wet plate collodin calss with Will Dunniway

 For many years I have been searching for this and I finally found it. This experience has changed my life forever.  Last weekend I took an amazing class with Will Dunniway! I had the opportunity to learn the wet plate colldion process from some one who has 20 years of experience doing it. When I walked in to Will’s studio/house I was in awe. The photos he had on display are some of the most beautiful works of art that I have ever seen. Seeing these images in real life was like taking a trip to the Getty museum. There are a few of that stud out and I could not stop staring at. He had a shot from Yosemite that was printed with platinum. Platinum prints are amazing anyway but to mix the two is out of control, I all so saw a few tintypes and glass originals sitting above the fireplace. The tone and light that was captured by this colldion process cannot even be described by words. Its one of those thing you just have to see. He also has photos of American Indians that have never been shown to the public. Will is a master of this craft if you are interested in see his work go to: http://www.dunniway.com/

Here are some photos from our workshop.

Photos by: Michael O’Neil

Will Dunniway shoots Ian Ruhter

Ted Roberts, with plate of Chrystal Scanlon

Outdoor studio. 

From left: James Burgess, Skip Lind, Francis Michaels (posing), Will Dunniway, Ian Ruhter

Michael O'Neil gets head braced by Will Dunniway

From left: Will Dunniway shoots with aid from , Skip Lind

Michael O'Neil  with his plate

Michael O'Neil

Chrystal Scanlon poses

Chrystal Scanlon immerses wet plate tintype into fixer

Chrystal Scanlon helps pose Skip Lind for Will Dunniway

an Ruhter develops his tintype

an Ruhter fixes his tintype

                                                      Ian Ruhter removes his fixed tintype

                                       

kip Lind pour collodion on plate

Will Dunniway mounts plate to rear of camera

Skip Lind, former American Airlines pilot poses as Red Baron

Skip Lind, tintype in fix

Chrystal Scanlon in tintype rack

Chrystal Scanlon

Plate rack of days work

Will Dunniway

Skip Lind, shows his results

Skip Lind

From left: Ted Roberts, Will Dunniway, Michael ONeil (knelling), Ian Ruhter, Skip Lind, Chrystal Scanlon, Francis Michaels and knelling, James Burgess

Every one was so nice in this class I wish I could of got to know every one better but my attention was on learning. I got so much out of this class it was well worth it. I just want to thank every one who was there. It was one of the best experiences I have had in a long time!!
Ian Ruhter

The Wet Plate Collodion Process

I recently started the doing the wet plate collodion process and my friends have no idea of what it is. I have been getting question asking how does it work? Well friends here is a quick video of what it is and how it works.

wet plate collodin- Pat more

 This is one of my favorites. If you know Pat Moore then you know this is a very different looking photo for him. I have shoot him 100s of time but never got an image that looks like this of him. To me it looks like a jail photo or some thing from the 1950s. I just know I’m stoked on it. I took 3 photos this day the first 2 were to get the proper exposure. What a big change this is from shooting 100s of digital photos with hopes that one will turn out. 

Wet plate collodin- stealing people souls

 They say the eyes are the windows to the soul. When I was focusing my camera on Mario Kappeli eyes I felt like I could see in side his soul. I have never experienced any thing like that. My 8x10 camera is a very a special camera. It is by far the best camera I have ever used it feels kind of magical when I use it. Maybe that’s why people use to say photos would steal peoples souls. I don’t feel like im steeling them more like im showing the world what the look like. This is a 3 second exposure using the wet plate collodin presses. Shoot on location in Palm Springs.

wet plate collodin fun photo

  I had so much fun shooting this portrait of my friend Rusty Ockenden. I wanted to do something that matched is personality. He has this crazy hair and is down for what ever. I shoot a regular portrait of him and we were like lets make this crazy. He said I could take off my shirt and show my gap tooth. We were laughing the whole time. There is nothing better than when some one is down to have fun while you are shooting them. I showed this image to one of my other friends they thought it was a homeless person from Down Town Los Angeles. I said no that’s my friend rusty and just started laughing again.

Wet plate collodin 8x10 camera

 These are from my third session with the wet plate collodion process. I finally got to use my 8x10 camera the results are insane. I’m so excited on the out come. If you look close you start to see all the in perfections that the beauty of the process. These are one of a kind images. Let see my cannon 5 D do this. Haha.

I'm slowly getting better at this. I still have to fine tune my work but I'm very happy with these photos.

Image#1: Austen Sweetin  8x10 wet plate collodin

Image#1: niko cioffi  8x10 wet plate collodin

My first Wet Plate Collodin Photograph

   I have a started new photography process that has changed my life. Let me rephrase that it is actually a process from the 1800s. The process is called Wet Plate Collodin.  The way it works is you apply chemicals to a sheet of glass. While the glass is still wet you put it into a film holder and then in to a view camera. After you shoot your photo you have to develop it immediately.  One of the reasons I like this so much is I am working with my hands to produce a one of a king photograph. Once digital photography came it to my life I started spending hrs at the computer. I was working on images that did not exist. A digital image is a computer code basically 1sand 0s.This code can be manipulate over and over by all most any one who gets there hands on it. There is no tangible base. I never imagined I my self as a photographer working at a computer all day. When I started photography I use to work in the dark room making hand made images. It is the beautiful art form that I fell in love with in the beginning of my photography experiences. With this process I feel like I’m falling in love all over again. I’m so excited!!! 

This is a photo from my first session using the Wet Plate Collodin Process! My friend Jordon Thomas was one of my first subjects.