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Wetplate Collodion

with the original 1852 Poe Boy recipe

The wetplate collodion process is a historic photographic technique dating back to the mid-19th century, cherished for its ability to create images with extraordinary detail and a unique aesthetic. Invented by Frederick Scott Archer in 1851, this technique involves using a glass or metal plate coated with a collodion-based solution containing iodide and bromide salts. The plate is sensitized with silver nitrate in the darkroom and must be exposed and developed while still wet, hence the name “wet collodion.”

Among the many variations of recipes for preparing collodion, the Poe Boy stands out for its simplicity and effectiveness.
It is a “low-cost” formulation often chosen by modern photographers who wish to experiment with this technique using readily available and non-hazardous materials.
The recipe includes cotton collodion, ethanol, and ether as the base, combined with potassium bromide and iodide as the sensitizing salts. This mixture is valued for its stability and ease of use, making it a favorite among enthusiasts.

The wet collodion process and the Poe Boy recipe are not just a return to tradition but an opportunity to immerse oneself in a creative process that demands patience and produces photographic works of incredible, timeless charm.