• Welcome to Photrio!
    Registration is fast and free. Join today to unlock search, see fewer ads, and access all forum features.
    Click here to sign up

interested in wetplate collodions


will do david this will be my first time so i think it gonna be a long time before it get done.
 

That about covers the basics. In modern holders, it's usually a square box with a darkslide in front, a latching hinged door in the back with some kind of spring to put pressure on the photographic plate, and one or more plexiglass inserts with corners to hold the plate. You don't really need a lot of extra depth to capture the silver - while the plate is wet, and it will drip silver nitrate, it's not like you're carrying a soaked paper towel. You'll probably want to keep an old hair towel or tea towel on hand to support the plate holder so it doesn't drip on the floor while you're transporting it from silver bath to camera, and remember to wipe down the plexiglass and the interior of the plate holder between each plate to avoid contamination.
 
I've been doing some more looking around, and I now have a pretty good idea of what I want to build - based on some original C19th cameras. The camera will be another sliding box camera, with rise and fall on the front (just like the one I've just finished), and then the camera back will be a slide-in affair so that the wetplate back will slide in at the top after the ground glass has been removed.

Now I just need the time...
 
Last edited by a moderator:
daveandiputra said:
i too are now interested to build my own camera david i got a how to ebook by Jon Grepstad, and now trying it out in sketchup (google 3D app).
I would be interested in your plans for the wet plate holder, if it's ok i want to copy it.
Click to expand...

I've sketched out the camera back and nested box (inner) on Google Sketchup if you're interested? I'm just about to start on the actual wetplate holder...
 
vickersdc said:
I've sketched out the camera back and nested box (inner) on Google Sketchup if you're interested? I'm just about to start on the actual wetplate holder...
Click to expand...

of course david can you send it to my email? adninzain(at)gmail(dot)com many thanks..
 

Looks good, but I've not got that far yet - I'm still designing the camera

Remember that you will need to modify an existing darkslide, or build a wetplate holder. And you'll need a holder for the silver nitrate. And the ability to pour, shoot, develop & process in a short time-frame. If you want to find out more, then I suggest looking up http://www.collodion.com and for inspiration take a look at Quinn Jacobson's work.

Cheers,
David.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register