LONDON’S PREMIER COLLODION WET PLATE STUDIO
Experience the unique photographic process invented in 1851 by the British inventor Frederick Scott Archer. He died penniless, buried in an unmarked grave, but his invention revolutionised photography and lives on today.
Established in 2016, Reality Studio shoots uniquely wet plate collodion from its Brixton premises. Book a session now to commission unique original camera positive plate portraits on metal or glass delivered in presentation folder, or with our optional full wet plate framing service.
WET PLATE COLLODION
The Wet Plate Collodion Process is unpredictable, mysterious and impressionistic. Unlike later photography it relies on the photographer “pouring” a plate of metal or glass with a layer of collodion. This is a sticky gun-cotton solution which when dipped in a bath of silver nitrate is sensitized to light. After a few minutes the plate is removed, placed in its large wooden camera plate holder and the shot taken. To produce the latent image a small glass of developer is poured over the plate in the darkroom, the plate then washed and finally put in a fixer of “hypo”. A session typically runs between 3 and 4 hours. It is a leisurely process of constant discovery, exposure times varying between 5 and 15 seconds with each finished and fixed plate taking around 20 minutes or so to achieve.
COMMISSIONS
The studio accommodates indoor: portrait, seated and full length reclining poses. Outdoor sunlight; full length standing or groups dependant on weather. Plate sizes: 5″ x 4″, 5″ x 7″ and 9″ x 7″. These both on metal (“ferrotype“) or on glass (“ambrotype“).
ONE TO ONE TUITION / PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATIONS BY ARRANGEMENT
REALITY STUDIO: Nearest stations: BRIXTON (Victoria Line) or CLAPHAM NORTH (Northern Line). Street parking available.
CONTACT: realityfilm@btinternet.com
TEL: +44 7956 178 130
ALL SHOOTS ARE CONFIDENTIAL, OFFLINE AND CAN BE CONDUCTED ON LOCATION OR AT CLIENT’S PREMISES WHERE SUITABLE. PLEASE CONTACT FOR FURTHER DETAILS.
