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The History

Wet Plate Collodion

Capturing moments in time for posterity has come a long way since 1851, when British sculptor and inventor Frederick Scott Archer invented the Wet Plate Collodion photographic process.

Revolutionary at the time, this made it possible to capture an image on the surface of a piece of glass almost immediately. Archer named this Ambrotype, meaning ‘immortal’ in Greek. It was complicated, time-consuming, and the chemicals involved could be dangerous to the photographer.

Sculptor and Inventor

Frederick Scott Archer

Frederick Scott Archer, known as the inventor of the first practical photographic process to be both sharp and easily reproducible, Frederick Scott Archer was born in England. The son of a butcher, he lost his parents at a young age and was brought up by distant relatives and friends. He was apprenticed to a bullion dealer and silversmith in London. He eventually began working as a sculptor, and set up a studio where created busts of well-known people. In 1847, he began using photography as an aid in his work, and soon began devoting all his time to the new art.

Though Archer was trained in the calotype process, he was unsatisfied with the texture and unevenness of the paper negative. He experimented with a variety of solutions and surfaces, and in 1849 made a breakthrough when he coated a glass plate with a collodion solution and exposed the plate while it was still wet. Archer delayed publishing his process until his results were consistent. His first article was published in The Chemist in March, 1851, and in 1852 he published A Manual of the Collodion Photographic Process. Images created using the collodion wet plate process were sharp like the daguerreotype, easily reproducible like the calotype, and enabled photographers to dramatically reduce exposure times. The process led to a rapid expansion in all areas of photography. The cartes de visite, ambrotype and tintype are direct results of Archer’s efforts. In stark contrast to other inventors, Archer did not attempt to patent his process, and received no monetary benefit from it. He also made significant contributions in optics and camera design, and patented several of his inventions. However, Archer died before he could reap any benefits from them, and he died in poverty in 1857.

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Summary of Steps

The Wet Plate Collodion Process

Everyone in their business and personal life acquire a series of tricks, adaptations and skills, which allow them to progress and improve themselves in the result they seek. My case is the same: seven years ago, I started working with wet plate collodion, and I’m going to tell you in a simplified way, how I work and what are the stages of the process I use. Each one of these steps or stages, must be consecutive since it is a process in which none of them can be accelerated: It is a totally linear process. Some are more difficult and critical, and I’ll highlight those.

1-Define the artistic goal (with maximum precision)

When I have decided the image I want to obtain, I think of how I will do it, from the technical and artistic points of view.

2-The plates

Cut them according to the type and size you are going to use (transparent glass, opaque, metal …).

3-The chemical products

This is a very important section since it is the basis of everything, it requires a lot of concentration since the formulas are very precise and cannot be changed. Each of them has its own little tricks, a time of usage and a waiting period until it has reached a defined level of effectiveness.

Use the appropriate bottles and adhere to the labels according to preparation dates.

The personal safety of the photographer who prepares these chemicals is critically important, therefore he must always be protected and, if possible, work in a very well-ventilated dark room.

4-Preparation of the bath

Before starting the photoshoot, you have to have all the baths in perfect using condition. You need to measure the pH, temperature, humidity, filtration of each one and also use the hygrometer for the sensitizer bath.

Each bath will remain protected in its bucket covered (so they are not contaminated). The steps in chronological order are: Collodion, sensitizer, developer, stop bath, fixer, final wash and drying rack.

5-Adjusting the camera to the image

You have to select the appropriate objective, perform the framing, focus, check the depth of field required, composition and lighting of the scene. Finally, fix and hold the camera well so that it does not have the slightest variation (while preparing the plate for exposure in the camera). The camera is now ready to capture the image.

6-Preparation of the plate

You have to clean the plate and its edges perfectly, it must be absolutely dry.

Then you have to create a very thin layer of collodion on it. This is achieved by systematic and precise movement and requires a lot of practice and patience.

7- Sensitization of the plate

Now the plate should be placed in an upward position in the silver nitrate bath, so that the silver adheres to the surface of the collodion and becomes a light-sensitive plate.

The introduction of the plate in the bath, must be a very decisive, fast, and precise movement and made in a moment of constant form, otherwise, stripes will appear on the surface of the plate.

It is done completely in the dark and lasts about five minutes.

8-Load on the chassis

When sensitized, the back of the plate should be dried and placed in the chassis of the camera, always keeping it in an upright position since the sensitive part of the plate remains wet (hence the name of the process).

9-Exhibition of the plate

It is introduced into the camera and the exposure of the image to be captured is made, always according to the exact required time, as it was designed.

10-Revealed plate

Then, as quickly as possible, the plate must be quickly and instantaneously inserted into the developing bath, then the image will appear in the development process, and it will be ready in 15 seconds, if it has been correctly exposed.

11-Stop the bath

To prevent the developer from destroying the image, it has to be stopped. The plate is introduced for one minute in a bath of running water to stop the development process and eliminate the chemical residues of the development.

12-Fixer plate

Then insert it in the fixer bath, constantly moving the tray, so that the fixer is evenly distributed throughout the plate. This action lasts a maximum of one minute. At the end the positive image will be seen if a black glass plate or a metal plate has been used. This step can be done with white light or sunlight and so you can observe the magic of the appearance of the positive image.

13-Washing the plate

It is very important to remember that any chemical residue can affect the stability of the plate in the future, so for 30 minutes it will be placed in a bucket under running water.

14-Drying of the plate

In a vertical position, leave the plate in the drying rack in a dust-free space, free of drafts.After 24 hours it is usually completely dry.

15-Varnishing of the plate

When the plate is completely dry, the surface of the image is varnished to protect it from any friction.As with the drying of the plate, it is also advisable that it be in a dust-free and air-free space to prevent the dust from adhering.

16-Framed plate

When the plate is completely dry, it must be classified in the back with all the information each artist considers should be included there.

17-Cleaning and drying equipment and chemical products

At the end of the work you can recover some liquids and filter them correctly according to the state they are in. You also have to clean and dry all the buckets and utensils carefully, which must be labeled for each bath.You have to be very careful with cross-contamination, so follow the same order of the process.

18-A warning for the photographer

Make sure this is a step you always take throughout the process. The use and handling of chemical products requires special attention because of their hazardous nature to your health. Never leave within the reach of children. Do not eat or drink in the same room or laboratory where the chemicals are placed. Read and always follow the safety warnings that each manufacturer exhibits on their labels.

The only person responsible for an accident will be the photographer himself, so it is convenient to have the necessary remedies nearby in case this happens. The dark room should have space to easily move about and have continuous ventilation. Remember that the chemical products of each of the baths, before their preparation, must be kept separately in boxes with a hermetic closure, otherwise the vapors can be contaminated.

19- Mental preparation

Given this is a very rudimentary and very traditional process, it is important to be fully concentrated and always know what you’re doing. Your tenacity, experience, concentration and the notes taken to avoid problems will shape your work. My aim in writing this is to present an overview of the WPC process in a simple way. Keep in mind though that complications may arise throughout and are not explained here. If you are interested in this technique and wish to learn and practice it to successfully complete an ambrotype or tintype, you should do your research and also take the appropriate classes or workshops. In your early days, make sure you are always accompanied by a WPC teacher or very experienced WPC photographer.

Steps. The Wet Plate Collodion, is a process that requires skill, technique, patience, tenacity, experience, concentration, sensitivity, inspiration and deep knowledge of photography. THE WPC PROCESS IS NOT A GAME, IT IS AN ART, WHICH MUST BE RESPECTED.