Journal

Tips, Tintypes Riley Tips, Tintypes Riley

Tintype Animals

Humans have been photographed with their pets since the beginning of photography in the 1800s. The following images are from the late 1800s and early 1900s that show what we already know, us humans love our fluffy buddies.

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Tips, Tintypes Riley Tips, Tintypes Riley

Spectacles in Tintype Portraits

Wearing glasses in tintype portraits presents unique challenges and considerations that can affect the final image.

Modern coatings on glasses lenses are made to protect your eyes from damaging UV rays. But as the wet plate collodion process mostly captures UV light on the blue side of the spectrum that can cause your clear glasses lenses to appear as tinted. From a slight amount all the way to full on sunglasses.

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Video, Behind The Scenes Riley Video, Behind The Scenes Riley

Artist Unseen

In December, something magical happened at my tintype studio nestled in Calgary, Alberta. The talented Jake Braben (@jakebraben / @jakebraben.photo / YouTube) graced my studio space and wove his artistry into the storytelling of my creative process. The result? An enthralling narrative of my journey into the wet plate collodion photographic process and its significance in the digital age.Through Jake's masterful lens, two sessions unfolded, capturing the essence of my art and the captivating appeal of the tintype process.

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Musings, Video Riley Musings, Video Riley

2023 Tintype Year in Review

Having a tintype studio in Calgary has been a journey filled with gratitude and nostalgia. Capturing countless memories and preserving stories, each session has been a unique adventure into the past. With a short video recap, I invite you to join me in celebrating the magic of our studio's moments, and look forward to another year of creating timeless memories.

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The Anniversary

On their 1 year anniversary they came from Edmonton to my little tintype portrait studio, donned their wedding attire and were captured in silver for all time.

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Midsummer Memories

Family portraits don’t have to be boring. Bring your ideas to my Calgary tintype studio to etch them in silver using a Victorian-era chemical process.

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Solo or Together?

You’re two star-crossed lovers that stumbled upon a fella in your city, Calgary, that uses the historic wet plate collodion photographic technique to create handmade heirloom portraits. Do you get a tintype of you together? Or do you get two individual tintypes?

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The Clown

The first tintype portrait I made of Zowie, my now constant collaborator, was during a fall blizzard back in 2019. Now 3 ½ years and a few dozen plates later we were back to bring her vision to life in my little Calgary studio.

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