ambrotypes

Wild America

Watch the ambrotype process

The process of creating ambrotypes is highly skilled and complex, requiring the photographer to have a deep understanding of chemistry, optics, and artistry. Each ambrotype is a unique, one-of-a-kind image that cannot be easily replicated.

To create a wet plate collodion ambrotype, the glass plate is first coated with collodion and then dipped into a solution of silver nitrate. This process sensitizes the plate to light. The plate is then loaded into a camera and the image is exposed. The plate must be developed immediately after exposure while still wet, which is why this process is called a "wet plate" process.

The exposed plate is developed by pouring a developer solution onto the plate, which causes the image to appear. The plate is then washed with water, which stops the development process, and then fixed with a solution of sodium thiosulfate, which prevents the image from fading over time.

The resulting image is a direct positive, meaning that the image appears as a positive, rather than a negative on the glass plate. The ambrotype is in fact the original and cannot be easily reproduced like a modern photograph.

The Wild America ambrotypes have a distinctive aesthetic quality that also gives the landscapes a sense of depth and luminosity that is not typically seen in modern photography. The imperfections and artifact of the process add to the character and beauty of each original image.