This portrait series celebrates Lane County artists and artisans through traditional wet plate collodion tintype portraits. While immersing myself in learning this historic photographic technique, I wanted my first project in the medium to honor other artists and artisans who utilize historical processes, hone their craft, work with their hands and keep creative traditions alive through their work.

Wet plate collodion is a photographic technique created in 1851. It requires the plate (traditionally metal or glass) be coated, sensitized, exposed and developed within fifteen minutes, necessitating a portable darkroom for use in the field. Working with a view camera and an antique brass lens outdoors with natural light, I’m creating one of a kind 4×5 tintypes. This is a slow process, an experience quite different from modern digital photography, and allows for a different type of collaboration between myself and the sitter. This process makes for incredibly personal, intimate and unique portraits. I’m grateful to the artists who have sat for this project thus far, for their patience and encouragement as I work with this challenging medium. I look forward to continuing to work with the diverse types of creative people who enrich our communities with their crafts, skills and knowledge.

I want to acknowledge where I live and work in Lane County occupies the traditional homelands of the Kalapuya and Siuslaw peoples.

This project is made possible in part by an Individual Artist Grant from Lane Arts Council, with support from City of Eugene Cultural Services, Banner Bank, and individual donors. I will continue this work with additional support through the Jane Stevens King Artist in Residence Program through Lane Community College’s Visual Arts Program.

Go to Katephoto.com