Dave is a brilliant photographer, have been following and enjoying his work for years. Also love his comments about the collaborative aspect of working with the subject to create a wonderful shot together. From my years in the studio it is those collaborations I remember and cherish most.
Truly enchanting. I love the eeriness of wet plate collodion. I do feel Jaimie should be getting a double helping of hot water bottles, woolly socks, wrist warmers and the best quality Thermos flask under the Christmas tree to help keep her warm on your adventures.
What a tremendously demanding process. Well done to photographer and his uncomplaining model. Makes clear the immense toil of landscape photographers such as Timothy H O'Sullivan & Carleton Watkins 150 years ago, exploring the US interior with all their equipment in horse-drawn wagons.
Absolutely everything in this insight is amazing - the creativity of the settings, the experience around the process, the model's delivery & smiles. Wow
Dave ..the true process of collaboration.. thank you and the team ..for sharing behind the scenes ..bloody brilliant mate cheers ..ps real mermaids are not wet n cold ..a delightful model
I shot my first series of wet plate collodion this year, tin type and ambrotypes. Whilst they are no where near as clean as my film work, they have a look and feel I love. Always a bonus when your muse has the patience of a saint. I love the whole process of creating the image and it is so inclusive, particularly as my muse can join me in the dark room to experience the image coming to life. Hats off to working this process outside!
As a landscape photographer who has been shooting film for nearly 55 years and digital for nearly 23 years, I feel that the more basic the method the more sense of achievement in making photographs. I am absolutely sure that this is the main reason why so many photographers worth their salt are returning to analogue photography. Collodion Wet Plate process is probably at the pinnacle of photographic skill, dedication and artistic achievement. A very welcomed video, Oliver.
Brilliant video! This was absolutely a labor of love! I agree we have lost the craftmanship of photography in a digital world, but I also know as photography advanced in the analogue times, people adopted quicker methods and more stable chemicals as progress in plates then film made it easier. Love that people are looking back, we should never lose sight of what happened before and perhaps take time to slow down and not take for granted the tech today? Always thanks for sharing your experiences. Love the content on this channel! Kudos to Jamie for dealing with the cold!
I’ll let her know, I agree with what you said even dad is isn’t working the same way as they did at the beginning chemicals have improved lighting etc.
A difficult process and dangerous! The struggle doesn't make it better or even good! Ernst Hass with his color images of New York, is wonderful! All Ernst did was frame and expose! Yes his eye and creative thinking, superb. I do remember all my/most of my Film exposures! Sally Mann is the leader of the pack! Bravo!
Many people may not notice the difference between this type of photography and the digital one, but in reality, working with this style allows for more refined control throughout the entire photographic process. From designing the wet plate, capturing the image, and managing light in outdoor environments as effectively as possible, to processing the wet plate itself, every step requires precision. However, the most crucial aspect is the previsualization of the final image, even before preparing the materials. This technical and creative photographic process is deeply connected to the artist’s vision and their conception of art and the subject they are portraying. It involves an intense effort that demands significant patience and expertise-qualities that are often diminished in today’s digital era, where much of what was once controlled by the artist is now dictated by technology. Unfortunately, technology cannot interpret the photographer's vision in the same way. Outstanding work, marvelous artistry, a stunning model, and an extraordinary setting-spectacular, to say the least. Congratulations!
I first encountered wet plate photography about 15 years ago, at an early Photostock festival of analog photographers in Michigan (USA). One fellow had made a darkroom out of the boot of a small Toyota sedan. Another had used a folding camping table and made a darkroom tent over it. He could go anywhere with it that he could pull the small child's wagon that carried all of his equipment. My reaction was that the photographs were lovely but I personally was far too lazy to embrace it. Film is a wonderful invention and I'm very happy with it. Along the lines of returning to older technology, have you seen TH-cam "videos" made on 8mm or Super-8 movie film? These folks are really doing it the hard way! 😊
That was really, I mean realliy, fun and interesting to watch. I am thinking of getting into wetplate - lacking a mobile darkroom, it will have to be at home, or extremely close. And there is such a shortage of mermaids.
Looks fun - but it also looks just like a bigger version one of my Thornton Picard half plate cameras. I do dry plate then scan the neg. Have you ever looked into using a tri-color plate camera out of the 1920s-40s ?
@@olitography I have three - 2 royal ruby and 1 Imperial. Two have TP shutters but they need work and for the third I have a new unused TP shutter (from Pacific Rim Photo Also a great source for old and very old camera catalogs in their data base) in the origional box but the fabric is rather holey to put it mildly. Two need new bellows. I also have several graflex reflex (R34, R45, 57). I generally use x-ray film (fuji green). Things are a bit slow right now - I broke my left fibula. At 80 that might be a bit of a problem, wish me luck healing.
The process is part of the experience, film brings that back home. Thanks for the video and for teaming up to make these images and bring wet plate to the people via TH-cam 🚣♂️
Proud son over here! Well done all
Thoroughly enjoyed this, wonderfully filmed and love Dave’s passion for the craft.
Thank you
Dave is a brilliant photographer, have been following and enjoying his work for years. Also love his comments about the collaborative aspect of working with the subject to create a wonderful shot together. From my years in the studio it is those collaborations I remember and cherish most.
Thank you Mark
Truly enchanting. I love the eeriness of wet plate collodion. I do feel Jaimie should be getting a double helping of hot water bottles, woolly socks, wrist warmers and the best quality Thermos flask under the Christmas tree to help keep her warm on your adventures.
Thank you and yes! I did have my concerns for Jamie while running backwards & forwards to the van
What a tremendously demanding process. Well done to photographer and his uncomplaining model.
Makes clear the immense toil of landscape photographers such as Timothy H O'Sullivan & Carleton Watkins 150 years ago, exploring the US interior with all their equipment in horse-drawn wagons.
Thank you - A challenging day and Jamie was amazing
Absolutely everything in this insight is amazing - the creativity of the settings, the experience around the process, the model's delivery & smiles. Wow
Wow, thank you!
Dave ..the true process of collaboration.. thank you and the team ..for sharing behind the scenes ..bloody brilliant mate cheers ..ps real mermaids are not wet n cold ..a delightful model
Thanks Nicholas, it really was the most wonderful of days ...
I shot my first series of wet plate collodion this year, tin type and ambrotypes. Whilst they are no where near as clean as my film work, they have a look and feel I love. Always a bonus when your muse has the patience of a saint.
I love the whole process of creating the image and it is so inclusive, particularly as my muse can join me in the dark room to experience the image coming to life.
Hats off to working this process outside!
The plan is to go back when it’s a bit warmer and see if we can nail it. Fingers crossed 🤞
Thanks Baxter - Enjoy your Wet Plate journey!
What a beautiful and inspiring video posting, thank you. ❤
Glad you enjoyed it!
As a landscape photographer who has been shooting film for nearly 55 years and digital for nearly 23 years, I feel that the more basic the method the more sense of achievement in making photographs. I am absolutely sure that this is the main reason why so many photographers worth their salt are returning to analogue photography. Collodion Wet Plate process is probably at the pinnacle of photographic skill, dedication and artistic achievement. A very welcomed video, Oliver.
Thank you, I agree with you, but also find that the imperfections seem to add a texture and depth I miss when I’m shooting digital images
Thank you, large format & wet plate certainly bring their challenges but well worth the effort, cold & wet ...
Brilliant video! This was absolutely a labor of love! I agree we have lost the craftmanship of photography in a digital world, but I also know as photography advanced in the analogue times, people adopted quicker methods and more stable chemicals as progress in plates then film made it easier. Love that people are looking back, we should never lose sight of what happened before and perhaps take time to slow down and not take for granted the tech today? Always thanks for sharing your experiences. Love the content on this channel! Kudos to Jamie for dealing with the cold!
I’ll let her know, I agree with what you said even dad is isn’t working the same way as they did at the beginning chemicals have improved lighting etc.
Thank you, amazing team effort regardless of what the weather threw at us
So interesting. Now catching up with past videos. Subscribed.
Awesome, thank you!
A difficult process and dangerous! The struggle doesn't make it better or even good! Ernst Hass with his color images of New York, is wonderful! All Ernst did was frame and expose! Yes his eye and creative thinking, superb. I do remember all my/most of my Film exposures! Sally Mann is the leader of the pack! Bravo!
A miss is as good as Mile no matter what you use. But a hit with wet plate on this shoot would have blown away any other medium.
Thank you Jason
Many people may not notice the difference between this type of photography and the digital one, but in reality, working with this style allows for more refined control throughout the entire photographic process. From designing the wet plate, capturing the image, and managing light in outdoor environments as effectively as possible, to processing the wet plate itself, every step requires precision.
However, the most crucial aspect is the previsualization of the final image, even before preparing the materials. This technical and creative photographic process is deeply connected to the artist’s vision and their conception of art and the subject they are portraying. It involves an intense effort that demands significant patience and expertise-qualities that are often diminished in today’s digital era, where much of what was once controlled by the artist is now dictated by technology. Unfortunately, technology cannot interpret the photographer's vision in the same way.
Outstanding work, marvelous artistry, a stunning model, and an extraordinary setting-spectacular, to say the least. Congratulations!
Well said; everyone involved is quite clearly dedicated to their craft. And there has never been such a beautiful mermaid.
@ true
Great work. I really enjoy your content.
Thank you
i can't wait!
I cant wait
I first encountered wet plate photography about 15 years ago, at an early Photostock festival of analog photographers in Michigan (USA). One fellow had made a darkroom out of the boot of a small Toyota sedan. Another had used a folding camping table and made a darkroom tent over it. He could go anywhere with it that he could pull the small child's wagon that carried all of his equipment. My reaction was that the photographs were lovely but I personally was far too lazy to embrace it. Film is a wonderful invention and I'm very happy with it.
Along the lines of returning to older technology, have you seen TH-cam "videos" made on 8mm or Super-8 movie film? These folks are really doing it the hard way! 😊
You ( she ) has to suffer for Art , glad to see you post another video .
That was really, I mean realliy, fun and interesting to watch. I am thinking of getting into wetplate - lacking a mobile darkroom, it will have to be at home, or extremely close. And there is such a shortage of mermaids.
Definitely check out David’s Workshops then
Thought you were doing a Roxy Music album cover for a moment!
We discussed that image before the shoot so your not the only one
Looks fun - but it also looks just like a bigger version one of my Thornton Picard half plate cameras. I do dry plate then scan the neg. Have you ever looked into using a tri-color plate camera out of the 1920s-40s ?
You’ve got a working Thornton Picard?? I have a Ruby Duluxe but need to find a shutter?
@@olitography I have three - 2 royal ruby and 1 Imperial. Two have TP shutters but they need work and for the third I have a new unused TP shutter (from Pacific Rim Photo Also a great source for old and very old camera catalogs in their data base) in the origional box but the fabric is rather holey to put it mildly. Two need new bellows. I also have several graflex reflex (R34, R45, 57). I generally use x-ray film (fuji green). Things are a bit slow right now - I broke my left fibula. At 80 that might be a bit of a problem, wish me luck healing.
You’re eccentric Britishness is coming out again 😂
The process is part of the experience, film brings that back home.
Thanks for the video and for teaming up to make these images and bring wet plate to the people via TH-cam 🚣♂️
Shouldn't you keep her scales wet while she is out of the water?
That’s what the polythene sheet was for
Poor Jamie , she puts up with a lot
She’s good about it