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:

Wye Valley Camera Club: 19-02-2025

Wells Camera Club: 17-05-2025

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

Rewarding day making pictures of Roses- imaged in a 1900s Houghton Victo 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

Wetplate collodion - #Ambrotypes of vegetables (whole and sliced)
Victo Half-Plate camera (c1910) on antique glass 3.25” (82cm) square. So much better viewed first hand - not digitised - will be on view in May/June at Studio3, #clevedoncraftcentre
#Rodenstock #houghton #victo
#largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#antiquelens
#alternativephotographicprocesses
#Studiothree_Gallery

Sliced fruit - imaged in a 1900s Houghton Victo 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

A fruitful day’s work - imaged in an 1890s halfplate tailboard 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

“A ‘Conference’ of Pears No1”
X-ray film (Green ISO100) Houghton Victo Half-Plate camera (c1910)
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

An enjoyable and challenging morning with the early 1900s plate cameras at Clevedon Cars & Coffee.
Not a subject I have photographed before so very much an exploration of possibilities. Also trying a new film - X-ray Blue, rather than my usual Green, so a higher ISO and more “grainy”. Not much space to use my usual lenses so a wide angle lens for most shots which is “soft”.
Great crowd of people - so spent lots of time explaining the cameras - lost track of what I was doing a few times so a few mistakes leading to some interesting results.

Looking forward to a return to the event February.

Cameras were a half plate ((nominal6x4 inch) Houghton Victo an a full plate (nominal 6x8 inch) Thornton Pickard. Both from c 1910.
#classiccars
#facesofclevedon
#largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#studiothree_galler
#Studiothree_Gallery
#brass
#antiquelens

Fruit - imaged in an 1890s halfplate tailboard 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)
Rodenstock Eurynar Lens f4.5 21 cm
No- 156732, Makes it c1915.
#wetplatecollodion
#ambrotype
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#alternativephotographicprocesses

Busy morning testing lighting options for photographing a new series of fruit images in 1890 halfplate tailboard camera. #wetplatecollodion to make #ambrotypes

#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,

Always great to visit the Welsh #Waterfalls- #sgwdgwladys (Gwladus) #breconbeacons #breconbeaconsnationalpark #waterfallcountry - today with my large (full plate6.5x8.5”) 1920s camera and the 1910 Victo half plate - with the sturdy #gandolfi tripod - it was a workout carrying all this with 10 film holders and a reducing back for the Sanderson. #Xrayfilm
#largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,

Flooded Curry Moor, Somerset.
Thornton Pickard Triple Extension Full Plate Camera (Circa 1920)
The XRay film negative has been photographed on a light table and digitised into photoshop for inversion to a positive.

#Somerset #somersetphotographer #somersetphotography
#largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#studiothree_galler

Back to Hodders Combe, Quantock, Somerset to try some double exposure images of moving water; one long, one short. Prompted by an idea from John Blakemore.
Each full-plate negative has been photographed on a light table and digitised into photoshop for inversion to a positive.

#thorntonpickard
#longexposure
#doubleexposure
#largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#studiothree_galler

Testing Blue Agfa X ray film out in the rain with @petesworldtoday at Avonmouth silos- shot with #alvista #panoramic camera. 9cmx30cm. ISO200 1/30s f6.8
Graininess of this blue film adds to the wet-misty atmosphere of the day.
#Xrayfilm
#largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#studiothree_galler
#Studiothree_Gallery

St Martin’s Church, Worle. Testing out recently purchased “blue” ( as opposed to the usual green) X Ray film in my full plate (8.5x6.5”) camera. This camera is a #thorntonpickard #imperial triple extension #camera from c1910 and will be #forsale soon. Comes with roller shutter 2 film holders and a brass lens f8-f64 - used for this photograph. Contact me if you are interested and in the UK.

Testing two things at the same time: Effect of focal length on Pinhole camera image sharpness ( 37cm, 50cm, 66cm then 50cm but closer to subject.) And the latest addition to the camera collection a full plate sized Houghton Victo triple extending camera with a half plate sprung reducing back in fantastic condition. #pinholecamera #largeformatphotography #houghtonvicto #antiquecamera

Lovely sunrise at #rspbhamwall #beautifulsomerset

Exhilarating to experience the morning lift-off of the starling roost at #rspbhamwall - photographed here with three antique Alvista #panoramic cameras onto #largeformat #xrayfilm - exposure times controlled by the air-resistance on the different sized fans attached to the clockwork mechanisms. 1/8 1/5 and 1/4 s approximately!

Wonderful starling and sunset display this evening at Ham Wall#rspbhamwall #murmuration #starling #somerset #somersetlevels

Back to Woodspring Priory with the Sanderson Full Plate camera c1920 - Nature re-claiming an outbuilding
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,
#studiothree_galler

Sanderson Full Plate camera c1920 - trying big lenses - Dalmayer Pentac F2.9 and Rodenstock F4.5 with a self-madeGravity (guillotine) shutter, 1:30s
Woodspring Priory area -
The negatives have been photographed on a light table and digitised into photoshop for inversion to a positive.

#largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#studiothree_gallery #landmarktrust #woodspringpriory #platecamera

My latest post (sorry!)
Houghton Victo Stereo Half Plate c1900
Ross Homocentric 10” F8 lens on F22, 1:30s
Woodspring Priory area - always loved this old (lone) post - low sun accentuated the weathered grain. Now it has no functional purpose- but the place would be less without it ………
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,
#studiothree_gallery #visitnorthsomerset #visitweston

Successful test of the recently re-commissioned early 1900s’ Houghton “Victo Triple”. #largeformatphotography,#cameracollector #camerarepair
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#studiothree_galler
#Studiothree_Gallery
#artspacecreatives
#alternativephotographicprocesses
#clevedoncraftcentre

A stormy Saturday afternoon’s work: Re-assembled the early 1900s’ Houghton “Victo Triple” having made repairs to the crusty bellows and cleaned the corroded brass in citric acid and tomato ketchup. #largeformatphotography,#cameracollector #camerarepair
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#studiothree_galler
#Studiothree_Gallery
#artspacecreatives
#alternativephotographicprocesses
#clevedoncraftcentre

Lovely morning to catch the tide at Woodspring Priory with the 10x8 “New Countess” field camera with a Ross Homocentric 10” F8 lens onto X Ray film.

#Xrayfilm
#largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#studiothree_galler
#Studiothree_Gallery
#artspacecreatives
#alternativephotographicprocesses
#clevedoncraftcentre #visitnorthsomerset

Busy day working with the latest auction find of early 1900s plate cameras. Bellows to repair, ground glass to make(thank you @petesworldtoday ), shutter to repair- hours of fun: looking forwards to making new photographs with them! #largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#studiothree_galler

Kodak Panorams (4B&C) from early 1900s. taking Views of The Black Mountains in Herefordshire: Black Hill & #olchon valley. Great stay @ty_gwyn_cider The 4”x10” XRay negatives are photographed on a light-table, inverted and toned in Photoshop/Lightroom/SilverFX
#landscapephotography #herefordshire
#kodakpanoram
#panoram
#panoramic
#Xrayfilm
#largeformatphotography,
#largeformatcameras,
#analoguephotography,
#diydeveloping,
#vintagecamera,
#largeformat,
#darkroomprint,
#blackandwhite,
#studiothree_galler
#Studiothree_Gallery
#visitsomerset
#clevedoncraftcentre

Enjoyable morning with photographing the Monnow Bridge & Gate at Monmouth (c1300). This is Britain’s only bridge with a fortified gate on its span.
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,
#studiothree_galler

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Contact Me

oldparson@me.com

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Contact Me