World Dance Day in Wet Collodion Photography

Wet Collodion Portraits on World Wetplate Day

I must admit, it completely slipped my mind!
Just a few days ago, World Dance Day was celebrated, and I, unknowingly, was planning a wet collodion photo session in my studio with two classical ballet dancers to mark World Wetplate Day (May 1st each year).
Talk about coincidence… (the wise Master Oogway would remind me once again that coincidence doesn’t exist).

World Dance Day and Wetplate Day

Hoping for a sunny day as forecasted, I had decided to use some of the picturesque spots at the stunning Villa Pianciani, near Spoleto in Umbria (click here to view the map), illuminated by the afternoon light. This was an important factor for working smoothly with the wet collodion in the original Poe Boy formula.
I had also brought along a pair of Falcon Eye lights, just to be safe. As luck would have it (Oogway knows best), they turned out to be a lifesaver. I don’t think I’ve seen such a dark and gloomy sky in the past year; by 4 p.m., it was practically night.

With the invaluable help of Rita, the incredibly accommodating caretaker of the villa, we set up the extension cords to arrange the sets. Using the cool light from the Falcon Eye lamps, we tried to recreate the same angle of light the sun would have provided, and we began shooting.

We started with digital shots to get familiar with the lighting, the spaces, and, most importantly, the two amazing dancers, Benedetta and Francesca. The idea was to recreate realistic scenarios, moments that could easily precede a performance in a theater.

The large format camera

I chose to use my self-built “intermediate” large format camera. This camera allows me to create plates up to 18×18 cm with a Schneider Kreuznach Xenar 210 mm f/4.5 lens.

I love square formats in general; I find them balanced and complete.
For this session, I planned all the shots in this format, producing a total of four plates: two ambrotypes and two ferrotypes. Meanwhile, in every setup, I also photographed with my Sony A7MKIII to capture black-and-white digital images that I could later print using Van Dyke or Platinum and Palladium techniques.

The Smell of Ether

Thus, amidst the smell of ether and long poses, the entire afternoon flew by. By 7 p.m., we found ourselves tired but deeply satisfied.
The wet collodion technique showcased its legendary spectacularity, captivating Benedetta, Francesca, and Rita, all experiencing this ancient method for the first time.

For my part, I am immensely grateful to all of them for the time they dedicated to me, for their patience and professionalism (holding a perfect pose, completely still for 25 seconds, is no small feat), and for their enthusiasm.

It was a wonderful way to celebrate this double occasion: World Dance Day and Wet Collodion Day 2021.

The wet collodion plates created during the photoshoot