each components, In the video you talk about 8 gr ov bromide, 10 of iodyde ... but nothin about how much plain collodion, alcohol and if ... how much ether. Thanks for sharing. And compliments !!

[@RogersPhotographyOG]

The tonality of that print is gorgeous. I don't see a list of "ingredients"? BTW Silver Nitrate 100g on Amazon $96 US

[@BorutPeterlinPhotography]

Alibaba is 500$ per kilogramme

[@miskominfilmandphotogtaphy]

You didn't show how to load it in the camera! Otherwise, great video. ❤ appreciate

[@BorutPeterlinPhotography]

Oh, right... I forgot

[@supereandk]

really love this would love to try just dont have the resorces :( one day when im rich

[@andrewlaverghetta715]

I miss this kind of stuff. I still want to at least say that I’ve made a photograph start to finish with wet plate.

[@violetaalvarez9811]

Nice video series you have here.. wanted to ask what size plate are you using for the brownie camera?

[@BorutPeterlinPhotography]

Thx. 2x 100x150 mm

[@Foto22417]

Cool stuff! What about the glass?

[@BorutPeterlinPhotography]

Ups, I had glass plates on my desk, but forgot to talk about them. If you buy a glass cutting knife, you should be able to have glass plates for 0,20 EUR a piece. I am ordering them at the glass cutter and he charge me 0,5 EUR a piece. I know glass is cheap but some glass cutters do not want to do all the work with cutting small pieces, so they charge ridiculous amount of money. I remember a fellow from Vienna was telling me how expensive glass plates are for him. He rather drove to Hungary and got them for 10% of the Vienna's price. (By the way, Eric for president!)

[@julianwilliams4750]

Hi buddy, looks like fun and itching to have a go. Is it possible to incorporate wet plate photography into the conventional film darkroom using enlarger to make larger prints on silver gelatin paper. I don't have the budget for a large format camera and have an enlarger at my disposal. Great vid. Looking forward to seeing more of your content. Cheers Julian

[@jurajzahumensky6378]

who gave the minus?

[@InetaGphotography]

:D not first burning house :D

[@beaupfeifferrecordings]

I was thinking of making my own water soluble silver gelatin paper but the price of silver nitrate put me off that thought

[@Felix-mg4mj]

You can dissolve silver with nitric acid and then evaporate the water. That is wat I do and it is a lot cheaper than buying silver nitrate. But also it is a lot more dangerous.

[@beaupfeifferrecordings]

Ive heard of people getting chunks of silver and doing that I think I will stick to buying my Ilford film & paper cheers for the brush up Felab

[@Felix-mg4mj]

I have being doing my own photographic plates for a few months and trust me it is amazing.

[@beaupfeifferrecordings]

u should upload some of your art on your channel I would do it myself but I do not have a car so im stuck on a 35mm silver gelatin budget till I upgrade to a 120 film format in the future to come

[@Felix-mg4mj]

Probably I will do so soon but it is dificult to make a good video.

[@wijpke]

Collodion is not explosive only flammable😂

[@Irnbruist]

wow, what a cool video; ridicolous quality of this big print *__*

[@astore3757]

If you want to play, you must to pay.

[@MiscellaneousMcC]

One person burned their house down trying this at home...

[@BorutPeterlinPhotography]

And he (I'm pretty sure it's he) is not the first of the last one!

[@MikeMike-wc8on]

Is that the soviet Smena-8m 35 mm camera under the clock on the wall? :P kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHjEo4Gdh7VgipI Oh and i loved the definition that inkjet is not a photoghaphy but a computer drawing!

[@carltanner9065]

Burn the house down...the firey's ask you, "What the hell were you doing??!!!". You: "Just developing photos"!!! : D :P Nah, liquid nitrocellulose is fun, but gun cotton and plastique is even more fun!! :P :P If you can get a hold of some toluene and nitric acid... :D :P

[@MarcelVoelker]

I do not want to summon it yet, but you infected me. :) cool video. thx

[@tamassanta6819]

Sorry, I haven't seen I have already sent the question :D

[@TravelClast]

man oh man ... this was great. youre great. and the way you outlined this is great. I got an 1880 primo b Im about to throw some glass in and this explained everything (going on a little vintage camera quest www.vintagecameraquest.com) and lastly ... DO YOU LIVE IN A TRAIN STATION? cause now I'm looking to live in a trainstation.

[@BorutPeterlinPhotography]

No, I live 20 min walk from the train station. I'm glad I could help

[@TravelClast]

@@BorutPeterlinPhotography ah I see ... It looked like you walked right out onto the tracks ... so cool. Thanks man, and great stuff!

[@Toolgdskli]

A “Compact” camera

[@calvinf9218]

The 'bellows' part collapses back into the camera so it can fit in a handbag

[@MezeiEugen]

Would like to see how the camera looks after all the Silvernitrate dripped into it.

[@BorutPeterlinPhotography]

I'm still using it for 12th year and about 200 plates later. I can sell it to you. Let me know how much you want to see it really.

[@suzsiz]

Yes cus everyone has a friend who is a chemist xD

[@BorutPeterlinPhotography]

Or go and buy on Alibaba

[@suzsiz]

Topshit Photography [: thanks. Great video

[@MezeiEugen]

Pretty difficult to piss on those buckets when they hang upside down from the ceiling.

[@MezeiEugen]

Please dont give advice "if you have a friend that is a chemist" for preparing silver nitrate. At least if you dont want to have somebody on your concience.

[@tamassanta6819]

Hello friend, I just got a question, regards I know the salt printing process is a contact technique, is it possible to enlarge negatives on the paper?

[@tamassanta6819]

Sorry, I haven't seen I have already sent the question :D