First Tintype • 2017
First Portrait, 20 sec. exposure • 2017
Wet Plate Beginnings
In 2016 I picked up my large format camera, a Sinar p3, after letting it gather dust for nearly a decade. I dug out my sheet film holders and began restocking on some of my favorite films only to discover many of them had been discontinued or had become prohibitively expensive. Especially large format Polaroid and other instant films. So I figured it was finally time to start making my own film.
In college I took a few courses on Alternative Photographic and Print Making Processes. I absolutely loved mixing my own film chemistry, shooting a photograph on glass, and then making a contact print on paper using household items like eggs, coffee, and vinegar.
I’ve had so many of you reach out for tintype portraits that I made a booking calendar where you can easily schedule a session. Take a look for availability and pricing details.
Commissions are Now available
MISTAKES WERE MADE • 2017
Wet Plate as a medium is a relatively simple process but the quality of the image is highly dependent on countless techniques and workflows. It is surprisingly difficult to capture a flawless image. Each attempt to make a portrait is a performance. The final image will show every detail of that performance — flaws and all. Each plate tells a story, and each one is an opportunity to improve.
Composition Study • 2017
The Wet Plate Tintype is the first historic photographic process that was commercial available to the masses across the globe. This technique transformed societies similar to the smartphone revolution. Having your portrait made went from a high class luxury privilege to an accessible curiosity available to the masses. It was the perfect medium to capture strikingly different portraits in a timeless way.
MONUMENT VALLEY Dust storm • 2018
YOSEMITE Wildfire • 2018
Making a wet plate photograph requires a lot of specialized equipment, chemistry, and ideal temperature conditions. It also requires that you have a darkroom on site when shooting. I seem to have an incredible ability to bring epic weather events when I travel with my equipment.
HIGH-KEY & Low-key STUDies • 2017-2019
Wet Plate Tintypes have a beautiful look about them, made from photosensitive silver on a black metal plate, they capture the near visible world of ultraviolet light. This ”instant” print making process renders a large positive image in 20 minutes time. It is an exceptional process for portraits if you’re willing to work with the many difficult constraints.
Concentration • 2019
In my journey to master the medium, I had to become comfortable in a variety of environments. In the studio, I have quite a bit of control with the lighting and chemistry. And on the road, I have to improvise a small dark box to work inside, and use whatever lighting is available. This shot was taken on the road. I took advantage of tilt-shift — a feature of large format cameras — to focus on the pool balls as well as the player’s face.
Students • 2018-2019
When the lighting strikes just right in an abandoned storage closet, what do you do? Spend the afternoon making portraits of some of your students. 4 sec. exposure times require some creative poses.
Strobe, Continuous, & Outside Light study • 2018
Throughout the years one thing remained constant. Wet plate requires a TON of light. The sun makes for a great light source… when the weather is good… during the daytime. I scrounged the used camera store for anything that put out as much light as possible. With intense UV continuous lights I could make portraits with a 1-2 second shutter speed. I was eventually able to find strobes that are powerful enough to make a near instantaneous shutter speed. Learning how to shape that lighting is one of the most difficult and ever evolving parts of my process.
Eye Contact • 2019
Eyes will tell a story if you know where to look. I’m always trying to find that through the lens of my extremely large camera. Lighting, camera position, composition, pose, emotion, and eye contact all blend together to tell a story if you know where to look.
I love sharing this unique form of photography and print making with other photographers, models, nerds, DIY enthusiasts, artists, print makers, cosplayers, and pretty much everyone else.
See it in Person
Thank you for your time and interest
This page is long and there are a lot of things to look at. I really appreciate the time you took to explore my work. If you like what you see, I’d love to share my process with you and make a few plates.
You can book an appointment with me in the studio, or book me for an event. Take a look at my booking page for more info. I occasionally do demos, workshops, and events. Subscribe to my newsletter to receive updates on events.
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