Tintype Portrait Day with Dale Bernstein

Description

Tintype Portrait Day with Dale Bernstein What is a Tintype? A tintype is a one-of-a-kind photograph created using the historic wet plate collodion process. Unlike modern digital photography, this technique requires the plate to be coated, sensitized, exposed, and developed within minutes—all before it dries. The result? A rich, silvery, and slightly otherworldly image that will last for generations. What to Expect at Your Session - Step into the past – Dale will walk you through the process as he carefully prepares a metal plate in the darkroom. You are invited to observe this fascinating step as your plate is hand-coated and made light-sensitive before exposure. - Sit for your portrait – You’ll be comfortably seated as Dale carefully composes the shot. A bright flash will capture your image in an instant, freezing your likeness onto the plate. This is a great time to ask questions about his large format camera and vintage lens being used! - Watch the magic happen – After the plate is exposed, you’re encouraged to follow Dale into the darkroom, where the image slowly appears in the developer—like a ghost emerging from the ether! Seeing this transformation firsthand is truly mesmerizing. - Drying and finishing – Since tintypes are created using a wet collodion emulsion, the plate must fully dry before it can be safely handled. After it has dried, your finished portrait will be carefully varnished and will be ready for pickup within a week. Dale will explain how to care for your tintype so it lasts for generations. A Note on Multi-Person Portraits Each tintype is handmade, requiring careful composition, lighting, and timing. Because additional subjects add complexity to the process, a small fee applies for each extra person in the portrait. About the Artist Dale Bernstein is a skilled photographer and expert in the wet plate collodion process, specializing in authentic tintype portraits. With decades of experience, Dale has worked with iconic photographers such as Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, Horst, and Arnold Newman, which has shaped his unique approach to photography. His deep understanding of traditional techniques allows him to create timeless, handcrafted portraits that honor the history of the medium. https://www.dalebernstein.com/