World Wet Plate Day

Music | Cloud Nice by Ben Howard

World Wet Plate Day, a day to celebrate the life of Frederick Scott Archer, the creator of the Wet Plate Collodion Process. Just as I did last year, I again decided to be a part of the shooters using the old technique to honor the master. I also planned and thought of this day weeks in advance. I had a plan B of shooting in a studio in the event the weather was bad, which we've had quite a bit of. My chemicals and plates were all at the ready. I even had 3 models I thought I'd be able to photograph. Turns out only one showed, but we managed to make some fantastic plates. Ayme turned out to be wonderful. Hopefully a regular muse as you can see why...







This has only been the 2nd time I've shot Wet Plates this year. Rain and cold has just put a damper on trying to go at it. My outdoor studio still utilizing a wonderful soft north light, still has no roof, there is only waiting that can be done.

My second season of shooting Wet Plates has me very excited. I still know I have a lot of improvement to achieve, but I feel I'm going in the right direction.

Jes, Train Tracks and a Bridge...

Music | Goodbye Pork Pie Hat by Charles Mingus

Cold, bone chilling winds, a great location and the possibility of the law to take us away, we quickly forged ahead to get these shots. I had seen this spot only from afar, but looked exactly as I had imagine when we got up there. Because this bridge crosses the Columbia river, I knew security would be tight, but I still thought we would be able to get in and out fast enough. After not even 5 minutes, as we made out way back down to the car, I saw the Police drive up and I knew we would be questioned. After convincing the officer we were there only to shoot these photos, of which he was quite impressed with, I think, he still got our identification and called dispatch to make sure we weren't on the 10 most dangerous wanted list.

The tracks and bridge was our second location and we only spent just a little more time at the first. Though cloudless skies looked inviting, I was reminded of how the midwest blue skies with frigid temps always fooled me.

Jes was a wonderful subject making the best of the conditions that we had to deal with. The results turned out fantastic.


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Fashionable Art

Music | Angel by Weekend Players

This personal project came out of a desire to take my artistic side of photography into a more profound realm I have not dabbled in before. With my subject matter and concept, I had to come up with an idea to submit to an exhibition that dealt with alternative forms of photography, where my wet plate collodion would fit into perfectly. That being the major intention of moving forward with this project, I knew also the idea of creating fashionable art would come into play. I had to photograph this digitally as well for documentation purposes, not only for myself, but my muse and model, and the creator of the great head pieces by Françoise Weeks, one of the premiere floral designers in the region.

Here are only a few of the many photographs that came out as "Art Posters" from this series. Keep in mind Françoise and I are intending on growing this series in the near future. Though not necessarily in the tradition of what Photo Privé is all about, I think the beauty of stretching the limits will be appreciated.


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A Portrait

Music | Meditations for Moses by Charlie Mingus

Who Are You?

Independent woman, mother of 2. Provocative and not afraid to show it. Capture the woman that is you.

Photo Privé is a photographer of the fine art of photographing women. Wall flower? Dominatrix? Collaborate and create a work of art that is you that will be a testament of who you are, who you were, or who you want to be…

Just Because...

Music | NR. 7 Baritone Sax by Peter Brotzmann

Honest Emotion...

Music | Black Melt by Massive Attack

I really enjoy my sessions with repeat clientele. Over a period of time, veils begin to drop and slowly, out emerges the another person, the real person. No facade, no fantasy... My subject is comfortable enough to let go, even for a moment where she is in her own thoughts and forgets she is in front of a camera... Sometimes I'm lucky like that and even more lucky I am able to capture it. Sam here was on a roll and I managed to decipher the source of what occupied her thoughts... I could at almost any moment bring up that source and out would come an honest and real emotion of bliss...



Your secret is safe with me, Sam...