19th Century Photography Experience: Learn Wet Plate Collodion Portraiture
5.0
9 Ratings
Sintra
Experience the art of 19th century wet plate collodion portraiture. Learn the complex process of coating, sensitizing, and developing a unique and lasting photographic plate.
Duration: 1 hour
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Av. Heliodoro Salgado 44 - This experience is designed to make you time-travel back to the early ages of photography. You’ll have your portrait made through one of the oldest photography processes, invented by Frederick Scott Archer in 1851: wet plate collodion and will have the chance to experience the whole process of development. This immersive experience will be held at FIVE HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO, which itself is equipped with antique cameras, and furniture, alongside some literature on 19th century Photography, all for your edification.

This particular technique creates unique images, reminiscent of a distant past. You will have the chance to choose from three different sizes in which the tintype portrait will be made.

Some 19th century clothes and props will be available for the portrait session.

In addition to being an extremely interesting process, you will have the opportunity to follow the hosts to the laboratory/dark-room to experience/see the whole development process.

The aluminium plates (tintypes) are ready to take, one hour after the experience starts.

What's Included
  • Experience the entire development process in a dark room
  • Receive a unique tintype portrait taken by your host
Additional Information

The studio provides a practical exploration into the realm of wet plate collodion portraiture and its associated development techniques. In today’s digitized world, an array of photographs are daily captured by simple cell phones and digital cameras, with a majority, if not all, merely stored and out of sight in computers. Our approach is counteractive - we seek to create something tangible, precious and impossible to ignore. The method is hugely complex and distinct, it involves coating, sensitizing, exposing and developing the photographic material all within approximately fifteen minutes while the plate remains wet, hence it’s referred to as such. Crafting a wet plate requires an investment of time, it can be erratic, and needs patience and dedication, yet the outcome is an exceptional, aesthetically pleasing and enduring piece.

  • Desaconselhável para crianças com menos de 6 anos de idade, uma vez que os tempo de exposição da fotografia pode ir até aos 10 segundos.
Location
Largo 1º de Dezembro 14
Largo 1º de Dezembro
25 minutes walking distance from Sintra Railway station. The guest will be received at FIVE HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO, located in a beautiful historic neighborhood called São Pedro de Sintra. There are also bus from the station (1252 or 1253). Taking an Uber is also another good option.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(9 Ratings)
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Chelseao614
Jan 7, 2023
Unique & Memorable- Create an Amazing Keep Sake - Whether you’re a local or visitor, this is absolutely worth your while. It was unique, affordable, and memorable. The hosts had a very relaxed and welcoming demeanor. They were knowledgeable about the craft and we walked away with a keep-sake that we both are positively in love with. The entire process was fascinating and they packaged the product in a box for us, which made traveling much easier. I recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Trish_l
Sep 2, 2022
Awesome Piece of History - Such an incredible learning experience and a beautiful piece of history to take home with us! The hosts were both so lovely and friendly.
Review provided by Viator
Satu
Jul 4, 2022
Once-in-a-lifetime moment to have the cool image of yourself - When neg for turning pos. True magic. Wow! And somehow, when I was waiting to see ny grandmother there, it was really suprise, I saw myself. This was really cool and uniq experience in Sintra. Something completely different to bring home from your trip. Forget the sardines for one hour, and go and learn this very cool way to take One Photo which gonna last forever. It is ready now for my funerals as well (laughing).
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aaron
Jun 1, 2022
Highly recommended, unique experience - This was an awesome way to spend an hour and incredibly fun. The owners are super friendly and knowledgeable. We got to dress up in old-timey clothes, take a really cool photo, and watch the process to develop it. 10/10 will recommend to all of my friends.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lindsaybo1398zt
May 31, 2022
Back in time for a few hours! - This was such a unique experience! I am so glad I found it. We celebrated my 50th birthday and what better way than a family experience. We learnt so much about the process, Filipe has mastered the wet plate collodion technique and we were about to see the whole process. It is amazing. Taking the pictures was such a fun experience with the ability to dress up if you wanted to. It was so fun to go back in time for a few hours! My one child just loves history and it was one of the best experiences they had ever had. Filipe was calm, cool and so accommodating. Thank you so much
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Petioless
May 28, 2022
Wonderfully fun - By far one of the more informative and fun experiences we have had on our trips to Portugal! Filipe and Vera are very welcoming, and knowledgeable about historical process. It was magic to see the prints develop, and is one of the reasons I love analog photography. However, you don't have to be knowledgeable about photography to thoroughly enjoy this experience- you will not forget it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Drchesi
Nov 27, 2021
Fun with Photography - Filipe and Vera have found a shared passion and do a wonderful job sharing it with anybody who's interested. The whole process, from preparing the slides to posing to developing the photos, is fascinating. We learned a lot about photography and its various techniques. Filipe and Vera were lovely to spend time with and we really enjoyed our experience. Plus, our photo turned out great and we got to leave Sintra with a really unique souvenir!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Joana
Mar 20, 2019
Excellent experience - Exactly the type of program I like: fun, different and interesting. I learned many things the day I took my picture, especially how special a picture could be back in the days and how we take it for granted in modern life. Filipe and Vera explain everything about colodium step by step, and you end up with a kind of picture that no one else has!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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