Octobers Wet Plate Workshop

The first collodion workshop at VillaRoquette, taught by John Brewer, was great success.

Warm sunshine, with a beautiful quality of light, good food and wine and great company. We did extra days of testing for the light. As we cannot “see” how much Ultra-Violet there is here in the South of France, we had to test plates and chemistry, temperatures and exposures to find our way. One thing for sure, the light is different to London and Manchester – no doubt that is why great painters thronged to Languedoc as soon as railway travel was available and why the South of France is home to many many great photographers (or is it the wine perchance?).

Wet Plate Photography Workshop Preparation

We are now taking reservations for the first Collodion, WetPlate workshop in VillaRoquette.

Photography at Villa Roquette

Some of the Equipment for the Collodion Ambrotype WetPlate workshops at VillaRoquette

The dates are set for October 11th and 12th 2014.

Here is a pdf file with more information

John Brewer and Dr Kate Horsley are holding a weekend workshop on collodion, wet-plate, photography at VillaRoquette.

A prominent artist and lecturer, John Brewer is an expert in wet plate collodion and alternative photographic processes. In the last few years he has mentored hundreds of artists, photographers and hobbyists in wet plate collodion and a great range of students, including many well-known professional photographers, come from all over the world to attend his workshops. John has exhibited internationally and his work is held in private collections worldwide.

Educated at Oxford and Harvard, Dr Kate Horsley is a writer and university lecturer who specialises in gothic fiction and has just published her first novel. Kate’s wet plate collodion work has been exhibited nationally, collected privately and included in an international series. For the last two years she has taught wet plate photography with John in venues across the UK.

This two day residential course is designed for a group of six students, all of whom will be provided with John’s comprehensive thirty page wet plate collodion manual. To ensure close personal attention, John and Kate will have the support of Tony Tidswell, a professional photographer who is fluent in French.

Accommodation will be included and students are welcome to bring friends or partners not attending the course. They have the option of staying in the Villa Roquette for additional days, with full use of the equipment and services provided. A film darkroom area is available to guests for use after the workshop has finished and there is a range of photographic equipment available; students are welcome to bring their own large format camera if they wish.

The total price for the course, including two days’ tuition and accommodation, materials, use of equipment, meals and all services of Villa Roquette is £475. Students staying longer or bringing friends or family pay only the (very reasonable) standard supplementary charges.

Delivered in English, this course will cover John’s complete wet plate collodion syllabus, enriched by informal discussions over breakfast, lunch and the Saturday evening meal. Wonderful local food and wines are in unlimited supply for all. To add to this, the beautiful countryside, the Mediterranean, French farming villages and sunshine provide fantastic atmosphere as well as spectacular photographic subject-matter.

The course will be given in English and students are given a comprehensive 30 page manual of the chemistry and processes written by John Brewer. There are French speaking assistants working in the course and translations of data sheets and processes can be provided and printed at any time in most languages (thanks to Google Translation).

Students can bring their own large format camera and there is a range of adapters on loan so 19th century lenses can be fitted to some digital cameras (put a Petzval on your 4/3).

Full Plate Camera with 385mm Rodenstock Petzval portrait lens for Collodion workshop

Full Plate Camera with 385mm Rodenstock Petzval portrait lens for Collodion workshop

The scope of the course is similar to those offered by John in the UK, the the added bonus of breakfast and lunch discussions and the Saturday evening meal, where local food and the wonderful local wines are in unlimited supply for all (as well as stimulating conversation). Plus the beautiful countryside, the Mediterranean, French farming villages and sunshine

 

 

Collodion, wet-plate workshop in VillaRoquette

We have just fixed the dates for the first photo workshop at VillaRoquette for the weekend of October 11-12.

The course will be run by the Internationally acclaimed photographer and tutor, John Brewer. Students will have the chance to make positive images on glass (ambrotypes), metal (tintypes) and acrylic plates of different sizes using a variety of cameras and lenses.

To ensure personal attention there is a maximum of 6 students, but we have accommodation for accompanying friends and partners. There is plenty to do and see in the region and as a residential course, the opportunity to share ideas and glasses of wine over a barbecue is not to be missed.

The course is for the two day weekend, but you can come earlier and stay longer using the darkrooms and facilities and access to all the equipment and cameras.

VillaRoquette is an established B&B and also offers individual, self contained apartments. You can come for as long as you like, attend the workshop and then use the facilities to develop your skills.

Costs depend on the accommodation required (single or double) and include meals  – from £475 for the two day weekend which includes accommodation, tuition, materials and a 30 page workshop manual plus many extras.

We are easy to find and easy to get to.

October is a beautiful month, the swimming pool will be full, but I don’t guarantee how warm it will be.

Contact me for more information