I was recently invited to present at the Experimental Photography Festival in Barcelona, happening July 23, 2025, at 0930-1100 MST. I could’ve made the trip, but between life and preparing for the PhD program, it felt right to keep things simple—so I saved them the travel cost and opted to present remotely.
The talk is called Glass, Light, and Time: A Journey Through the Wet Plate Process. I’ll be sharing not only the history of wet collodion, but also some thoughts on why humans have always felt compelled to create—and what that means in the context of this process. For me, wet plate photography has never just been about chemistry and technique. It’s about memory, presence, and mortality. A kind of ritual with light and time.
Too often, I see people (especially photographers) get caught up in gear, technique, and all the noise that passes for creativity. It’s easy to confuse mastery of a process with having something real to say. But the truth is, none of that matters if the work isn’t coming from an authentic place.
I want to encourage people—especially those struggling with doubt—to make something anyway. Express yourself. It’s essential. Not for fame, not for likes, not even for “success”—but for your own psychological health. Most people are afraid they won’t be good enough. They worry they can’t compete, or that someone will criticize their work. Here’s the truth: no one’s really paying that much attention. You are your own audience. And your inner life, your sense of balance and wholeness—that’s what’s on the line.
So make your work. Let it matter to you. That’s enough.
I encourage you to visit their site, and if you can, attend. It’s a lot like Revela't which I was involved with for many years. I look forward to the presentation and the feedback and questions.