Collodion: From Past to Present

Abstract

<p>My talk will cover my research with the historic photographic process, wet plate collodion. Developed by Frederick Scott Archer around 1850, collodion is one of the earliest forms of photography. The key factors in creating a wet plate collodion image involves: bromide, iodide or chloride salts dissolved into collodion, which is a solution of pyroxylin in alcohol and ether. This mixture is then poured onto a clean glass plate, and allowed to sit for a few seconds. The plate is then placed into a solution of silver nitrate and water, which converts the iodide, bromide or chloride salts to silver iodide, bromide or chloride, respectively. Once this reaction is complete, the plate is removed from the silver nitrate solution, and exposed in a large format camera while still wet. It is then developed with a solution of iron sulfate, acetic acid and alcohol in water. The end result creates unique positive image onto a sheet of glass called an ambrotype. Collodion was soon replaced at the end of the 19th century with dry plates. Dry plates are glass plates with a photographic emulsion of silver halides suspended in gelatin. The gelatin in the dry plates greatly increased the speed of the plates, allowing shorter exposure times than the collodion. In recent years, many contemporary photographic artists have begun using collodion. This revival of collodion is in large part influenced by Mark and France Scully Osterman, current day masters and teachers of the collodion process. The collodion process has now reached many artists of our time such as Sally Mann, who has made a name for herself by using this historic process. Imperfections such as, fogging, spotting, and peeling are common with ambrotypes. Aesthetically, these imperfections appeal to me and are some of the many reasons collodion interests me.</p><p>This presentation occurred at the Wright State University Campus-Wide Celebration of Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities on April 16, 2010</p>