Collodion Magic Without the Mess
“The collodion photographic process, invented by Frederick Scott Archer in 1851, involves coating a glass or metal plate with collodion, sensitizing it with silver nitrate, and exposing it while still wet. The plate is then developed and fixed immediately using sodium thiosulfate or potassium cyanide. This rapid process, requiring a portable darkroom, yields high-resolution images with fine detail and a unique, ethereal quality.”
Imagine the collodion process, but now you’re doing it digitally
because who has time for a portable darkroom and chemicals that sound like they could melt your face off? Here’s how it goes:
All images are copyright 2024 by Andrea Bigiarini - All rights reserved.
Step one: You take your sleek, overpriced smartphone—because, of course, we’re all photographers now—and slap on a filter that makes your image look like it was dipped in vintage nostalgia and regret. The digital ether and alcohol mix right on your screen, without the stink or the mess.
Step two: Snap a shot of your subject—probably your dog, because dogs don’t complain about how they look in photos. Watch as your screen turns that pristine image into something that looks like it’s been dragged through time, kicking and screaming.
Step three: Hit that develop button, which, in reality, is just a fancy way of saying, “Let the app do its magic.” Watch as it creates an image that’s part haunting Victorian portrait, part modern-day selfie nightmare.
Step four: Share it on social media, where it gets lost in the sea of everyone else’s attempts at being ironically retro.
Your friends will comment with hearts and fire emojis, pretending they understand the artistry, but really they’re just hoping you’ll like their next post.