Entities Series - Wet Plate Collodion
The process I used to develop this series, the wet plate collodion process, was first introduced in the 1850’s. It is a very labor intensive and time consuming process. Having said that, it has been the most rewarding for me by pushing me to my full potential as an artist and image-maker. Growing up in this current generation, we witnessed the rise of the digital age, and in a way, the fall of film. Furthermore, we have become guilty of relying on that sense of instant gratification in our everyday lives. And while that’s not necessarily a bad thing for many, sometimes it’s good to remind ourselves of how we got here. My choice to photograph friends and peers, all ranging in ages from their early to late 20’s, was driven by this very idea. Upon photographing my models, I brought each one of them into the darkroom and showed them how this process works, giving them some insight as to how people did photography many years before our time. I also had each person style themselves in order to showcase their unique personality and individuality, giving way to the fact that each person is their own separate entity, much like a tin type. All a part of the same generation, but each one of a kind. During the creation of this series, I had to learn the step-by-step process of what it takes to create a tintype. I messed up multiple times, resulting in everything from minor imperfections on the plate to complete underexposure. Through it all, my mentor kept reminding me to slow down. I believe this is something that we all need to do from time to time, especially in this day and age where everything is so easily accessible at our fingertips. Just slow down. Stop trying to rush everything for that instant gratification that we’ve become so accustomed to. Enjoy the beauty of what life has to offer, or take a little extra time to perfect your craft. Get in touch with a time when life was simpler, devoid of all of the unnecessary distractions that come with today. Whatever it may be, it never hurts to take your time. It’s all a part of the process of being alive.
