Wet plate outdoors.

Finally, after a long, long break I took a few plates outside!

It feels great and I hope to do it often this year. 

These images were taken close to my house, so I didn't use a portable darkroom (just 'regular' one), but still, climbing down and up a steep hill and jumping through the river with heavy tripod and 4x5 camera, was quite an adventure (and a good exercise too). Here are the results and technical info:

''Shape'', 

4x5 ambrotype, Poe Boy Collodion, Toyo View, Schneider Apo Symmar 150mm @ f8:

''Glencree River'', 

4x5 ambrotype, Poe Boy Collodion, Toyo View, Schneider Apo Symmar 150mm @ f8:

and backstage image of the location:

Killruddery House and Gardens.

Killruddery estate was my latest photography destination and actually first real and remote work on location. I went to take some test photographs and  I'm happy with the results. It was a big pleasure to work there.

Killruddery House and Gardens are located close to Bray and  belong to the Earls of Meath.

The Gardens are the original 17th century design, with 18th and 19th century additions, perfectly balanced, with beautiful zinc, stone or cast iron statues.

The majestic House dates from late1600s, it was remodelled by Richard and William Morrisson in 1820 and reduced to its present propotions in 1953. The most splendid part of the house is The Orangery with its original glass dome -work of Richard Turner, (who designed the glass houses in the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin), and with an interesting collection of marble statues.

Killruddery site with its intimate character and historical importance is an ideal place for photography work. I met with an understanding and interest in collodion technique there and I'll be taking more photographs of this place in the near future. 

Wetplate on location...

Two weeks ago, after checking the functionality of the darkbox in my garden, I decided to move with it a little bit further. However my first attempt of taking some collodions on location wasn't successful.

As my equipment is quite outstanding, although, in the place where I tried to take some pictures, photography isn't  forbidden, I wasn't allowed to take any, and I was told I need a written permission to do so! (while a person next to me took a dozen of digital photographs)

So I realised that generally it might be not that easy to take collodion photographs of what I want, what actually quite upset me....I was hoping I'll meet with an interest and support rather than unwillingness, well...

Anyway two days ago I've packed everything again and went just a little up the lane, where I'm living. There was plenty of showers and it was quite windy, so the conditions didn't allow me to take the most out of this adventure, but I've got a few :) :