The Victorian Photography Workshop

Open to all adults, particularly with an interest in photography. No experience required.

This workshop covers the important developments in early photography, from Fox Talbot (1834) to the Box Brownie (1900), coinciding almost exactly with the reign of Queen Victoria. We will talk about the early experiments and historical importance of photography, covering Niepce and Daguerre (we won’t be making Daguerrotypes, unfortunately, because it’s too dangerous!).

Then we will look at Fox Talbot’s salted paper and make paper negatives with “mousetrap” cameras. In weeks 3 and 4 we will have a go at wet plate collodion, an amazing process invented in 1851. Wet plate “tintypes” (on metal plates) and “ambrotypes” (on glass plates) were the most widely used photographic media until around 1880, eventually made obsolete by dry plates and film, which we will cover in weeks 5 and 6.

Throughout the course we will be using replica Victorian cameras and genuine Victorian era lenses, with a temporary darkroom, where everyone will be able to see and try out the processes. Participant should be prepared to sit as models as well as take photos, and everyone will get their own portraits to take home.

You will learn a LOT about photography, lighting, exposure, composition, styling, the effects of aperture, shutter speed, and all the media outlined above. We hope that you will rediscover photography with a renewed and deepened understanding and enthusiasm!

• History of early photography
• Paper negatives
• Wet plate collodion
• Dry plates and film

Materials
All materials and equipment will be provided, including:
cameras, lenses, lights, darkroom equipment, photographic paper, chemicals, film, metal and glass plates and whatever other paraphenalia we need.
Students are invited to bring items of clothing and accessories suitable for portraiture, particularly any period items such as hats, canes, cravats and anything else that will help us make interesting images.

Tutors
Pete & Simon (Teddington Tintype), run a photographic portrait studio using the historic wet plate collodion process.