SRFilmPhotography

26/07/2025

[ A I S L E O F S K Y E ]

These 5 wet plate collodion tintypes are for my 50 Years of Litter on Skye art commission awarded by Loughborough University funded by The Royal Society

Here is a video description of the 50 Years of Litter on Skye research project: https://youtu.be/6G4LVAEn1s0?si=MvwRishm06njL_am

I am incredibly privileged to have documented the project this year along the coastlines of Skye with such an awesome team of people.

From microplastics to the snares of fishing rope; I have learned a great deal, and documenting the death and burial of an entangled S***m Whale on Raasay was very shocking.

Video of the burial here: https://youtu.be/Pj2RGGtmV5c

The data that the team and others on Skye have been gathering is absolutely invaluable to evidencing the need for positive change at a government and industrial level.

I hope to work with the team more in the future and I am grateful for making some good friends during this year.

Tomorrow there is a beach clean and exhibition of work including my plates and some of the equipment that I used to develop these images in the field.

Sunday the 27th of July at An Crùbh: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lifes-a-beach-tickets-1492803999949

It was extremely challenging to make these plates due to the Victorian process of wet plate collodion in the field itself, and also due to the remote geographical locations and terrain we had to access / navigate... I also had to deal with some chemical issues / anomalies, which always makes you work for the image you're trying to create!

Thanks to all those involved.

I hope to see some Skye folk tomorrow!

24/05/2025

[ P O P - U P S T U D I O ]
[ P O R T R E E - D A Y T W O ]


Here's a couple of shots that we can share from today's wet plate collodion portraiture sessions!

Note: We are fully booked until 1400hrs tomorrow (Sunday)...

We are taking walk-in appointments for digital AND Victorian wet plate collodion fine art portraiture, in the new pop-up studio / shop beside We Frame It, in Portree Square!

Call 07801579277 to book in advance, to avoid disappointment! We had a great first day and we're there all weekend, from 10AM to 6PM...

Each session will last approximately 45 minutes including an immersive experience where you will see your portrait change and come to life in the chemicals... then, my fellow photographer will cater for your digital photography portraits, whilst I wash, dry, and frame your 8x10 inch portrait, made in pure silver.

The cost per session is £125, which includes both the Victorian wet plate, (professionally framed in high quality, museum grade glass) 8x10inch portrait, and digital images which will be sent via an online link.

We also have some portraits on display, along with some landscape plates and digital prints, available to buy.

Feel free to ask if you have any questions...

Thanks for stopping by Hugh!!

23/05/2025

[ P O P - U P S T U D I O ]
[ P O R T R E E ]



We are taking walk-in appointments for digital AND Victorian wet plate collodion fine art portraiture, in the new pop-up studio / shop beside We Frame It, in Portree Square!

Call 07801579277 to book in advance, to avoid disappointment! We had a great first day and we're there all weekend, from 10AM to 6PM...

Each session will last approximately 45 minutes including an immersive experience where you will see your portrait change and come to life in the chemicals... then, my fellow photographer will cater for your digital photography portraits, whilst I wash, dry, and frame your 8x10 inch portrait, made in pure silver.

The cost per session is £125, which includes both the Victorian wet plate, (professionally framed in high quality, museum grade glass) 8x10inch portrait, and digital images which will be sent via an online link.

We also have some portraits on display, along with some landscape plates and digital prints, available to buy.

Feel free to ask if you have any questions...

15/03/2025

Announcing my latest art commission, awarded by Loughborough University and funded through the Royal Society.

Plate 1: Bound and laid to waste.
A s***m whale, entangled and beached along the coastline at Raasay, Isle of Skye.

The commission will document the ongoing research spanning 50 years of study into the plastic pollution along Skye's coastlines.

The cause of death for this whale was indeed, entanglement leading to malnutrition. 15kg of plastic was found in it's system. It was bound by over 100m of rope.

Follow on Instagram

03/07/2024

Portree Community Library currently have a small exhibition of my MentalCollodion artwork which leads into my Peak Perseverance documentary display. There's an interactive section that allows you to view a map of the Cuillin Mountain and you can scan a QR code to see the plates I've made at each location.

You can also watch the documentary film trailer and find out about some of the influences for both projects. Some of the books on display are available through the library also.

Up on the mezzanine level!

Happy to answer any questions you guys have!

Documentary coming at the end of 2024!

Spirit of the Highlands
Creative Scotland

03/07/2024

03/07/2024

Winner!

07/06/2024

[ S H A H B A Z M A J E E D ]

You might have already seen the episode last week, where I was interviewed by Shahbaz Majeed for BBC Lanward at Elgol. I was demonstrating the use of the wet collodion process which was invented in 1851.

I made a portrait on clear glass (ambrotype) of Sandy from trips based in Elgol... and whilst I had the exposure times dialed in my head it was time to shoot a slightly tighter portrait of Shahbaz.

The collodion I was using that day was 8 months old, which should have meant that the exposure times would have been in the 5 second plus arena, but in actual fact, it was around 2 seconds, which is very fast, even for new collodion. Shahbaz did extremely well to hold fast and the plate came out beautifully well 👏

I was really pleased with the edit from the BBC, and particularly impressed with the way the episode explained the ridges that formed in the collodion when I was pouring due to the sudden gust of wind on Sandy's plate.

Shahbaz is a truly great guy and we'll next be meeting later in the year to head off to Loch Coruisk for a wee adventure!

Many thanks again to the BBC for showcasing my work, and the deeper connections behind it all.

BBC BBC Scotland Landward BBC iPlayer
Spirit of the Highlands
Shahbaz Majeed
Misty Isle Boat Trips

#

06/05/2024

[ W O R L D W E T P L A T E D A Y ]

A few days ago, my son, Isaac and I went to Loch Coruisk via the Misty Isle Boat to stay in the mountain with friends. Isaac completed his first outdoor traditional climbs with some support from the guys and also Robbie Phillips who we both met for the first time.

We had a great time and on the first day, I shot these wet plates of Isaac, coinciding with world wet plate day. I'll definitely be having the scans printed. I'm over the moon with both plates; they depict the scale of things and I love the textures and detail that only wet plate collodion can bring to light. I used 8 month old collodion for this project, as I wanted a very high contrast image. Exposure time was 3.5 seconds at f16, in very changeable conditions, approximately 19 degrees Celsius.

Thanks to our friends for the company and climbing! We greatly missed the legendary David Whalley and we send our love, mate.
All Things Cuillin
Misty Isle Boat Trips
Intrepid Camera
Keela Outdoors

19/11/2023

PEAK PERSEVERANCE - Official Trailer Release!

It is my pleasure to share this with you.

Immense thanks to everyone who has been involved during these past three years.

Sonya Davda

David Whalley
Adrian Trendall
Bridgette Blackmore
Kalie Wilkinson
Shane Balkowitsch - Nostalgic Glass Wet Plate Studio

All those who've sat with me either in front, or behind the camera... I am indebted to you; the time we've shared is immortal.

ILFORD PHOTO (Official Page)
Intrepid Camera
Lomography
Lomography UK
Spirit of the Highlands
The Royal Photographic Society
EMULSIVE - film.photography
Chroma Camera
Analog Forever Magazine
Skye Community Cinema
Wanderer Custom Dark Cloths
35mmc
Scottish Mountaineering Press
Sunny 16 Podcast
Gearing
https://youtu.be/pKebLAU5xyM



Music by Chance McCoy
MentalCollodion

This is the official trailer for my feature-length documentary film.I journey into my own mental health; I disclose my diagnosis of PTSD, my therapy, the cat...

15/11/2023

Check out Flora Blissett's creative article on Mental Collodion and my feature length documentary coming in early 2024.

Many thanks Flora!

It's a beautiful day. Sunny, warm – warm enough for us both to delayer from our waterproofs, which are, on this blue-sky day, completely unnecessary. It's the second of November, and golden sun pours down on Loch Harport. Unusually, though, I do not see any of this. Listening to Skye-based photogr...

15/10/2023

Prints just made available to purchase now of Captain Maryon's Monument, looking toward the North ridge of the Cuillin Mountain.

Taken from the original 5x7 inch large format wet plate collodion tintype, shot and developed legitimately in-situ.

Part of the Peak Perseverance documentary, coming in 2024.

https://srfilmphotography.pic-time.com/art/skyemountains/652c19ec7461f408d82001c3?

SR Film Photography,Skye Mountains,Wet Plate Collodion Artist Simon Riddell. A gallery of fine art prints of the Mountains in the Isle of Skye. Cuillin. Cuillin Ridge. Quiraing. Marsco. Glamaig. Sligachan.