TINTYPE
Salon
Heritage Artisan Photography
LIVE portrait experience
HANDCRAFTED by
marcin dzieniszewski
[ mar-cheen jenny-shev-ski ]
It was the 1860s when peculiar booths emerged throughout Victorian London. They were nothing short of astounding, captivating enigmas that blurred the lines between innovation and mystique. The alchemists behind them were whispered to be sorcerers, their ritual of capturing one's likeness on metal plates shrouded in mystery and accused of witchcraft.
Rumors of souls stolen swirled around their wagons, tents, and stalls, with some even believing that the new technology was an invention of the devil himself. But for those who dared to venture within, Tintype booths offered a unique opportunity. For common folk of modest means, it was, for the first time ever, a chance to glimpse their own reflection, forever frozen in silver dust.
In those days, photography became a democratic medium, capturing the essence of the era, immortalizing the spirits of not only the elites but also the ordinary people, in a dance of alchemy and light. Despite the superstitions, the tintype portrait booths prevailed and became a cherished part of Victorian culture, with families preserving their portraits as treasured heirlooms.
THE ORIGIN
alchemy & witchcraft
THE TINTYPE Salon
live portrait experience
At the Tintype Salon, you experience a rare chance to capture a silver portrait on a metal plate just like in the 1860s. In a swift 15-20 minute sitting, you witness the arcane Victorian process unfold before your eyes.
Each tintype is a one-of-a-kind, tangible impression, handcrafted and developed on the spot with unwavering fidelity to the authentic formulas. An heirloom of unmatched quality and charm.
be my guest
Attend the next Tintype Salon and break away from disposable selfie culture. Acquire a unique, contrarian artefact handcrafted with silver and light - authentic, unfiltered, and lasting.
Bring your tribe and make it a social experience. Share the occasion, and create memories that endure.
or
be the host
Incorporating the Tintype Salon into your event is a sure way to impress. Be it a wedding, reception, ball, or gala, take your guests on an adventure to witness the arcane craft firsthand and acquire an exquisite keepsake.
Create memories lasting longer than the sound of popping champagne.
Register your interest
Secure your spot at the next Tintype Salon. Register your interest below to be the first to know about the upcoming experience in your city.
Should you look to make the Tintype Salon a part of your event, register your interest below to discuss the possibilities.
THE process
Wet Plate Collodion
London, March 1851… In the latest issue of The Chemist, an English inventor Frederic Scott Archer unveils a breakthrough that ushers in a new chapter of visual storytelling. The Wet Plate Collodion process seemed almost too unreal to be true, blurring the lines between art and science.
Yet, here was a novel technique that promised to capture the world as it had never been seen before. At first, the collodion process was reserved for the wealthy few, producing luminous images on glass, known as Ambrotypes. Objects as fragile and costly as the moments they preserved.
As photography popularized, glass gave way to lacquered metal plate, the Tintype. Humbler in substance, no less magical, and suddenly within reach of ordinary people. Tintypes soon filled fairs, markets, and travelling studios, becoming a democratic marvel, woven into the fabric Victorian culture.
1
1
Applying the Collodion
Collodion, a syrupy solution of cellulose containing halides, is carefully poured over the glass plate in a manner called “flowing”. A skilled hand is required to spread the emulsion evenly, before the collodion begins to settle - leaving the plate coated with a fine, photographic film.
2
2
Sensitizing the Plate
The plate is then submerged in the solution of silver nitrate. Within mere minutes it becomes sensitive to light and primed for the exposure. Under red-light, the plate is carefully placed in a light-tight cassette, allowing for safe passage out of the darkroom and mounting onto the camera.
3
3
Making the Exposure
Once the sitter has been posed and the light adjusted deliberately, the pivotal moment comes. The cassette is now mounted onto the camera and unlocked for the brief exposure. Light reflected off your likeness travels through the lens and falls directly onto the plate, forever freezing your image in silver dust.
4
4
Developing the Plate
Back in the darkroom, the plate is removed from the cassette under the red-light. An iron-based formula is poured over the plate, revealing a faint, negative-looking image in just a matter of seconds. The development process is precisely timed and promptly ceased by rinsing the plate with water.
5
5
Fixing the Plate
The plate is now safe to handle under normal light conditions. To ensure your portrait is rendered permanent, it is sunk into a strong salt solution - fixer. This spectacle never ceases to astonish, as the faint-negative silhouette gradually unveils as a vivid silvery portrait, akin to a ghost taking on flesh.
6
6
Varnishing the Plate
After a thorough wash removing any residual chemicals clinging to the collodion film, the plate is heated in preparation to receive a coat of traditional shellac resin. This final touch not only safeguards the silver image against tarnishing but also provides a deep, glamorous shine, enhancing its allure and longevity.
ABOUT
making things the hard way
It’s been 30 years of creating images in the digital world, clicking endlessly, too often feeling rushed, used, and unfulfilled. But that pivotal day, discovering tintype photography gave new meaning to everything - a new vision I had to share with the world. The process was slow, challenging and unpredictable, yet beautiful and fascinating. It still demnads respect; every plate must be earned.
Tintype Salon carries forward a Victorian craft rarely seen today. Here, your portrait isn’t just taken, it is deliberately and masterfully crafted with silver and light. A unique keepsake, authentic, untouched, and unfiltered. An image you cannot scroll past. A quiet rebellion against the disposable world.
My name is Marcin and I make portraits the hard way.
