This posting serves the purpose of providing some more information on collodion, materials necessary, sources and possibly demystifying what is needed and some of the items involved.

Obviously this is just a perfunctory  conversation about collodion.

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In my view it is great for one to take a workshop on collodion but not necessary to do collodion. It is great  because it is easier to learn by doing it. It is great to best understand what is needed and also because of resources and because there are many different recipes for making collodion and process nuances.

In the world of collodion there are those who are universally recognized as the highest exponents and none stands out larger than Mark Osterman: http://www.collodion.org/

I suggest that you purchase Mark’s book called “The Wet Plate Process: a working guide” which is very comprehensive. You can obtain it from his website. I also highly advise you to purchase “The Contemporary Wet Plate Collodion Experience’ by Quinn Jacobson. The reason I suggest it is because it has suggestions about usage of ambrotypes for other alternative photography, namely to make salt prints, albumen prints, etc… and above all because it has the most comprehensive explanation of how seriously dangerous the chemicals being used are.

The following chemicals are used in collodion and any number of them can induce serious health problems including death by touch or by inhaling or drinking: Collodion, U.S.P; Ethyl Ether; Acetic Acid, Glacial; Potassium Cyanide; Potassium Iodide; Potassium Bromide; Ferrous Sulfate; Sodium Thiosulfate; Silver Nitrate.

Here is a link to Quinn Jacobson’s website: http://www.studioq.com/

Both books cite sources,  provide resources and where you can purchase any necessary items.

Tintypes are made of tin (albeit a special type) and ambrotypes are made of glass.  It is the same process for both although the finishing is different for the ambrotypes. Here are a series of links where the steps are exemplified:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gyf8fQOdvDs

Here is a visual roll of some of the items I use on my making of tintypes and ambrotypes:

Boxes made to measure for the usage of collodion.

Some items used for collodion. The amber jars are a must. Also note the sharpening stone needed to smooth out edges on the ambrotype glass. Missing are the cleaning products needed to polish the glass prior to usage.

Here the following items; tin for tintypes; glass for ambrotypes and glass cutter; two types of producing a flame necessary for the varnishing of the plates; pH test strips; precision hydrometer; two types of sensitive scales to measure chemical items; a 4×5 film pack adapter for Graflex my fave to expose tintypes and ambrotypes.

Two lenses from the 1800s; three different 4×5 cameras (my kit for collodion); again a 4×5 film pack adapter for Graflex (open for a better view).

Check it out how beautiful a collodion wet plate can be: http://www.prifti.net/

If you are interested in sources please contact me via e-mail. Hope this helps.

Just posted a review of this 35mm film rangefinder over at my blog and thought I’d post here to add to the “Articles” category;

http://lawrenceripsher.com/blog/2010/01/zeiss-ikon-review.html

Cheers,

Lawrence

Someone asked for us to post these so here you go… These are the steps that saved me :)

http://lawrenceripsher.com/blog/2010/01/instructions-for-developing-black-and-white-film.html

Just posted a review of this lens over on my blog

Started a multi part series review on my blog as I work my way through my experience with the 5D. Feel free to swing by and take a gander. www.lawrenceripsher.com