Collodion wetplate artist was robbed
Donation protected
Dear all,
My name is Max and I am an analogue photographer and I love wet plate photography, an alternative process that is over 100 years old. Today, I have to ask for your help.
Why?
The Short Version:
In late October 2018 someone broke into my friend's studio and stole most of my equipment, including a very rare antique Dallmeyer lens and my large format cameras. Unfortunately, this was gear that you cannot buy in stores, and that I spent many years collecting.
The Long Version:
My passion for photography began in childhood, when my Grandmother gave me that Olympus mju film camera. I ended up discovering an antique photographic process, called 'Collodion Wetplate'. This process was invented around 1851, right at the beginning of modern photography and it is pure handwork - a bit complicated at first, but I was blown away by how good the results were.
Collodion emulsion is less sensitive to light than modern film or digital cameras, so you have to expose it for longer. A portrait takes 7-10 seconds, and some macro and landscape work needs whole minutes. The end product of this complicated process is a very fine photograph where every detail is clear. Because the image is exposed directly onto a glass or tin plate, each photograph exists as a unique, one of a kind physical object from which prints can be created.
I started working with wetplate photography around 4-5 years ago with a workshop I attended and after for years I searched the internet for lenses of the period and large format cameras to build my collection of equipment.
One lucky day a friend gave me a big lens, a Dallmeyer 6a. I did not know at that time that such big lenses existed nor what prices you would normally expect to pay for such a lens. I was very lucky that I did not have to pay anything. Since this lens was made to take portraits in the format 40x50cm, I searched again for a bigger camera to use with it, and over a year later I found one (you can see both the lens and the big camera in my profile picture).
I used and loved all of this equipment until October 2018, when someone broke into my friend's studio and took my 4x5" Arca Swiss F-Line camera, my 8x10" Arca Swiss Model-B camera, the precious antique Dallmeyer 6a lens and a Bowens Gemini strobe set. I would estimate the loss in money at 18-20.000€. I can’t really put a price on the equipment’s value to me as an artist.
So now, I am starting this Fundraiser because I need to try to replace some of the gear and to start again my work as an artist. You can't find this kind of equipment in just any photography store, and you can't buy such a lens just anywhere - there are maybe only 20 pieces left in the world.
Unfortunately, there is no way to add perks on GoFundMe any more, so please have a look on my website (http://maximilianzeitler.com/?page=gofundme) to see the kind of work I’m doing, and leave me a message after your donation.
Every donation makes a difference and is very appreciated.
Sincerely yours,
Max
My name is Max and I am an analogue photographer and I love wet plate photography, an alternative process that is over 100 years old. Today, I have to ask for your help.
Why?
The Short Version:
In late October 2018 someone broke into my friend's studio and stole most of my equipment, including a very rare antique Dallmeyer lens and my large format cameras. Unfortunately, this was gear that you cannot buy in stores, and that I spent many years collecting.
The Long Version:
My passion for photography began in childhood, when my Grandmother gave me that Olympus mju film camera. I ended up discovering an antique photographic process, called 'Collodion Wetplate'. This process was invented around 1851, right at the beginning of modern photography and it is pure handwork - a bit complicated at first, but I was blown away by how good the results were.
Collodion emulsion is less sensitive to light than modern film or digital cameras, so you have to expose it for longer. A portrait takes 7-10 seconds, and some macro and landscape work needs whole minutes. The end product of this complicated process is a very fine photograph where every detail is clear. Because the image is exposed directly onto a glass or tin plate, each photograph exists as a unique, one of a kind physical object from which prints can be created.
I started working with wetplate photography around 4-5 years ago with a workshop I attended and after for years I searched the internet for lenses of the period and large format cameras to build my collection of equipment.
One lucky day a friend gave me a big lens, a Dallmeyer 6a. I did not know at that time that such big lenses existed nor what prices you would normally expect to pay for such a lens. I was very lucky that I did not have to pay anything. Since this lens was made to take portraits in the format 40x50cm, I searched again for a bigger camera to use with it, and over a year later I found one (you can see both the lens and the big camera in my profile picture).
I used and loved all of this equipment until October 2018, when someone broke into my friend's studio and took my 4x5" Arca Swiss F-Line camera, my 8x10" Arca Swiss Model-B camera, the precious antique Dallmeyer 6a lens and a Bowens Gemini strobe set. I would estimate the loss in money at 18-20.000€. I can’t really put a price on the equipment’s value to me as an artist.
So now, I am starting this Fundraiser because I need to try to replace some of the gear and to start again my work as an artist. You can't find this kind of equipment in just any photography store, and you can't buy such a lens just anywhere - there are maybe only 20 pieces left in the world.
Unfortunately, there is no way to add perks on GoFundMe any more, so please have a look on my website (http://maximilianzeitler.com/?page=gofundme) to see the kind of work I’m doing, and leave me a message after your donation.
Every donation makes a difference and is very appreciated.
Sincerely yours,
Max
Organizer
Maximilian Zeitler
Organizer
Berlin
