Life beyond TPF: Wet Plate photography, etc.

[venchka]

Did you ever wonder what other folks are doing with their cameras? Folks who don't use chips and Photoshop and ink to make photographs?

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of meeting a group of people who, like myself, tend to the traditional, silver based forms of photography. Matt Magruder and his parents hosted the gathering at thier home on Canyon Lake. I witnessed first hand as Matt made wet plate photographs. Matthew Brady and others used wet plates to record the Civial War. Susan Ellen is currently using wet plates to record modern day soldiers. That seems like a fitting tribute to one of photography's oldest processes.

Soldier Portraits

Civil War Wet Plate Photography

There were view cameras a plenty in attendance. My new 4x5 field camera was the smallest. It looked like a toy beside Matt's 12"x20" Folmer & Schwing folding view camera. That's right folks. The ground glass on Matt's camera is about as big as a 23" flat screen TV. Think about that the next time you're chimping your little 3" LCD screen. Mike Castles brought his new Ritter 8x10. It produces negatives 4 times the size of my 4x5 negatives. Thanks to carbon fiber, it's probably lighter than my Zone VI wood and brass camera, also made by Mr. Ritter.

It's nice to know that I'm not alone. I also discovered some nice scenery which I plan to revisit soon. With all of my cameras and a bushel or two of the silver based sensor material.

Wet plate photography lives 145+ years after the Cival War. Film won't be dying in my lifetime.

Cheers!

[venchka]

One more example of current wet plate work.

Sally Mann

[Corrie]

Sally Mann is insane. Everything she touches she makes beautiful.

[J Eddington]

WOW, Wayne. Thanks so much. I am totally intrigued. This sure beats a pinhole camera!

[Shelby Lane]

The Soldier Portraits site is one of my current favorites. Thanks for sharing more, Wayne.

[venchka]

Nothing wrong with pinhole cameras either.

Glad y'all enjoyed the links. I'll keep them coming.

Shelby, I really enjoyed going back to Gruene and Canyon Lake. You live in a neat part of Texas. I'll be back!

[Big Dog]

Originally Posted by venchka

There were view cameras a plenty in attendance. My new 4x5 field camera was the smallest. It looked like a toy beside Matt's 12"x20" Folmer & Schwing folding view camera. That's right folks. The ground glass on Matt's camera is about as big as a 23" flat screen TV.

That's my Canon Elph on top of the 12x20:

[Shelby Lane]

Originally Posted by venchka

Shelby, I really enjoyed going back to Gruene and Canyon Lake. You live in a neat part of Texas. I'll be back!

It's a great area. I grew up here and it's changed a lot over the past 30 years, but it's still a neat place to live and to raise kids.

[venchka]

Shelby, I know what you mean about change. Just in the 2 years between visits I noticed a lot of change.

David, thanks for sharing that photo. You still have to see it up close to appreciate the size. And to think, Matt's 12x20 is a HALF-FRAME camera compared to the 20"x24" cameras. Grinning. Even in Ultra Large Format, some folks have to deal with "crop factor".

Hey all you digital folks, you too can explore Alternative Process Photography. All you have to do is get some OHP film, convert your digital files to B&W, invert the image, print to film and Bob's your Uncle! Contact print some real permanent photographs. If/when I get up the nerve and the energy, that's how I will have to work. Scan a 4x5 negative, print a negative on OHP film and make contact prints.

It's all good. Just do it!

[venchka]

A link for digital negatives.........

Making a Digital Negative

[venchka]

Matthew Magruder of Austin and some of his work from this 12x20 camera and others Matt works with.




http://www.matthewmagruder.com/

Enjoy!