A few people have asked about my faux wet plate collodion photos, so I’ve included more info about them below (please feel free to skip my rambling). Either way, the above is ‘Statue to Painting’ by Louis Saint-Gaudens (it flanks the St. Louis Art Museum’s main entrance along with Daniel Chester French’s ‘Statue to Sculpture’). Both were done in plaster for the 1904 World’s Fair and later reproduced in marble. Have a great weekend, everyone!
About this image: digital photograph heavily modified to replicate wet plate collodion (see below)
Nothing holds a candle to real wet plate collodion, but until I can bankroll the set-up and find a place to store chemistry I have to ‘fake it’.
In-camera tips: In my opinion, you’ve got two choices… replicate ‘period’, or create an obviously contemporary image. Anything in between feels suspect to me (like someone tried to go old and missed). If you want to replicate a period image be sure to remove any/all modern elements from your shot. For interior portraiture, try using a tripod, natural lighting, shallow depth of field and a long exposure. Period lenses required long exposure times, so I think some blur from accidental sitter movement adds to the feel.
The plate: I use clear acrylic sheets (like those used for framing/glazing). They’re relatively cheap, and thin ones are easy to cut/break, too. I get mine from Blick Art Materials.
The ‘collodin’: I use a water-based polyurethane (from a home store – you could experiment with a fairly fluid gel medium, glue, etc., too). Basically all I do is ‘flow’ polyurethane over an acrylic sheet, and then dry it. That simple. How it dries creates various effects. Letting the whole thing dry slowly/completely produces a fairly smooth, translucent ‘pool’. Allowing the edges to dry and then rinsing off the center produces a perimeter ‘ridge’ and flow-like streaks (the longer the plate dries the further that edge creeps in). Using a hot hairdryer creates wrinkles. Other tips include pressing a finger into the polyurethane while tacky to create a fingerprint, and/or scoring/breaking off a corner. I then throw the plate on a flatbed scanner (using a black backdrop) and pull it into Photoshop where I ‘layer’ it with a photograph using various blending modes, curves/levels/contrast adjustments, etc. If you find there are too many ‘artifacts’ in your plate or a few distract from your photo you can airbrush those out/back.
Editing tips: Find a good example of a real collodion image for a guide to curves/levels/contrast/tint adjustments, etc. Mask off the edges of your photo along the polyurethane ‘edge/ridge/perimeter’. Also, some early lenses had an interesting swirly bokeh (when shot wide open), which can be replicated (kind of) with a Radial Blur (masked/faded off from the center outward). And the original images are/were mirrored, so don’t forget to ‘flip’ your photo (especially if it includes text, etc.).
As always, if anyone has specific questions, I’m happy to help if I can!
Wow, brilliant work! I’m gonna try this try this method out to. Thank you for the lesson. You have a great weekend too. π
Thanks so much, B.P.! You should! I think you’d have fun with it… and I’m sure you would get some great results, too!
π
The explanation hurt my head. The image pleased my eyes.
Glad to hear you liked this one, N.M… thank you!
Hahaha… I’m pretty sure it was the ‘explainer’ that caused the headache…
(I sure wish I had your way with words!)
π
Cool image, Robert, and that explanation is very interesting to me. You are so inventive!
Thank you so much, S.E.!
I guess it was one of those ‘necessity is the mother of invention’ moments…
I really, really love this process, and since I don’t have the opportunity to work with it right now it seemed a little experimentation / fakery was in order…
π
Yeah, I mean, it may be too obvious to mention, but this is my favourite part about your work. The final result always impresses me, but you make it look effortless enough that I never have any idea what went into it, so seeing your methods is always shocking. I guess if I was observant, I’d realize there’s some crazy shit going on here, but I’m so visceral about art that it’s either “pretty picture!!!” or “meh” with me.
This is pretty, for the record.
Never a dull moment, U.M…
you should see it… there’s always crazy s**t going on around here! Seriously though, it’s all part of the fun (when it works)! I never mind spending a ridiculous amount of time working on a project or experimenting with a process in general. When I wind up with nothing to show for it, though… that’s a real kick in the pants. Happens a lot more than I’d care to admit.
π
You explained it…but I still don’t get it. that’s why I prefer to just enjoy your work versus replicating it.
Hahaha… sorry about that, Bearman…
I should have asked Annabelle to translate that rant into something sensical (words are not really my friends, you know…)
π
God tips. Your image has originality and interesting, indeed.
Have a great day. π
Thank you very much, sir!
That’s one of the things I like the most about this process…
the results are always different and a bit unexpected!
π
I don’t understand all your wrote,but I love this image! Great piece, Bob!!
Deb xx
Sorry about that, Deb…
I got a bit out of control with that whole rant!
I’m very happy to hear you liked this one, too!
π
Well done ! Thanks for the information. Some of my plastic textures came about through something similar. My wife paints on wood slabs. They have been cut so that they have an oval shape with the bark still intact on the edges. After the painting she covers them in a coating mix similar to what you’ve described. I scanned the left over drippings for the texture layer.
AH! Very interesting, sir! I was curious where some of your textures came from! You are always so good about sharing/helping out with that – it’s very kind of you!
π
I would say I’m going to try this out, but I’m still mastering crayons. This is really cool!
Hahaha…
I’m impressed by anyone who can master crayons, Ms. N!
This is much easier to do!
π
Neat piece π
Thank you very much, Eden!
π
Within the photographer and artist lies a writer/teacher. This is all kinds of good – the creation/photo/picture and the description/instruction. Me? I’m good at using back-slashes / forward-slashes \.
Hahaha…
I sure hope I didn’t drive you crazy with all of that slashing…
The worst part (maybe) is I couldn’t have even told you which was a back-slash and which was forward-slash!
\ Yikes / !
π
Oh my gosh! I didn’t even notice your use of slashes! Hilarious. I’m wickedly observant, SIG. Obviously,
I think how many I used is the funny part!
I’m out of control, Ms. D!
Send for help!
π
I admire your skills to manipulate a photo…I know I can’t begin to do that. I haven’t even mastered photoshop yet…hmmmm, must be an age issue…lol π
Hahaha… not at all, Mary! It just takes some time to learn where the more common stuff is at. I think it’s the fact there is so much to Photoshop that scares some people off, but if you give it a chance you’ll learn the tools that typically work best for you. I only know/use enough to be mildly dangerous, but it is a lot of fun.
π
Interesting result, SIG. π
And they’re always a bit different, too! Which only adds to the fun!
Thank you, Nancy!
π
From this very well detailed posting I can see that you are not only a wickedly fine artist, but an excellently fine teacher also, Indeed even I could try this technique with your wickedly stylish guide…
Of course my offering would be a cross between a Tramps Breakfast and a Zombies Spattered ‘T’ Shirt, or vice versa π¦ lol Thank you for adding such a well presented post with a Genius twist π
Androgoth
That is terribly kind of you, sir!
I wouldn’t mind being a teacher, but as you can see I really trip over my words… not a very pretty sight!
Hahaha… sounds like a very creative idea to me, A.G. – which is half the battle! I’d love to see what you would come up with!
π
Now by “specific questions” you are referring only to your photograph, right? Just checking, hate to make a complete fool of myself AGAIN π
Not at all! I’m open to any/all questions. Of course, I may have to plead the fifth…
(I don’t recall you ever making a complete fool of yourself, Loon)!
π
π Really? You are in for a treat!!!
Hahaha…
I’m on the edge of my seat, Loon!
π
That’s great! You need to make this post a sticky on your blog! Very cool to see how you put it all together. π
Thank you so much, Mr. B!
Not sure I’m even sure how that works!
I should probably look into that – I’m such a lazy blogger!
π
I tried to understand the explanation but I realized it might just be easier to send all my photos to you.
Hahaha…
Sorry, G.G…
I could sure use your literary skills!
(So, was I supposed to edit the photo of you on the left-side of the ‘scenic pull-out’ or the one of you on the right of it?
π
I really like the image, and I really like the explanation! That was very interesting. I imagine you could get some interesting effects by using solvent-based polyurethane or cleaners that would attack the plastic and etch it in different ways.
Thank you very much, sir!
Hey! That’s a great thought! I suspect you are really onto something there!
π
Love it. The ‘fake’ technique seems to work wonderfully for you. π
Thank you very much, Annabelle!
Some of them turn out okay…
I guess. Kinda.
π
I had to have a wet plate collodian when I turned 50. Nothing much to the procedure, but drinking the prep solution was nasty.
Hahahaha…
agreed! Especially if they gave you the traditional fixer (it’s Potassium Cyanide)!
π
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU DA MAN!
Delta
And you are too kind, Delta…
thank you!
I hope this helped out a bit
(it’s a lot simpler than I probably made it sound, too)!
π
All I can handle is…point and shoot! Love the way it turned out even though the process is way over my head. However, I can speak intelligently about boogers, farts and rap music all day long…well sorta!
Sometimes that’s best, Nancy (although something tells me you are selling yourself far to short on that one)!
Hahaha… SPEECH! SPEECH! SPEECH!
π
This is an interesting technique. I shall be content to admire your work. π
And I am very happy you take the time to stop by to look at it
(and leave such nice comments, too)!
Thank you!
π
It’s all a bit technical to me. I’ll just leave it all up to you & enjoy your end results.
P.S. Any chance of throwing in the occasional Spilled Ink cartoon amongst the photos. You know I love them.
Hahaha… sorry for the snooze there, Tony…
I got a bit long winded with that silly explanation!
That is very kind of you, Mr. M… to tell you the truth I haven’t made any new cartoons in years now… maybe some day…
π
I will patiently await one…
Like the new template style too
Thanks, Mr. M…
I thought the darker background set-off the images a bit more…
and the old header seemed a bit distracting, too (as it was located so close to the latest posted image)…
π
I love the edges on this picture! It looks like a very complicated editing process. @0@
Thank you very much, Cristina!
It’s not terribly complicated, but it does take a little while to put these together.
π
St. Louis has an art museum? All we have in the southwest area of Missouri is a peanut butter (George Washington Carver) museum.
Hahaha…
sounds like it would add at least 20 pounds…
π
Magnificent work again my friend you are truly talented π
Thank you so much, Jake!
I had a lot of fun putting this one together…
I was very happy to hear you liked it!
π
Very informative Bob – I’ve always viewed your work as that of an artist who uses photographic media. thanks for an insight into one of your methods π
Ps – enjoyed the finished artwork – got so involved in the info about how it was done that I forgot to say so! π
Thank you very much, sir!
I enjoyed putting this one together…
(and I got a trip to the museum out of it, too)!
π
That is so kind, Martin!
I thank you very much – of course I think the same of you and your work as well!
π
Thanks Bob – Not so artistic as your good self – more of a realtime view π
I’d say there’s real art in that, too, Martin!
π
You always post such beautiful work, Bob, so I have an award for you.
http://adamsart.wordpress.com/2012/01/14/one-lovely-blog-award/
Deb xx
It was so kind of you to think of me, Deb!
I’m flattered! Thank you very, very much!
π
ok, i didn’t really follow all that. i’ll leave it up to you, and just look at the pretty pictures.
Sorry about that, U.M…
every time I re-read it the less sense it seems to make to me, too!
Not a good sign!
π
Those are great tips! Thanks for sharing. It’s really interesting to read about your process. How long does it take you to complete one image?
It really depends the image…
how long I let the plate dry, and how long I actually edit the photograph (both can vary quite a bit). I guess maybe an hour and up… maybe? Sorry I don’t have a better answer (I tend to completely lose track of time when I’m working on these things)!
π
Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge SIG!
I just hope some of it made sense
(after I re-read this I had my doubts)!
Thank you, C.O.R.!
π
Simply lovely!
Thank you very, very much, Dishy!
π
wow, amazing. thanks for all the info.
a bit beyond my tech abilities, so i will admire yours for now.
thank you for sharing π
Not at all, P&K!
I think I just made it sound more difficult than it rally is
(I have a tendency to get a bit long-winded with these things)!
π
Beautiful artistry, SIG.
I’m always eager to see the creative new art work you share. This method is really brilliant.
I’ve got the simpliest equipment but I think I might try to do the mess around with this π
Thank you so much, S.F.!
If it sounds interesting to you, I think you should definitely give it a try! I don’t really have the most elaborate equipment, either (that’s why I started doing this), but it’s a lot of fun, and it will usually provide some unusual / interesting results, too! π
This looks like it would make the best shadow box subject, especially with different edging for each layer… I love collodions. I really like the smudges on this one.
Red.
Thank you so much, Red!
Isn’t collodion awesome?! I sure hope I can make real ones someday!
π
Love your work .
But what i like more, is knowing how the magic works.
Thank you so much for the written tutorial.
I have so many question on your how-to’s LOL.
Ever think of doing a PS like tutorial on here?!
You stated:
” Find a good example of a real collodion image for a guide to curves/levels/contrast/tint adjustments, etc”
What do you mean by that? Do you mean, scan the photo and do a histogram or curves chart to see how it is on that particular photo and replicate it?
.What software are you using?
Once again, fantastic job
Delta
Thank you so very much for the kind words! I sincerely appreciate that!!!
I have considered doing a PS tutorial before… but I’m not sure if this would be the place I’d post it or not (I pretty much exclusively feature finished images here… still a very good idea, though… I might try it at some point)!
Oh, no… I’m sorry… I didn’t mean anything as complicated as that. I just meant that sometimes finding examples help me make decisions about contrast / range of lights vs. darks /tonality etc. Unfortunately I don’t have a general histogram trick (although I suspect that would be difficult to do as many images start off with such a unique histogram).
For these images I’ve used Photoshop (CS3)… I’m pretty sure you could get by with an older version, and newer versions would definitely do the trick!
Thank you again, Delta! Very much!
π