Introduction; Fredrick Scott Archer 1813-1857
The inventor of the Wet collodion process was considered a pioneer within the development of photography, as his process dominated the photography market from 1851-1880. The process was discovered during a period where practitioners were experimenting to produce a process that was quicker and more accessible than its predecessors. The wet collodion allowed photographers to produce impeccably detailed glass plate prints. The photography market had an opening for this style of photography where re-production was possible, this process allowed photography to become accessible for all and cost effective compared to the daguerreotype that was only afforded by the upper class.
Ancient practitioner
His portraits created by the process has to be applauded, he adopted this new format during its infancy and produced a successful body of work. The portraits lost their succession against his documentation of the civil war, 1990.
Contemporary practitioner
Lisa Elmaleh combines a modern outlook with an ancient process to produce a body of work that is both personal and innovating. A full statement can be found on her website, alongside the full body of work.
Another interesting addition on her website is her professional blog which allows her target audience to see what methods are used during projects; http://oldpapersheets.blogspot.co.uk/
Work overview
It was definitely a rewarding experience to create our own wet plate, especially when I consider how little the process is practised.
Conclusion
“More than a search for comfort steers photographers back in time to work in archival methods when the rest of reality is navigating a high-tech future at warp speed". (18th December 2008, second paragraph) http://marksinkphotography.blogspot.co.uk/2008_12_01_archive.html?zx=e144e92b5addd0f1
The phrase sums up why the wet collodion is still being used within the digital age but juxtaposing how the digital age is wiping out chemical processes.
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