See the Incredible Images Taken Using Silver and a Camera the Size of a Truck
- Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:20pm by
Liz Klimas
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As digital photography continues to advance and has made cameras and developing images cheap and accessible for the average user, one photographer is reverting back to old-school techniques, but on a scale that no one has achieved before.
(Photo: Ian Ruhter/Tumblr)
While the process used by Ian Ruhter to snap and develop his images is old-fashioned — and expensive — he does it using a delivery truck he converted into a giant camera. A site featuring several artistic mediums — Boooooom! — describes Ruhter’s technique as a wet plate collodion:
The collodion process was invented in the 1800s and is extremely tricky. It requires a plate to be coated in silver nitrate, and then sensitized, exposed, and developed before the plate dries .
Ruhter said that the team didn’t just take what people had been doing on small scale and use it for their own purposes. He said everything had to be reworked to allow for these larger images. “Everything had to be redesigned [...] That was one of the biggest challenges,” he said.
Ruhter's camera inside his truck.
Developing an image.
Due to the fact that Ruhter makes his own development chemicals, the process uses a silver compound, and it takes time to get the image right, it can cost Ruhter upwards of $500 per shot.
Watch this brief film on the process and what led Ruhter to use this technique (Note: some strong language):
Late last year, Ruhter launched an art show tour for his work. The tour, called The Wet Plate Project, is showing the photographs off for the first time. As part of Foursquare Outerwear, it is also the first time some modern-day activities, such as snowboarding, have been photographed with this technique. Capturing sporting activities posed a challenge though because of movement. Foursquare has more:
The challenge: Ruhter needed to shorten the exposure time significantly to capture fast motion under intensely bright lights. (Note: The only other person who successfully did this was Edward Muybridge, who photographed a man riding a galloping horse in 1878).
Working with the Foursquare Team, Ian took this process a step further by becoming the first in history to use modern lighting tricks, including using enough Profoto Lighting kits to overpower the sun by more than 20 times, to capture the fast motion of a snowboarder through wet plate photography.
“I never thought I would do something that has never been done before but this was in the back of my mind. Photography has been around for over 100 years and it still seemed to be an almost impossible feat. I asked around and I could not find a single person that had ever attempted this since then. I was determined to set out to do what was deemed the impossible by my colleagues.”
The concept for the ad shoot not only challenged the conventions of a vintage photography process generally reserved for long-exposure shots with little movement but successfully allowed us to create unique one of a kind imagery of our Team. Ian, who was there when snowboarding began, framed it perfectly when he identified that wet plate is the perfect platform to “defy all the rules, the same way that snowboarding started.”
(Photo: Ian Ruhter/Tumblr)
(Photo: Ian Ruhter/Tumblr)
(Photo: Ian Ruhter/Tumblr)
(Photo: Ian Ruhter/Tumblr)
Here’s a video from last year describing this endeavor:
Now, Ruhter wants to tell your story. He is traveling around the country to take people’s photographs using this method:
We want to tell your story and show your city or town through photographs of you, and people you know.
If you’re interested, “like” Ruhter’s Facebook page to follow the towns they’re headed to next. See more of Ruhter’s photographs here.
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Comments (97)
Amy
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 10:40pmI won’t be getting rid of my 35mm. I do love black and white photography… But a daguerrotype (original photography) is ‘one-of-a-kind’ and the depth and 3 dimensional aspect cannot be beat.
Report Post »Skrewedretiree
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 11:01pmI have made daguerreotypes in my life, and dabbled in paper processes too, after reading a book called The Whole Thing- A manual of pinhole photography. A friend of mine and I started collecting old cameras in the larger formats that one could no longer find film for. We used print paper for the negatives, calculating the exposures, developing those and then contact printing them. Much the same as the old wet plates and Calotypes. Cheap, lots of fun, and GREAT pictures. Try it sometime, if you’re into processing your own black and white. Oh, by the way…don’t forget to sepia tone a few prints! You will be amazed…
Knowledge is power. Those who know can always triumph over those who don’t.
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 5:58amI agree, except I use medium format. Emulsion can’t be beat for resolution, depth and feeling. Although, I’m not all that impressed by these images.
Report Post »kaydeebeau
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 9:42amWasn’t the silver, huge camera thing how photography started?
Report Post »bitter.clinger
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 10:45amThe primary “art” involved here is The Art of Self-Promotion…this guy is simply marketing his product. If you think his product is cool and want to drop the coin for it…go right ahead – it’s (for the time being) still a free market. As long as no grant money (our tax dollars) was involved he’s just doing what any good, self-promoting business man would do…The Art of The Sale. Just a more sophisticated/arty/latte-wrapped version of selling Snuggies to late-night TV viewers.
Report Post »old white guy
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:50pmi have to ask why. i loved my 35mm slr. now use a digital that does everything.
Report Post »cuinsong
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 5:53pmI think its great that you are following your dream. This is one of the reasons we live.
Report Post »The feeling of accomplishment is one of the best things about the life experience.
It is better to have tried even if you fail then to have never tried at all.
The reason I keep making music is for the feeling of gratification when I have touched an inner part of a persons soul.
This song is a reflection of the struggle we face in order to participate in life’s endeavors called “The Game of Life” http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_12524752
hcartexas
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 10:38pmIn the immortal words of Eric Cartman…… laaaame. Ive taken better pics with a disposable camera….. besides pictures are there to capture a moment one wants to preserve forever… usually no words are needed…. his pictures just suck….
Report Post »WatchingThePuppetShow
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 11:16pm…and you probably think McDonalds is ‘fine’ food too….
Report Post »nelbert
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 4:33amAs a rule, Blaze readers, it seems, do not good art critics make.
The technique, result, and concept are at least interesting. Even if one doesn’t like the results, one would think the average person would still appreciate the artistic exercise. It’s not offensive; there is no overt political agenda; so why all the kvetching? Art can be more than pictures of sad puppies and velvet Elvises.
Report Post »BuckarooBanzai
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 9:46amI thought these were quite beautiful in their simplicity. I especially liked the effect subject movement created in the sports-related photos.
Report Post »HUSSAR
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:35pmI do believe the concept, process and style just went right over your head. Your comment suggest that you have never been interested in photography on any deeper level. Eric Cartman is a child thus he often doesn’t have experience and/or knowledge to make proper decisions or understand deeper ideas…how interesting you chose his words.
Report Post »Brizz
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:00pm@NELBERT
Report Post »Agreed. Anything about the arts and the philistines come out like cockroaches.
nuttyvet
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:05pmI for one think it’s amazing. He’s an artist and works hard at it. Nothing wrong with that ( IMHO)
Report Post »Snafu777
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:53pmHmm, I don‘t think I’ll take much advice from someone who quotes a boorish character on a stupid cartoon. Art is not what it has been made in the last 20 years or so. Not everything has to be high-def, digital, political or socially unnacceptable to be a good or even fantastic piece of art. I’d hazard a number of “works of art” are only popular because they reinforce certain views on society. (IE the “piss-Christ,“ the ”dung Mary” or a number of similar pieces.) Had these pieces been less controversial they’d have been relegated to the dust bins of society.
Report Post »As to this man’s works, they might not be the “greatest pieces of all time” but the passion and effort that goes into them really shows. Art is something different to everybody, and before I insult a piece of art I want to know what the thought is behind it. Some thoughts are more worthy than others. This man’s love of the older techniques of photography is pronounced loudly in these images. I‘d sooner reward a photo showing someone’s love for something than someone’s pointless disparagement of something. Leave that for the hacks on MSNBC.
VRW Conspirator
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 3:53pmNelbert…been a Blaze reader from the start…and I think this is cool…not just the photography part of it but the science side…being a science guy…
Report Post »there is more “art” in what this man is doing than in most of the painters, sculptors, poets, and “artists” that people pay thousands for today in all the nice downtown galleries of all the big cities…this man has a CRAFT…he has to know lighting, geometry, optics…
most photographers today use computers and digital cameras and shoot 10 pictures in fast succession and then just pick the best..any chimpanzee can do that…
or they take a photo and add in a background or clean up your skin, eyes, hair…whatever…that is digital editing…not ART….
90% of what is out there today is garbage and CRAP…this is actually scientifically and aesthetically cool…
termase
Posted on April 13, 2012 at 7:28am“Suck”?!? Wow, you really need to look at yourself again. These photographs are amazing. The tone, depth and the composition of the photo is amazing. Before you make comments about others work, lets see your work, here is my work (I am studying photography and I still suck).
Report Post »http://www.flickr.com/photos/22335935@N00/sets/72157629771289423/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22335935@N00/sets/72157629215573702/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22335935@N00/sets/72157629098636388/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22335935@N00/sets/72157629460547317/
The-Monk
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 10:28pmLooks exactly like what I was doing back in the 70′s with a 35mm camera and Infrared film. I’m not impressed. I have 100′s of photos from Mt. Vernon to Monticello to Shenandoah taken in Virginia that puts this garbage to shame.
Report Post »Goldenyears22
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 10:21pmI’m puzzled what this is about? Maybe if you could see them up close, but I’m not overly impressed. Or maybe if it were in color? Oh well.
Report Post »Skrewedretiree
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 11:04pmConsidering they are direct positives from LARGE format negatives, yes, you would have to see them. The largest negatives and contact prints I have ever done are 8 inches by 10 inches. How big are the negatives or digital frames you are using?
Report Post »ZengaPA65
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 10:10pmStill looking for all this incredible stuff. Must be on the wrong page.
Report Post »Mr.Fitnah
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 10:10pmIm sure the 99 % will line up to buy his originals.
Report Post »Attila_the_Hunney
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 10:08pmWow… beautiful. I bet they are something else to look at up close.
Report Post »possom
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 9:33pmAlready been done go away!
Report Post »Cat
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 9:30pmHummm …
Report Post »Kodak type silver stills?
Hummm …
Computer graphic programs, and motion?
Hummm …
Umemaro3D productions
Skrewedretiree
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 11:05pmTurn off the power, remove the availability of your digital cards and ….nothing for you.
Report Post »iac
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 9:21pmGenius !
Report Post »txjb
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:58pmzzzzzzzzzzzuhzzzwhatzzzzzzzzzzzz
Report Post »Skrewedretiree
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 11:07pmPull the plug on your digital world and ….zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
Report Post »Netsurfer2
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:50pmahhh…..reminds me of “flaming pear” a plug-in for photoshop that was great to use! I’m not impressed by this, I’d rather take my own pictures! Go figure!
Report Post »Skrewedretiree
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 11:13pmTurn off the power, remove the batteries and …..go figure!
Report Post »Skrewedretiree
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:03am@NOBUMMER- You obviously missed the point. It would do no good to try to explain it to you.
Report Post »Ming The Merciless
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:43pmYou can do this in photoshop by applying actions and what-not.
Next story….
Report Post »Zoe
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 9:35pmBut he didn’t
Report Post »Skrewedretiree
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 11:11pmNot if you unplug your computer……! Some of us can still do this kind of work in the field in a tent. But you probably never spent time in the field in a tent…right? Or was it in a campground with power, TV, and a MotorHome?
Report Post »Nobummer
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 11:16pmPhotoshop and Lightroom = $650 – spending a fortune to do it the old way just because you can = priceless. Too much time and money I guess.
Report Post »Nobummer
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 11:22pm@screwedretiree
Report Post »Have you been vacationing at Ted Kaczynski’s place? Digital camera and batteries or do they not work in a tent?
Ming The Merciless
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:21pmNobummer – photoshop doesn’t cost that much – if it does for you sorry about that but you can get it cheaper if you know how to shop.
Next thing – it’s much cheaper to use photoshop to create these images than it is to buy this camera and for each picture used and to outfit a truck to haul this monstrosity around in. That’s simple to understand.
If you’re a geek and you have a wad of money to blow – then fine. But in reality it’s pretty silly because the cost of each picture and the results you get is very foolish (money-wise) when you can do this same thing cheaper in photoshop.
Sorry you like to do things the hard way.
Report Post »grannyjojo
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:38pmThe pics are cool. It takes a decent amount of imagination and a lot of skill to do that, no matter what anyone says. To each their own, just give the guy credit, as credit is due. Wish I had that talent! God bless all. “Every knee will bow and every tongue confess”
Report Post »bpodlesnik
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:38pmAbsolutely phenomenal. This guy has talent and is a true artist. He is taking photography to a whole new level and giving a new meaning to a beautiful picture.
Report Post »hi
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:18pmI love it!
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:15pmIt’s kind of like tintype. too cool!
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:11pmIn the day, those photos would have been tossed. LOL
Report Post »Juniemoon
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:50pmI love it.
Report Post »Red Meat
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:12pmAnsel Adams he ain’t. His photos are too hipster doofusy for me.
Report Post »Onowicit
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:26pm@Red Meat
Report Post »Agreed
Grawpy
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:50pmMaybe they can use it to try and photograph Biden’s IQ.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:55pmOr Obamas Ego.
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:00pmIn Biden’s case: You can’t photograph what does not exist. For the Obamunist: There isn’t a wide angle lens WIDE enough for that job!
Report Post »bikerr
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 9:49pmThis guy was wearing a “hoodie”. Does that mean he’s not a racist? or that he knows the guy that was shot?
Report Post »or is trying to bring attention to a cause? not so sure anymore .I’m sure he is just wearing it because he wants too.Now days its not so cutb and dried.sigh..
lukerw
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:41amNO… you need a Quantum Camera for NanoTechnology… to do that!
Report Post »TurkE
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 10:07amFormat too large for Biden’s IQ, too small for Oblamer’s ego.
Report Post »Exrepublisheep
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:39pmCool stuff.
Report Post »BeingThere
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:37pmSounds like the guy needs mental help of some kind. I wouldn’t give him 10 cents for any of those pictures. Photography never was an art, it was a skill, now, thanks to technology it doesn’t even require that. And BTW, black and white sucks!!!
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:41pmsomeone has issues
Report Post »2AM
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:44pmThat statement is one of the most ignorant things I have read in a long time. You keep using your PHD camera (push here dummy) and getting your prints at Walgreens.
Report Post »BeingThere
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:50pmYou must be some of the infinite number of monkeys that are now out of work thanks to technology. LOL
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:52pmTaking a snapshot is a skill. Photography is skill and art combined. Ansel Adams ring a bell? Probably not. Any knucklehead can make a color shot look decent. Try B7W….. Betcha you can’t do it well. I’ve been working at it for 45 years and I am a little better than average.
Why do people comment on stories they don’t care about just to be negative? Get a life.
Report Post »BeingThere
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:03pmAnsel Adams sucks too! LOL I‘ve been in to photography all my life and I don’t like photo snobs. I’m really glad technology has put an end to most of them!!
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:07pmMeh, just his opinion…lol
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:19pmI’ve read your last ten posts. You enjoy name calling and crap stiring. Good for you. Be a troll if that’s what you like. I never said I liked all the pics above. I take pictures for me – no else needs to see them for me to enjoy my hobby. It must suck to be sooooo insecure.
Report Post »bikerr
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 10:22pm@82dairborne—–I’ve looked at some of your recent comments, and have concluded…..
Report Post »1. You skate board better than Tony Hawk
2. You are a perfect editor
3. You are a better than average photo guy
4. and you associate Glenn Beck with a Dr. Doom guy.
Stay classy and look in a mirror every once and awhile.
BeingThere
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:43amI love it when someone accuses me of name calling and then calls me a name!! LOL
Report Post »LouC57
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:36pmI like it…
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:33pmCan it take pictures of Ghosts or Vampires?
Report Post »goahead.makemyday
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 8:21amA “modern” vampire or those from the really old stories that leave entire villages dead(or undead)? You know the ones that were really monsters had had to be staked or have their heads cut off. Not the modern day Edwards that people have fallen in love with.
Report Post »Arthur Spooner
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:32pmI’m underwhelmed.
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