Artist Note #33 – OPAL AIR and Collodion Process Research (Wet Plate Process)
June 26, 2025
The Heat of Summer
It’s been a scorcher during the month of June. We had some weird cooler weather in May, but it was looking brutal the past few days. But with the heat wave comes some news: I will be an artist-in-residence at the Oak Park Art League. Last year, I applied and discussed some timing/options with the Executive Director, and the summer seemed like the best fit. Beginning in July through September, I will be throwing myself into a new studio space on the second floor (without A/C) to work on some photo ideas that have been swirling around in my head.
Research in Alternative Photo Processes
Although the studio space on the second floor has windows and is not attached to a darkroom, I think there are some ways I can work on some of my ideas. I tried mordancage during graduate school, which allowed me to manipulate the emulsion on the photo paper. And I dabbled in cyanotypes, but the fabric and color dye choices felt like the wrong move and direction.
About ten years ago, I attended a workshop on the wet plate/collodion process. It was quite a cool, fun experimental way to work in photography. I didn’t have old cameras I could refit plates to photograph the subject(s). However, I came into possession of some discarded analog cameras. I cleaned them up, and now I am researching ways to make tintypes from smaller medium-format plates.
Above: Tintype made in 2014-2015.
Collodion Process – Resources
I am almost 100% sure I know where to get some of the materials to make this work. I thought it would be good to list the websites where I read some helpful articles for future reference. If there are other sites you recommend, please feel free to share.
Tintype ISO 1 (yes, that’s right – ISO 1)
Daguerreotypes, Ambrotypes, and Tintypes – Background
Places to purchase materials:
The tricky thing is I want to use some medium format cameras instead of 4x/5 cameras, so I need to make tintypes that can fit 2.5″x 2.5″ plates inside those cameras.
Exhibition News Front
And before I forget, I have a couple of cool things to share:
1. RoCo 6×6 Exhibition
I saw a submission to support the Rochester Contemporary Art Center’s annual $20 sale on works of art that are 6″x6″. I thought, “What a great idea to support art and the community.” Well, after scrolling through RoCo’s website, I found my piece, and it was sold!
View this post on Instagram
2. Griffin Museum of Photography’s Vision(ary) Outdoor Exhibition
Film Scrolls will be seen for the first time in print in Winchester, MA. It’s wild to know that the project started in NJ/NY and ended in IL, and gets a new life through an outdoor exhibition. The images on the website are a small sample of the work. So if you’re in the MA area and can visit the work. Check it out, and let me know.
View this post on Instagram
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