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.

Up-coming presentations:

Wells Camera Club: 17-05-2025

Cheltenham Camera Club: 16-10-2025

Exhibiting:

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

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

#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

Trying 1880s Instantograph camera with the lantern slide glass as this fits the width of the plate holder exactly - just needed to glue in a piece of card to reduce in the longer dimension. All wood and card edges protected with black nail varnish from contact with silver nitrate in this Wetplate collodion process.
Metering again spot on with the lovely new #filmphotography app from @jonassubvert

Hope to make a 3x3, 9 image artwork of succulents to be exhibited in May/June at #Studiothree_Gallery
#wetplatecollodion
#ambrotype
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#alternativephotographicprocesses
#discoverclevedon #facesofclevedon #clevedoncraftcentre #studiothreegaller_
#visitnorthsomerset

Seedheads Typology now completed - imaged in a 1900s Houghton Victo half-plate camera on glass with collodion - the Wetplate collodion process.
Metering helped with the lovely new app from @jonassubvert
These digitised images “flatten” the images which have so much more life in the hand.
The glass comes from unused vintage “Lantern” slides (3.25”square)

Will be exhibited in May/June at #Studiothree_Gallery
#wetplatecollodion
#ambrotype
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#alternativephotographicprocesses
#discoverclevedon #facesofclevedon #clevedoncraftcentre #studiothreegaller_
#visitnorthsomerset

Seedheads - imaged in a 1900s Houghton Victo half-plate camera on glass with collodion - the Wetplate collodion process.
These digitised images “flatten” the images which have so much more life in the hand.
The glass comes from unused vintage “Lantern” slides (3.25”square)

#wetplatecollodion
#ambrotype
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#alternativephotographicprocesses

#discoverclevedon #facesofclevedon #clevedoncraftcentre #studiothreegaller_ #Studiothree_Gallery
#visitnorthsomerset

Good day at #edenproject photographing with my early 1900s camera (on X-Ray film) - half-plate (6x4” approx) negatives - scanned and inverted in Photoshop. Really enjoyed looking for strong lines/patterns/textures.
#Rodenstock #houghton #victo
#largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#antiquelens
#alternativephotographicprocesses

Dramatic Dartmoor delivers - Scorhill Stone Circle #dartmoor #scorhill #stonecircle #iphone14promax

Thornton Pickard Full Plate camera, Rodenstock: Rodenstock Eurynar Lens f4.5 21 cm - No- 156732 c1915. X ray film
The negative has been photographed on a light table and digitised into photoshop for inversion to a positive.
#Pepper
#Rodenstock #Sanderson #kodak
#largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#antiquelens
#alternativephotographicprocesses
#studiothree_galler
#clevedoncraftcentre

Enjoyable morning photographing at Clevedon Cars & Coffee, Queens Square with the 1920s Houghton Full-Plate camera. Thanks to all the lovely owners!
#carsandcoffee #bentley #austin #triumph #largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#antiquelens
#alternativephotographicprocesses

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Contact Me

oldparson@me.com

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Contact Me