Wet Collodion Workshop January 2014

It's been several months since I've taught a wet collodion (positive) workshop. Over the past weekend (Jan 18-19), I had a great group of people come to Denver (or were in Denver) to learn the process. 

We had Sophie (New York via Paris), Chris (San Fransisco), Tony (San Fransisco), Thom (Denver), and Steve (Denver). We had Matt Alberts assisting/teaching and Summer (my daughter) assisting/teaching. Jeanne (my wife) provided the food and drinks. We had a great time. 

Not only did we learn about the wet plate collodion process, on Saturday, we had a very special guest visit. The owner and president of Chamonix Cameras, Hass came to Denver to visit us. What a treat. He brought me a wonderful gift, a very nice 10"x10" (25x25cm) custom wet plate holder. Hass showed everyone some of his work from Tibet. 24" x 32" (61x81cm) plates. They were absolutely beautiful! The people and landscape images were stunning - the elevation really added to the quality of light.

Here are a few iPhone photos that Jeanne shot during the workshop (thank you!)

Quinn starts the workshop by going over parts of his book, Chemical Pictures. Whole plate Alumitype by Chris and SophieHalf plate Alumitype by Thom HarropTalking about chemistry and how to handle and use the chemistry.Whole plate Ambrotype by SophieThom Harrop gets ready to make a plate. Admiring Chris' portrait in the fix.More chemistry information. There's a lot to consume in a short amount of time. Chamonix camera in the house! Hugo, Hass, and Quinn (left to right). Hass is the president and owner of the company. I made his portrait - Half Plate Ambrotype.Anther beautiful portrait in the warm Denver sun - 72F (22C) by Sophie.

Back In The Saddle

After almost six years, I'm back in America and teaching Wet Plate Collodion to Americans, again. It feels good.

I held the first (of many) Wet Plate Collodion workshop in my studio from September 3 - 6, 2011. It was a great feeling to be back and to speak the language, understand the culture and have people laugh at my jokes. I had some fantastic people in the workshop, too. A big thanks to Chris Kirk, Rob Perisho, Jeff Graves and Izah Gallagher. They're great people with a great Collodion future ahead of them! I hope to see them all again in my studio soon!

 Summer preps varnish while the rest of the crew are cutting and cleaning glass, (left to right) Jeff Graves (Broomfield, Co), Rob Perisho (Chicago, Il), Chris Kirk (Austin, Texas), Izah Gallagher (Denver, Co), and Summer Jacobson (Denver, Co).

 This was just a joke. I thought it was kind of funny. Herr Graves drying his Clear Glass Ambrotypes.Summer helps Chris with varnishing. Chris did some of the finest varnishing I've ever seen (not kidding). "My GrandDaddy's Hat" Izah shows off her wonderful self-portrait. Whole Plate Black Glass Ambrotype.Chris makes a portrait of Summer as Jesse watches. The EXTREME Denver UV made using natural light a no brainer - really gorgeous images!"Cowboy" 7x5 Alumitype by Chris Kirk"Cowboy" 5x7 Alumitype by Izah Gallagher.

Summer Jacobson, September 4, 2011 Denver, Colorado - photo by Chris Kirk

Rob Perisho, September 3, 2011 Denver, Colorado - photo by Quinn Jacobson

If you're interested in joining me for a workshop/course in a historic photographic process like Daguerreotypy, Calotypy, Wet Plate Collodion, Albumen Printing and/or Salt Printing, keep your eye on this link or send me an email and we'll get you in! I have a nice big (safe) well lighted studio in the RiNo District in Denver, Colorado. 

Boerdonk, The Netherlands

It's always nice to return to a place where you've been. We just spent three days in Boerdonk, The Netherlands. I went back to do another wet plate collodion workshop. We were there last October doing a workshop.

"Look right here, Ger"

We stayed at "The Miracle" hotel/bb. Ger and Jan Coppens own it and run it. It's not what you think - they don't advertise, or have regular hours - you almost have to be invited by someone they know - not that it's elite or exclusive, it's just that they run their business in a different way. Jeroen, the workshop coordinator set us up with Ger and Jan. The rooms are nice, the Dutch breakfast, made by Ger is tasty and the little dog, Lennon, is cute and loving. We sat around in the evening and drank Westmalle (Trappist) beer from the tap and told stories - it's too involved to go into here, but Ger told some very funny stories about people who had stayed in the hotel or came into the cafe to drink - "Dickemeat" and "Zombie" - my personal notes for future reference. 

Jan and Ger - Whole Plate Black Glass AmbrotypesWe did portraits of the Ger and Jan. They really liked the images and appreciated the process. I'm going to do a still life of a Westmalle bottle and glass and give to them for their bar/cafe. "Ger" - Whole Plate Balck Glass Ambrotype

Jeroen and his parents had us over for dinner Saturday night at their house. They have a beautiful home and are wonderful people. They fixed Dutch mussels and Portuguese chicken. We drank three bottles of wine and talked about life, art and politics. Another wonderful time.

I had six great people in the workshop. As always, they did a terrific job. I've posted some photographs here they already emailed me - Sanne (from Belgium) and Willie Jan. I'll post more (from the workshop) when I get them.

It's a little bit frustrating trying to write about these experiences. I don't know how they translate, but I know it doesn't even come close to the experience.  

Drizzle that Collodion Home Dog!
Workshop Students (and me) - Veghel, The Netherlands (Pieter Brughel Art School) 

Wet Plate Collodion Workshop In An Austrian Castle

I just got word that I will be doing a workshop in an Austrian castle (converted to a photo school) - at Schloss Weinberg, in Kefermarkt, Austria. The workshop will be April 4-5, 2009. I'm really looking forward to it!

An Austrian Castle