Are you interested in the origins of photography? Do you want to learn about one of the first photography processes, the wet plate collodion process? Then register for this introductory workshop.

In this practical workshop you will get to know the basics of this 19th century process; from pouring collodion on the plate, developing and fixing to working with a large format camera 4×5 Cambo.

Afterwards you will not only return home with a handmade portrait, but also with a deeper understanding of how these unique portraits were created in 1851.

Wet plate or Collodion photography is a traditional photographic technique that was invented in 1851. With this method, collodion is poured onto a plate of glass or aluminum (formerly asphalted tin). This is then made light-sensitive with silver. As long as the plate is wet it can be exposed, hence the name ‘wet plate’. The warmer the environment, the shorter the time to expose your plate. This traditional method results in unique portraits built up from extremely small silver particles. Portraits that will certainly last hundreds of years.

Wet plate studio Amsterdam was founded by Sanne Paul. A traditional portrait studio where ‘wet plate’ portraits are made on aluminum or glass in various sizes. In her work as a wet plate photographer, Sanne finds the tranquility and the craft, which sometimes threaten to be lost in this digital age.