The first step of this process, actually begins in the dark room by preparing the metal plate. I pour collodion on the surface of the plate and rock it to get an even coating, and when the collodion gets sticky enough, I insert it into the silver nitrate bath for a couple of minutes.

    During this time you would be seated outside and posed in front of the camera. Its important to have the image framed before the photograph is taken. My Dad, Clem, will talk you through the history of the Wet Plate Collodion process and how the camera works. You'll even get the opportunity to look through the camera to see what we see when we compose a photograph!

Once the plate is ready from being in the silver nitrate bath, I take it out and put in the plate holder. I come out to the camera to do a final focus, insert the plate holder onto the camera and we are ready to take the photograph! This also when 'hold stil'l, really really counts.

Once the photograph has been taken, you can follow me back to the darkroom where the development process begins. There are no pictures to show this step, because I have to do them under a red safelight. I have a red window in the front of my darkroom so you are able to see me do this step. 
I take the plate out of the plate holder and I pour developer on, The goal of this it to keep as much developer on the plate and agitate it till a negative image appears. I then rinse it off with water to stop this process. 

The last step to completing the tintype is putting it into our fixing tank. This transforms the plate from a negative image, to a positive one. 

After that, I wash it in distilled water, dry it, varnish it and frame it in a paper matte. 



*If you wish to put your tintype in a picture frame, make sure the tintype never touches the glass! If that occurs, over time the plate can fuse with the glass and completely destroy the image*

A big thank you to Lisa Ostrowski Photography for photographing her experience!