Antique Retouching Desk Was Photoshop for 19th Century Photographers https://petapixel.com/2025/10/17/antique-retouching-desk-was-photoshop-for-19th-century-photographers/ #markushofstaetter #markushofstatter #glassnegative #photoediting #retouching #negative #wetplate #history #Analog #analog #News

Photographer Brings 113-Year-Old 3D Camera Back to Life With 3D Printing https://petapixel.com/2024/11/18/photographer-brings-113-year-old-3d-camera-back-to-life-with-3d-printing/ #markushofstaetter #markushofstatter #camerarepair #3dprinting #Equipment #3dcamera #antique #history #Analog #News

Photographer Buys 113-Year-Old Stereo Camera and Develops the Ancient Film It Came With https://petapixel.com/2024/10/21/photographer-buys-113-year-old-stereo-camera-and-develops-the-ancient-film-it-came-with/ #markushofstaetter #markushofstatter #filmdevelopment #stereocamera #stereoscopic #expiredfilm #filmcamera #Equipment #Spotlight #oldcamera #history #oldfilm #Analog #analog

Photographer Recaptures Childhood Memories With His Grandfather’s 70-Year-Old Camera https://petapixel.com/2024/10/11/photographer-recaptures-childhood-memories-with-his-grandfathers-70-year-old-camera/ #agfasuperisolette #markushofstaetter #markushofstatter #mediumformat #rangefinder #Spotlight #memories #Analog #News #agfa

How a Photographer Revived and Modernized a Massive Flatbed Scanner

#inspiration #spotlight #largeformat #largeformatcamera #largeformatphotography #markushofstaetter #markushofstatter #mediumformat #wetplate #wetplatecollodion

Using a Zeiss 300mm Lens for a Wet Plate Self Portrait Project

Wet plate photographer Markus Hofstätter recently acquired a Zeiss 300mm f/4.5 lens, and although it produced beautiful results, the process of getting to a finished image was filled with numerous obstacles along the way.

The Austria-based Hofstätter is not a stranger to DIY solutions when it comes to antique photography equipment. From fixing a solid Linhof tripod that was left in a bad shape to creating a mobile darkroom out of an ice fishing tent to making his own ground glass focusing screens -- Hofstätter knows how to bring traditional photography methods and gear into the modern world.

After he received his new Zeiss lens, with the help of a drill, Hofstätter modified an existing lens board to fit the new flange on it. Unfortunately, he broke the whole board in the process and turned to his 3D printer to solve the issue, instead.

After eight hours of printing, the new board was ready but as Hofstätter picked it up, he realized the build plate -- which provides a flat surface for the bottom layer of the print -- was damaged in the process. This meant extra time that needed to be spent on fixing the printer by replacing the build plate.

The first copy of the lens board wasn't up to his standards, so Hofstätter had to print another one and, anotehr eight hours later, it was ready to be fine-tuned. Hofstätter then had to drill holes for screws and paint it matte black before fitting it.

But his struggles didn't end there. Because of the lockdown due to the pandemic, Hofstätter couldn't invite anyone to his studio to pose for him. Lacking any other subject, he decided to do a multi-exposure self-portrait, instead.

For that, he turned his studio into a darkroom to allow him to shoot multiple exposures. Once the plate was ready, Hofstätter shot three exposures of himself, changing the position every time. In his YouTube video, Hofstätter shows the satisfying process of his plate turning into a beautiful image.

After posting the video, Hofstätter also added a second part in which he was able to photograph a family with the newly purchased Zeiss lens as he had initially intended.

More of Hofstätter’s work can be found on his website, Instagram, and his blog, including a list of what tools he uses for his wet-plate photography. Hofstätter’s prints from the shoot can be viewed on ArtPal.

Image credits: Photos by Markus Hofstätter.

#equipment #inspiration #3d #3dprinting #largeformat #largeformatcamera #largeformatphotography #markushofstaetter #markushofstatter #mediumformat #wetplate #wetplatecollodion

Combining a 170-Year Old Wet Plate Process with Food Photography

Photographer Markus Hofstätter -- known for his collodion wet-plate photography expertise -- decided to try something different and used the 170-year old shooting process to capture incredibly detailed high-end food photos.

Hofstätter, based in Austria, has photographed it all -- from portraits to wildlife -- but hadn't experimented with food until an unexpected connection was made. While in the process of purchasing a Cambo AST studio stand, Hofstätter learned the seller was well-known food photographer and columnist Hans Gerlach.

After months of planning and discussing, both decided to collaborate on a high-end food photography shoot using the wet collodion process. Hofstätter and Gerlach had to carefully plan what dishes to photograph and what colors the dishes should contain because this type of photographic process only sees blue light -- this means that red color turns black and blue turns white.

Hofstätter writes in his blog that the collaborative project was even more enjoyable because of Gerlach's extensive food preparation and presentation experience which combined well with Hofstätter's own expertise in the wet plate collodion process.

The shoot took place in Hofstätter's studio where he used a 13 x 18 centimeter Mentor camera with a 250mm Zeiss Tessar lens. While Hofstätter set up the equipment and made it's secure enough for top-down photography, Gerlach prepared the dishes in the kitchen. Both worked tirelessly throughout the first day and photographed numerous dishes but realized that the silver nitrate bath had turned bad which caused some plates to come out less than ideal. Once the problem was corrected, they could return to shooting and producing successful wet plate images.

This is not the simplest type of photography and other issues were caused by Hofstätter's modified wet plate holder which didn't stay in place and caused some plates to become scratched.

"This is something every wet plate artist has to face from time to time," says Hofstätter.

However, most plates turned out exactly how they imagined it -- full of detail and texture that would look great as large prints.

Shot with Dallmeyer 2b Petzval lens

Hofstätter also shot some plates with a 150-year old Dallmeyer 2b Petzval lens which created a swirly bokeh. Even though the lens produced a strong out-of-focus area, what was in focus -- such as the texture of the bread and the onion pieces -- show great detail when closely inspected.

More of Hofstätter's work can be found on his website, Instagram, and his blog, including a list of what tools he uses for his wet-plate photography. Hofstätter's prints from the shoot can be viewed on ArtPal.

Image credits: All images by Markus Hofstätter and used with permission.

#features #inspiration #foodphotography #largeformat #largeformatcamera #largeformatphotography #markushofstaetter #markushofstatter #mediumformat #wetplate #wetplatecollodion

How to Turn an Ice Fishing Tent into a Large Mobile Darkroom

Although large-format photography may be an intricate and slow process often shot in a studio, it doesn't mean that it can't be taken outdoors with a little ingenuity. Photographer Markus Hofstätter has shared how he modified an ice fishing tent to create the ultimate mobile darkroom so he can shoot and process his work anywhere.

As an experienced collodion wet-plate photographer and educator, Hofstätter has previously shared his best tips and experiences in this type of art where the old practices and equipment meet new technology and methods. He has created tutorials, such as how he repaired a broken Linhof tripod he came in possession of and damaged cameras that simply needed a touch of DIY and 3D printing technology to get them back to full working order, as well as a step-by-step on how to make a ground glass focusing screen at home, among other resources.

In his latest video, Hofstätter revisits mobile darkroom modification -- following a previous video from 2019 where he reviewed the dark tent he used at the time -- to make it both light tight and easy to set up whilst on location, especially if he is shooting by himself.

Using a portable Eskimo Quickfish tent, which he first tried at the Camera Obscura Festival, Hofstätter realized the tent would give him the exact space he needs for darkroom work both by himself and when working with others and would serve as an upgrade to his current solution.

He purchased a refurbished Eskimo Quickfish tent and set out on a mission to find the best option to modify it for his darkroom needs, taking into account other photographers' suggestions and advice. First, he used a black screenprinting paint mixed with a cold fixer and used it to paint all over any holes and seams inside the tent. The next step was to fix the existing zipper so it would not let any light in. Hofstätter solution involves a permanent cover for the zipper that is similar to the one found on a pair of jeans.

Designing a cover for the zipper

To deal with the tent's windows, Hofstätter combined red gelatin filters and Velcro which he is able to stack on top of each other in cases where he is in particularly bright locations. To completely black out the tent, he used sheets of pond liner that could also be attached over the windows with Velcro.

Hofstätter also used that same pond liner to cover the floor inside the tent to protect it from any possible chemical spills and to block any humidity that could come up from the ground.

The finished setup uses the modified tent along with other internal additions like a power bank, red light LED, portable table, water canister with a tap, and the appropriate cases to safely transport chemicals. Despite all this, Hofstätter maintains that the setup is still easy to assemble and can be done alone. He says that it is a great solution for photographers who want to travel with ease while still being able to effectively work in the darkroom.

In the video above, Hofstätter shares in detail what kind of equipment he uses inside the tent and why with the hope that others will find it a useful resource to start with. As always, his goal is to share his knowledge and help photographers find the most cost-effective and ergonomic solution to pursue large-format photography.

More of Hofstätter's work can be found on his website, including his blog articles, as well as on his Instagram and YouTube channel.

_Image credits: All images by Markus Hofstätter and used with permission. _

#doityourself #tips #largeformat #largeformatcamera #largeformatphotography #markushofstaetter #markushofstatter #mediumformat #wetplate #wetplatecollodion

Wet Plate Portraits With an Affordable Large Format ‘Bokeh Monster’

Well-known wet plate photographer Markus Hofstätter recently purchased an old wet-plate camera, repaired it to a working condition, and added two lenses to it with the help of his 3D printer.

An Austrian-based photographer and educator, Hofstätter likes to bring the old and new together. In his photography, he specializes in collodion wet-plate, which means that he's regularly working with decades-old equipment that may require certain parts restored. He recently purchased a Mentor wet-plate camera at the Camera Obscura Festival auction and had to spend some time repairing it to bring it back to life, similarly how he repaired a damaged Linhof tripod a short while ago.

In his latest YouTube video, Hofstätter shows that it is possible to restore damaged equipment back to full working order, even though at first glance old cameras like these could be overlooked and forgotten. First, he had to fix the slide lock before he made repairs to the wobbly plate holder -- which could otherwise lead to light leaks -- and the cable release. Although the bellows -- which is the accordion-like, pleated expandable part of a camera -- wasn't broken, it made a cracking noise so Hofstätter decided to rip it apart and glue it all together himself.

The damaged cable release

To be able to shoot a wet plate with this camera, Hofstätter had to modify the plate holder and was on the lookout for a suitable lens. He eventually found a fast Leitz Hektor 200mm f/2.5 lens and, using his 3D printer, Hofstätter made a compatible lens port. After four days of printing, he had to add final touches and his new wet-plate set up was ready for a portrait shoot in the garden.

The reason why Hofstätter is attracted to wet-plate collodion photography is that the shooter gets instant results, similar to polaroids, which makes it a great process for impatient analog photographers. Also, every single plate is one of a kind, which makes the results unique and the look cannot be easily reproduced digitally. Because of this excitement, Hofstätter tells PetaPixel that he remembers the plates he has taken for a very long time compared to the more fast-paced digital shooting.

As an experienced wet-plate shooter himself, Hofstätter recommends attending a workshop to learn about the process, including the danger of the chemicals, the equipment, and the history of this type of photography. Even better if support is provided after the workshop to ensure safe wet-plate practice. He also recommends two books: "Chemical Pictures: Making Ambrotypes Tintypes Negatives and Prints" by Quinn Jacobson or "Das Kollodium” (German language) by Peter Michels.

For those looking to buy a camera of this kind, he explains that a lot of wooden cameras were made by unknown carpenters, which although isn't a bad thing, it can mean that the buyer forgets to check if the camera comes with fitting plate holders, which is necessary otherwise the chances of getting a suitable holder are very low. When it comes to lenses, small scratches are nothing to worry about but it is recommended to see the equipment in person or it can also be bought from a trusted source, like Wet Plate Dreams, which provides accurate descriptions for buyers.

However, even if buying from a reliable source, there are additional tasks to undertake, such as modifying the plate holder for the wet plate process, as presented in his video above.

More of Hofstätter’s work, including wet plate portraits, can be found on his website, blog, and Instagram page, while his videos can be viewed on his YouTube channel.

Image credits: All images by Markus Hofstätter and used with permission.

#educational #equipment #inspiration #largeformat #largeformatcamera #largeformatphotography #markushofstaetter #markushofstatter #mediumformat #wetplate #wetplatecollodion

Photographer Documents Bringing a 50-Year Old Linhof Tripod Back to Life

After an accident that left an otherwise well-built Linhof tripod in a bad shape, watch as photographer Markus Hofstätter brought it back to life with full functionality.

Hofstätter is no stranger to Linhof tripods, as just recently PetaPixel shared his project where he befriended and photographed a family of swans with a large-format camera supported by one. As someone who shoots wet-plate photography, Hofstätter regularly works with a variety of photographic equipment with a long history behind it. This time, however, the 50 to 60-year old Linhof tripod came in his possession following a bike accident that had left the tripod in a rough shape.

Not intimidated by the difficulty of the repair job, Hofstätter took it upon himself to fix it up using his own DIY skills. It would have been a shame not to try, considering how well built these tripods are and how well they fit with his own cameras, says Hofstätter in his blog post.

Hofstätter tells PetaPixel that he tries to repair most things by himself if it is possible. Not only is it a satisfying process, but most old things are built to last and generally only require an easy repair that will keep them going for years.

The broken tripod had a missing stabilizer and a broken ball head, with the latter proving to be a bigger headache to Hofstätter as he had no idea how it worked. He found a similar ball head in a local shop and asked if they would be able to send him some pictures and video footage to show in detail how it works, and, luckily, they did.

Hofstätter started with the easiest part to fix -- the stabilizer. Although a simple task for Hofstätter, the job requires patience with a touch of precision -- in a combination with the right metalwork tools, of course -- to ensure that all parts are cut to fit in the corresponding placements.

The job required metalwork equipment

The ball head with its missing bolt, on the other hand, wasn't nearly as straightfoward. The bolt had to be filed down to fit and then secured, but with the shop-provided footage, Hofstätter was able to finish his project with no major issues along the way.

The result is a fully functional and sturdy vintage tripod, an ideal addition to Hofstätter's photography kit. Even more so, its rejuvenation was followed by Hofstätter's announcement that he will shortly begin his "Will it Shoot Wet-Plate?" video series, where the newly-repaired tripod will surely come in handy.

More of Hofstätter’s work, including wet plate portraits, can be found on his website, blog, and Instagram page, while his videos can be viewed on his YouTube channel.

Image credits: All images by Markus Hofstätter and used with permission.

#doityourself #educational #tips #diy #equipmentrepair #largeformat #largeformatcamera #linhof #markushofstaetter #markushofstatter #mediumformat #tripod