Wet Plate Collodion Workshop with Kristian Roosmalen

The Wet Plate Collodion Workshop is designed to introduce participants to the fascinating world of 19th-century photography techniques. Participants will learn and create a unique glass plate image using the wet plate collodion process.

Date: 20 April 2024

Location: PCP Darkroom

Workshop Outline

9:00 AM–9:30 AM: Welcome and Introduction

Registration, welcome coffee, and networking

Introduction to the workshop and its historical significance

Brief History and Theory of Wet Plate Collodion

Overview of the wet plate collodion process

Historical context and significance in photography

Understanding the chemicals and equipment

Hands-On Collodion Preparation

Safety guidelines for handling chemicals

Preparing collodion solution

Coating glass plates with collodion

12:00 PM – 12.30 PM: Lunch Break (Light lunch provided)

Creating Exposures

Setting up large format camera

Understanding exposure times

Capturing images on glass plates: Students will each make an image.

Developing and Fixing

Developing glass plates using a darkroom setup

Fixing and washing the plates

Group discussion and critique

Participants present their glass plate images
Sharing resources for further exploration and presentation of glass plates

5PM – 6PM Social Sundowner

Participants are invited to join us for post-workshop refreshments

Materials Supplied

Large format camera
Glass plates
Collodion chemicals
Darkroom equipment
Safety gear

What Participants Will Take Home

Their own wet plate collodion print on glass
A deeper understanding of the wet plate collodion process
Inspiration and knowledge to continue exploring this historical photographic technique

Registration Fee

Members: $288

Non-members: $320

Concession: $299

Max participants: 5

About the facilitator

Kristian Roosmalen is a photographic artist hailing from Wales, UK, finding his new home in Cervantes, Western Australia in 2022. Shortly after arriving in WA, Kristian garnered acclaim as a finalist in the CLIP Award and the Melville Art Award. These recent accolades serve as a testament to his dedication to his creative practice. What sets Kristian's work apart is his deep-seated fascination with the ethereal quality of black and white photography rendered by the wet plate process. Each image he creates bears a unique imprint of history, transcending time and place to encapsulate a sense of timelessness.

With a remarkable new presence in WA’s creative landscape, Kristian is an artist whose journey is marked by both recognition and relentless artistic exploration in black and white wet plate collodion photography.

Image © Kristian Roosmalen, Under The Bridge

See full image here