Wet plate photography

 This type of photography is when the photo is taken onto a metal plate. It was said to be invented by Fredrick Scott Archer and Gustave Le Gray in around 1851. A picture made through wet plate photography is made through these steps:

• put the metal plate into a film holder
• put silver nitrate into a flat container
• put some fixer into the same container
• clean the metal plate off and pour collodian onto in
• make the plate light sensitive with collodian and silver nitraite
• turn the lights off let it sit for 3 mins
• have the camera already set up and focused for the subject
• place the film into the camera and take the picture
• put it into the developer for 10-15 seconds then water wash it for 10-15 seconds
• then put it into the fixer, the photo will then show

This is an image showing the process of wet plate photography:

Overall I think that wet plate photography can be a good method of photography as it can produce good pictures that can have contrasting colours. It can also be a good way for people who like to have hands on methods of making and producing photos. However, it can be time consuming as there is lots to do to produce the image. It can also be costly as there is lots of equipment needed to produce the photo. Also if a mistake is made or the photo does not come out right then the whole process must be done again, it also only lets one photo be produced unlike digital cameras which can produce many copies.

This is an image taken using wet plate photography, I like the way that the hair of the girl looks and the contrast between the hair and the girls body:

This is another photo taken using wet plate photography, I like this photo as the girls face is what is in focus. I like that the light is centred on the girl and that there is contrasting colours of black and white:

Source: https://fstoppers.com/portraits/step-step-guide-wet-plate-photography-2540

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collodion_process