Discover the fascinating world of photography history and the wet plate collodion process during our exclusive portrait shoot day! Experience the entire process of taking a portrait with our 4×5 inch camera.

We cast and sensitize the plate, take your portrait and offer a glimpse into our mobile darkroom where you can follow the craft development process of your portrait step by step. From fixing to the moment the image appears, rinsing and varnishing the plate: you will gain a complete insight into this layered historical photography technique. Afterwards you will not only return home with a handmade portrait, but also with a deeper understanding of how these unique portraits were created in 1851.

Wet plate collodion is a traditional photographic technique that was invented in 1851. This is the last photographic technique in which every step of the process is carried out completely manually. With this method, a kind of film layer (made of collodion) is manually poured onto a plate. This is then made light-sensitive with silver. This creates a 15 minute window to take a photo before the plate needs to be developed. In the process we sensitize the plate, expose it for the desired image, and develop it immediately on site before the chemicals dry. This traditional method results in unique portraits with a
characteristic aesthetics where the manual process, chemistry, actions and limited exposure time have a direct influence on the end result. This interplay makes every photo unique.

Ward Collin and Wouter Elsen work together under the name AgNO3000 on the historic photographic process of wet plate collodion. The process lies at the crossroads of art and craft and with their research they want to, on the one hand, explore how photography was experienced in the 19th century, and on the other hand, investigate how this historical process can be given a place in the speed of the digital age in the 21st century.

There are two shoots per half hour, tickets go per half hour, see the schedule here (take into account some waiting time):

10h30: two portrait shoots

11h00: two portrait shoots

11h30: two portrait shoots

12h00 Break + varnish

12h45 Pick up photos

13h00: two portrait shoots

13h30: two portrait shoots

14h00: two portrait shoots

14h30: two portrait shoots

15h Break + varnish

15h50 Pick up photos

16h00: two portrait shoots

16h30: two portrait shoots

17h00: varnish

Pick up photos between 17h30 and 18h00