About this Event
Struggling to think of what to get your loved one(s) for Christmas this year? Why not treat yourself - and your significant other(s) - to a one-of-a-kind studio portrait you can take home. Tin-types are gorgeous, tactile, and completely unique. The image produced is a direct positive on a thin sheet of silver metal, irreproducible and precious, and would take pride of place on anybody's mantelpiece.
We are delighed to host a pop-up tintype studio from Gregg McNeill (Dark Box Images) downstairs at 6 William Street on the 14th and 15th of December to coincide with our Christmas Market. Central Scotland's Victorian photography fanatic, Gregg will take you step by step through the experience of wet plate collodion studio photography: you will watch your image 'come to life' in the chemistry, and collect your print later that day.
A little bit about Gregg //
When Frederick Scott Archer invented wet plate collodion photography in 1851, he probably didn’t imagine that people would still be falling in love with the process almost 170 years later. Gregg McNeill is one of those people and having been a successful film and digital photographer for over 25 years, he believes he has found a process that has rekindled his passion for the photographic process.
Exposing an image onto a glass or tin plate always involves a degree of luck and improbability, because each collodion portrait is utterly unique and different elements can affect the image. Gregg’s skill in using an authentic Victorian camera, coupled with his experience and precision timing creates genuinely remarkable results that appear right in front of your eyes. Once dry, the plate is waxed which seals and protects the image, leaving a beautiful and timeless ‘forever memory’ for you to show future generations. More info here: https://www.darkboximages.com/
How to book //
Book on this page to attend on Sat 14 December. In the ticket menu you will find different sections for each time slot. Please select the slot and the size of tintype you would like to purchase - there are two sizes available as indicated.
- Small tintype (4x5") = £40
- Medium tintype (4.75 x 6.5") = £70
- Debossed cabinet cards will be avilable on the day for £10
There is only one booking available per time slot, so if you want two portraits you will have to book at two separate times (these could run back-to-back depending on availability). If you'd rather book for Saturday 14 December, click here.
Practicalities and accessibility //
This is not suitable for large group portraits due to space and technological limitations. We recommend 1-2 people for best results, but 3 sitters is the strict maximum per booking. The pop-up studio will be in the 6WS Workshop Room, in the basement and accessible via stairs or lift. There is also an accessible toilet (with a small mirror) on this floor for make-up touch ups! Exposure times using Victorian processes are quite lengthy, so the best results require a sitter or sitters who will stay as still as possible. Therefore, pets (and humans!) must be prepared to sit/stand still for a duration of 30-60 seconds for best results.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
6 William St, 6 William Street, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
GBP 44.04 to GBP 76.55