I've spent the last 6 years enjoying exploring the capabilities of antique cameras and historical process to create wonderfully pleasing images. Follow links above or from the top menu to explore the different types of image making I am working with. My Blog and Instagram feed show my latest work.
If you’d like to collaborate, book a talk for your camera club or simply have a question for me, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

View images from most recent trip - The Lake District National Park, UK

Up-coming presentations:

Cheltenham Camera Club: 16-10-2025
Forest of Dean Camera Club: 23-03-2026

Exhibiting:

Friday 9th May to 11th July 2025 - Studio3 at Clevedon Craft Centre.

Sunday 13th July 2025 - Bath Contemporary Artists’ Fair, GreenPark, Bath

Friday 8th May to 3rd July 2026 - Studio3 at Clevedon Craft Centre.

Testing in the garden - Self-made_HalfPlate_Gelatine-Dry-Glass-Plate - 1890 Tailboard camera Rodenstock f4.5 lens (serial no. for 1918) On F22 for 5 seconds (ISO 1). Followed Lost Light Art instructions on AlternativePhotography.com. Real chemistry making the emulsion - drying in a cardboard cabinet with computer PSU fan

Successful morning shooting large format wetplate collodion - half plate 1880s tailboard camera at Clevedon Pier. Mobile darkroom in VW campervan. Developed as ambrotype.

Bleached driftwood on the beach at Black Nore, Portishead - photographed onto Xray film using antique large format camera 1900s Houghton Victo triple Half plate and Beck Symmetrical lens. The un-coated lens in bright sun adds an aural glow to the bright wood. I like the criss-cross lines and shapes with strong shadows and interesting textures. The textures of the wood contrast with both the plants and the pebbles.

Watching the sun go down over Birnbeck island and pier. Rare outing for the digital camera! #sunset #loveweston #somersetphotographer #birnbeckpier

Met some lovely people in Clevedon whilst testing the large 1950s Ikon Epikar 12” F4.0 projection lens on the 1920s Sanderson full plate. Camera. Large format photography is a great challenge!

Capturing the 1867 Birnbeck pier with the 1890s tailboard camera onto dry glass plates (a technology introduced just after the pier opened). These plates from a vintage ?1940s previously unopened packet. Large format half-plate size c 6.5x4.75”. Treated as ISO 12 exposures of 5 (f45)and 1 (f22) seconds respectively. Development in 50% x Ray film developer within 30s. Fast development to overcome fogging of these old plates. - might this be the cause of the speckling? I love the look from the combination of the old lenses and the glass plates. A surprising amount of detail captured too.

Success today with photographing the paddle steamer Waverley @waverleyexcursions . Camera an antique large format whole plate Sanderson with a Beck Symmetrical lens onto x Ray film.

After the disappointing shoot at the weekend I tested and renewed most of the velvet light seals of my large format - film holders. So today I tested them at the lovely Clevedon pier. Using my antique Sanderson camera I also compared three lenses. Still a couple of odd light leaks to trace but 5 out of 7 holders are good. 😊

Met so many lovely people today at “Dig for Victory” sadly my film seems to have been light affected somehow - so these are the best I could manage - sorry if your photo is missing or you have been cropped off a group!
@digforvictoryshow #largeformatphotography #ww2history

Just missed the steam paddle steamer “Waverley” arrive at Clevedon pier - will try another day to capture it on the 10x8” New Countess antique camera (c1890) #largeformatphotography #clevedonpier #facesofclevedon

Had a great time with the old cameras making images in the amazing Lake District National Park.
#thelakedistrict
#lakedistrict
#kodakpanoram
#Xrayfilm
#largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#studiothree_gallery

“Witness” Woodspring Priory. North Somerset.
Lens - Dallmeyer Pentac f2.9. 5x7 x-ray film (digitally inverted) Houghton Full plate camera (reducing back) c1910. ND1000 filter used.

Out in Weston super Mare ( High tide) with the 1890s clockwork lens panoramic camera by the Multiscope company. Producing a large 5x14 inch negative. An effective exposure time of 1/13s. X Ray film ISO 100. Lens f6.5

Kalanchoe thyrsiflora, “sometimes called paddle plant, flapjacks, dog tongue, or desert cabbage.” Thornton Pickard Imperial - Full plate, with half-plate reducing back. This negative is a half-plate (nom. 5x7”) X-ray film one. Dallmeyer Pentac 8”, F2.9 lens on F11. 2s exposure.

“Wrinkly Pear”- a great contrast to the smooth-skinned fruits I usually photograph - a bit of side lighting to get a Chiaroscuro effect that enhances the texture. I love using 100-year-old cameras for this work - the lenses have ‘defects’ that is low lighting enhance rather than mar the image - "Wabi-sabi” in the subject and the image creation method. This is a candidate for “bromoil” and Lith printing.

3 Blush Pears. Photograph created with 1920s? Sanderson full plate camera with a special lens - Air Ministries Dalmeyer Pentac 8” F 2.9 - it is this lens that adds the atmosphere - the x Ray film ( being insensitive to reds) makes the spots on the pears appear really dark! #pears #Pears #studiothree_gallery
#largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#antiquelens
#alternativephotographicprocesses

Exploring what can be done with a #bromoil print of different subjects . Photographic prints are made from the X-ray film negatives. Each print is bleached and tanned( gelatine hardened) before being soaked in water and the the inking starts - oil based ink - several stages later I’ve got an ink print in a #pictorialist style #alternativephotographicprocesses #analoguephotography #largeformat #studiothree_galler #printworksweston @printworksweston

Making a #bromoil print from a #largeformatcamera negative #quantockhills . Photographic print is made from the X-ray film negative. That print is bleached and tanned( gelatine hardened) before being soaked in water and the the inking starts - oil based ink - several stages later I’ve got an ink print in a #pictorialist style #alternativephotographicprocesses #analoguephotography #largeformat #studiothree_galler #printworksweston @printworksweston

Darkroom on the beach. #wetplatecollodion work at #clevedonpier #clevedon #somerset 3.25” square plates. First time with the #darkroom outside - worked just fine. Available to buy At
#clevedoncraftcentre #studiothree_galler #westonmakerspopupshop

My hosta is flourishing, so into the studio with my 1890s 10x8 New Countess Plate camera with X-ray film (Green ISO100).
The negative has been photographed on a light table and digitised into photoshop for inversion to a positive.
#largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#antiquelens
#alternativephotographicprocesses

First day of bromoil for a long time. Working on an 8x6” negative taken at Cleeve Abbey in an early 1900s large format plate camera. The print is made on old Ilfobrome grade3 paper then bleached and tanned, dried, soaked and inked - a mystical process of death and resurrection in a new form. #largeformat #vintagecamera #bromoil #bromoilprocess #cleeveabbey

Views of #cityofbath taken from above Beechen Cliff and Bathwick, with a 1920s (1890s design) Kodak Panoram camera.
Buy from Bath Contemporary Arts Fair July 11th 2025.
Single 14x5 inch sheet of X ray film- exposed at 1/100s. The negative is photographed on a light-table, inverted and toned in Photoshop/Lightroom/SilverFX

#panoram
#panoramic
#Xrayfilm
#largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,

New exhibition of my work - as a guest artist @studiothree_galler #clevedoncraftcentre. #clevedoncreatives #facesofclevedon

Views of #wells through a century-old "eye", a #largeformat half-plate Victo plate camera, onto X-ray film. The negative has been photographed on a light table and digitised into photoshop for inversion to a positive.#visitsomerset
#Xrayfilm
#largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#studiothree_galler
#Studiothree_Gallery
#brass
#antiquelens
#clevedoncraftcentre

Tree canopy at Goblin Combe, Somerset; taken with a Multiscope AlVista camera series 5D c1900.
Single 14x5 inch sheet of X ray film- exposed at 1/3s using one of the air-brake fans. Instagram chops the image you see. The camera is laid on its back so the lens sweeps the overhead view. The negatives are photographed on a light-table, inverted and toned in Photoshop/Lightroom/SilverFX
#alvista #multiscope
#panoram
#panoramic
#Xrayfilm
#largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#studiothree_galler
#Studiothree_Gallery

A recent Echeveria added to the succulent collection:Thornton Pickard Triple full plate camera c1920. Lens is un-named 210mm waterhouse stop. X ray film negative ISO100, F32. 15 flashes of 2x400Ws strobes. Inverted and toned in Photoshop/lightroom.
Camera on full extension - approx 60cm.

#succulent
#Xrayfilm
#largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#studiothree_galler

Celebrating the curves and shadows of a Hosta - bought last year for this purpose - this year I managed to protect it from destruction by snails! Photographed on x Ray film in a half plate tailboard camera from 1890. F64 8second exposure
#Xrayfilm #plantphotography🌱 #hosta
#largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#studiothree_galler
#Studiothree_Gallery
#artspacecreatives
#alternativephotographicprocesses
#clevedoncraftcentre

#corfecastle taken with a Kodak Panoram camera series 4 c1920.
Single 12”x4” sheet of X ray film- exposed at 1/100s. The negative has been photographed on a light-table, inverted and toned in Photoshop/Lightroom/SilverFX pending a direct contact print being made.
@ntcorfecastle
#kodakpanoram
#panoram
#panoramic
#Xrayfilm
#largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#studiothree_galler
#Studiothree_Gallery
#visitdorset
#dorsetphotographer

Straight photo of colourful seaweed through rippled water - Kimmeridge Beach Dorset #kimmeridgebay #dorsetphotographer #abstractphotography

Great to watch a seal wrestle with its flatfish lunch in Poole Harbour - viewed from RSPB Arne.
#seal #wildlifephotography #rspbarne @rspbarne #natureredintoothandclaw

Cleeve Abbey’s refectory roof, photographed today with Al-Vista 5B panoramic camera from the early 1900s on XRay film.
It creates the photograph by turning the lens (clockwork motor with various sized fans that acts as governors controlling speed of rotations) through a wide angle projecting a narrow rectangular image onto the large sheet of film (circa 12x4”) held in an arc 124mm from the lens. An effective 1 second exposure was needed so the largest fan was attached. The negative is photographed on a light-table, inverted in Photoshop
#englishheritage #cleeveabbey #somersetphotographer
#multiscope
#al-Vista
#alvista
#panoramic
#facesofclevedon
#Xrayfilm
#largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#studiothree_galler
#Studiothree_Gallery
#alternativephotographicprocesses

Clifton Suspension Bridge on wetplate collodion
Lancaster Instantograph quarter plate camera c1890. 3.25” square glass ambrotype. 18s exposure. F 22.
Developed on site in my VW campervan- darkroom.

#wetplatecollodion #wetplatecollodionphotography #ambrotype
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera
#cliftonsuspensionbridgebristol
#studiothree_galler

A good afternoon’s work to replace bellows and clean up this morning’s 1890s Half-plate camera - a purchase from Frome Wessex Camera fayre.
Brass bits removed and washed in vinegar.
Mahogany wiped over with with wax finish restorer. New lens board made for a lens I already have. I have a Thornton Pickard shutter to push-fit onto the lens when needed (not often with wetplate work)
Maker is Leeds based Reynolds & Branson.
Bellows came from a camera bought on ebay as a bag of bits. The front standard on this camera is rock-steady, unlike some other designs. The rear standard can tilt and swivel. Looking forward to making good use of this one. This Phoenix Camera was manufactured by Reynolds & Branson of Leeds in circa 1893. It was a well made mahogany camera with balancing lightness with strength and rigidity. The camera featured center swing and rising front, double extension bellows for use of 15 inch focus lens. This half plate camera sold with three dark slides for £4
#camerarepair #fromewessex
#largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#antiquelens
#alternativephotographicprocesses
#studiothree_galler
#clevedoncraftcentre

A bright afternoon at Anchor Head with @petesworldtoday ( the pigeon whisperer) with the 1900s Houghton Victo Triple, half-plate camera shooting both wetplate and X-ray film. #largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#antiquelens
#alternativephotographicprocesses

Clevedon’s Pier viewed through a 145-year-old Lancaster Instantograph quarter-plate camera on the 150 year old technology of wetplate collodion.
With this technology I need the darkroom where I am taking the picture / so I have set up the darkroom in my campervan.
#wetplatecollodion
#pier
#clevedon
#largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#studiothree_galler
#Studiothree_Gallery
#artspacecreatives
#alternativephotographicprocesses
#clevedoncraftcentre #studiothreegaller_ #Studiothree_Gallery #visitnorthsomerset

Weston Super Mare’s Birnbeck Pier viewed through a 145-year-old Lancaster Instantograph quarter-plate camera on the 150 year old technology of wetplate collodion.
With this technology I need the darkroom where I am taking the picture / so I have set up the darkroom in my campervanx.
#wetplatecollodion
#pier
#birnbeckpier
#largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#studiothree_galler
#Studiothree_Gallery
#artspacecreatives
#alternativephotographicprocesses
#clevedoncraftcentre #studiothreegaller_ #Studiothree_Gallery #visitnorthsomerset

Nice morning to test the repairs and mods made to eliminate light leaks in the Victo Triple Extension half Plate Camera (Circa 1920)
The negative has been photographed on a light table and digitised into photoshop for inversion to a positive. Anchor Head and Birnbeck Pier, Weston Super Mare

#largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#studiothree_galler

Triple Victo - Triple Extension half Plate Camera (Circa 1910) f16 1/30s. Harsh light giving good strong texture/shadows.
The XRay film negative has been photographed on a light table and digitised into photoshop for inversion to a positive.

#purtonhulks #purtonshipsgraveyard
#largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#studiothree_galler

#severnbore at framilode - 1900s Kodak Panoram 4 cameras. X-Ray film negative photographed on a light table and digitised into photoshop for inversion to a positive.
#edenproject
#Xrayfilm
#largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#studiothree_galler
#Studiothree_Gallery

Another tulip on wetplate collodion- this one started opening under the lights - and I like what it’s done to the image.
Triple Victo Triple Extension half Plate Camera (Circa 1910) f22 45s with 2x150W studio lamps.
The XRay film negative has been photographed on a light table and digitised into photoshop for inversion to a positive.

#wetplatecollodion #wetplatecollodionphotography
#largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#studiothree_galler

Three Wrinkled Peppers
Triple Victo Triple Extension half Plate Camera (Circa 1910) f22 45s with 2x150W studio lamps.
The XRay film negative has been photographed on a light table and digitised into photoshop for inversion to a positive.

#largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#studiothree_galler

Tulip season! Wetplate collodion with square 3.25” glass plate. Thoroughly enjoying using the 1910 Triple Victo camera. 2 Godox400 strobes for 35 flashes plus 150W modelling lights on. F16
#tulip
#Studiothree_Gallery
#wetplatecollodion
#ambrotype
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#alternativephotographicprocesses

Inexpensive Half plate ( 4.75x6.5”, 120x165mm)
silver bath tank made from a £7 plastic flower vase to contain silver nitrate solution and scraps of MDF used to make a light-tight enclosure & support. Plastic lifter made from modelling “board”. 6 glass plates glued along top edge added into the vase to reduce volume of silver nitrate needed to fill. Holder slopes backwards slightly to prevent plate from falling forwards off lifter. First tests today were successful! #wetplate #wetplatecollodion #wetplatecollodionphotography #largeformatphotography

Allium seedhead - 1880s Instantograph camera with square 3.25” glass plate. The Wetplate collodion process adds its own look to the exploding seedhead ( a fortunate “fault” with a glass plate that proved very hard to clean!)

#Studiothree_Gallery
#wetplatecollodion
#ambrotype
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#alternativephotographicprocesses
#discoverclevedon #facesofclevedon #clevedoncraftcentre #studiothreegaller_
#visitnorthsomerset

#clevedoncarsandcoffee with #largeformat #antiquecameras including Victo #3dstereoscopic .

Hartland Quay & Middlehope- shot on Fomapan100 in 1975 Pentax KX developed in Caffenol for 100 minutes #fomapan100 #caffenol #monochrome #landscapephotographer - something very different for me - going from 250x200mm to 35mm negatives - feeling grateful for the gift of this 50-year-old camera

Back in Clevedon - Testing the quarter plate “reducing back” that came with the recently purchased Victo half-plate camera. (c1910).
Happily - No light leaks
X-ray film (Green ISO100).
The negative has been photographed on a light table and digitised into photoshop for inversion to a positive.
#Pears #Rodenstock #houghton #victo
#largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#antiquelens
#alternativephotographicprocesses

Great couple of days with the old cameras at Hartland Quay, North Devon. Lovely to meet so many people interested in the cameras. Hartland Quay
#geology
#hartlsndquay
#thorntonpickard
#Xrayfilm
#largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#studiothree_galler
#Studiothree_Gallery
#brass
#antiquelens

Trying 1880s Instantograph camera with the Wetplate collodion process out in the field at #clevedonpier using VW camper as darkroom. Glass plates not as clean as I had thought - try again another day!

#Studiothree_Gallery
#wetplatecollodion
#ambrotype
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#alternativephotographicprocesses
#discoverclevedon #facesofclevedon #clevedoncraftcentre #studiothreegaller_
#visitnorthsomerset

Cleaning then testing a recent purchase - 100 yrs old and hardly used - superb condition Houghton triple Victo half plate camera. Probably the best condition camera I now own. Quick test at a favourite location with x Ray film in a plate holder - shows camera is fine but plate holder needs work. #Xrayfilm
#largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#studiothree_galler
#Studiothree_Gallery
#brass
#antiquelens
#alternativephotographicprocesses

#discoverclevedon #facesofclevedon

.pro-gallery-wix-wrapper {display: block !important;} .pro-gallery-wix-wrapper .gallery-item-container {opacity: 1 !important; display: block !important;}

Contact Me

oldparson@me.com

​

Contact Me