Wet Plate Collodion Workshop

As you may or may not know, last year I did a wet plate collodion workshop with Carl Radford up in Glasgow. Well this year he kindly invited me up to assist him. So last Friday I spent the day rushing around packing up things I would need to take with me, clothes, toothbrush, silver box, camera, and as always family.

So Saturday morning arrives, an early start of 9am. Geoff takes the kids off to Glasgow for the day and I immerse myself in a day of collodion. What I love about Carl's course's is how relaxed they are right from the beginning. We start with a cuppa and a chat .. we talk about ourselves, we talk about wet plate. We are a mixed bunch, with one thing in common, a love of photography and a fascination/passion/obsession with this beautiful process. So sitting around the table I meet Lucy, Anne, Estelle, David & Nick. I finally got to meet Alex Boyd and Douglas, who were also there to help assist.

After the introductions we set about to work. After Carl had talked everyone through the process and demonstrated a few times the students started making plates. To start with I helped Nick and then moved onto Estelle and Lucy. It was always relaxed and enjoyable. The only that was not really helpful was the weather. We were subjected to some wonderful downpours and very high winds (particularly on Sunday). It never once dampened spirits or enthusiasm. The larger camera's couldn't be taken outside on the Sunday due to the 40mph wind. However, the saying 'if there is a will, there is a way' seemed to be our motto. Lights were set up inside for the 8x10 cameras and the 4x5's went outside.

On Sunday I helped Anne a little bit, but it wasn't long before I wasn't needed as she was pouring and producing wonderful plates.

Today I feel exhausted and looking back I can see why. We fitted in so much. People were producing plates on their own by Sunday as well as varnishing, & shown how to clean and prepare glass. Socially too the group gelled so well. We had an Indian meal on the Saturday evening .. I brought along my family as did Anne, which was wonderful.

On Sunday Alastair Cook came along with a presentation of his beautiful work and also made some plates using a box brownie .. but more amazingly he got my children to stay still for 10 seconds.

So to summarise, we had a wonderful bunch of people, some of whom had never even done large format work, let alone wet plate work, going away with theoretical knowledge and practical experience and hopefully a bunch of people to keep in touch with with as they embark on their collodion journey. I know everyone went away feeling exhilarated.

I should add that the plates below are not mine, they are a selection of work by the students :)