Wet plate collodion is having a blooming renaissance in the 21st century. Developed in the 1860s as a safer more transportable process than the daguerreotype. Wet plate collodion was the most popular photographic process for creating both positives and negatives until the advent of gelatin dry plates. The process survived on through the 20th century until now because of the mesmerizing images it produces. Now with a renewed interest, the process is alive and well.
This introduction to wet plate will go over everything you need to know to get started making your own plates. We will cover everything from pouring the plates to varnishing them. We will discuss and demo shooting in both natural light and with strobes. At the end of the workshop, you will leave not just with the plates you made during the class but also a comprehensive knowledge of how to set up your own home or mobile studio to start making images. Feel free to bring your own camera if you have one, but if you don’t we have a range of cameras from 4×5 to 8×10 and all students will be able to shoot on these cameras. Come join us in the darkroom and experience the alchemy of wet plate collodion first hand.
$1275. All materials included.
You can either pay in full for the class or pay a $300 deposit. The remaining balance will be due at the beginning of the class. To pay the deposit make sure to select Pay deposit at the bottom of this page.
All classes are Thursday through Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm. All supplies and chemistry are included in the cost of the class.
All students will be responsible for finding accommodations and transportation. Bostick and Sullivan is located on the south side of Santa Fe in an industrial business park. Our lab and workshops are no more than 25 minutes from most downtown hotels. Rental cars and Uber are available in Santa Fe however the pandemic has made each more expensive and more scarce. If you are planning on renting a car it is best to do so early.
Please feel free to call for more information (505) 474-0890 or use the customer contact form. Our address is 1541 Center Dr, Santa Fe, NM 87507.
