FINE ART PORTFOLIO
WET PLATE PHOTOGRAPHS OF MINIATURE SETS
These works force a confrontation between photography's legacy as a document of truth and the contemporary state of fictitious imagery. Each scene is a meticulously staged diorama (often constructed at 1:12 scale) where physical miniatures and flat, printed elements are blended into a single, theatrical reality. The final staged scene is then photographed using the Wet Plate Collodion process, which introduces chemical artifacts (markers of authenticity) onto the work, validating its narrative of reality.
The Chemistry: A 150-Year-Old Process
The Wet Plate Collodion process works by hand-coating an aluminum or glass plate with salted collodion and sensitizing it in a silver nitrate bath to create a light-sensitive surface. The sensitized plate is then loaded into the back of the camera and the image is captured directly on the plate. The plate is then developed and fixed before the collodion dries, hence the name "wet plate."
WET PLATE PHOTOGRAPHS OF DIGITAL COMPOSITE IMAGES
These works bridge the gap between contemporary artifice in photography and the authenticity of 19th-century photographic chemistry. Each piece begins as an intricate digital photomontage, layering and blending elements into a seamless, surrealist scene. Once the digital composition is finalized, it is printed and then re-captured using the Wet Plate Collodion process. By using the Wet Plate Collodion process at this stage, chemical artifacts (markers of authenticity) are layered onto the work. The resulting tintype is a contradictory object which displays obvious image manipulation with the unpredictable and organic textures of silver deposits.
The Chemistry: A 150-Year-Old Process
The Wet Plate Collodion process works by hand-coating an aluminum or glass plate with salted collodion and sensitizing it in a silver nitrate bath to create a light-sensitive surface. The sensitized plate is then loaded into the back of the camera and the image is captured directly on the plate. The plate is then developed and fixed before the collodion dries, hence the name "wet plate."
SURREAL SELF PORTRAITS
This series of works explores different aspects of my identity represented as symbolic objects replacing or augmenting parts of my body. The surrounding environments and interactions of details carry extra meaning.
