The Department of Style recently ran a video feature on Greg Hopkins, an enthusiast of “regal trades of olde.” From building traditional hot rods and leather crafting to perfume making and collodion wet plate photography–Greg is an embodiment of preservation. The video above focuses on his skills with the 19th century photography technique applied at classic car shows, you’ve got to see it for yourself!
The Department of Style gives a brief description of what exactly wet plate photography is, “From 1951 to 1880, if you were a general, a poet, a proud family, an aristocrat, or anyone else who wanted to preserve their image, chafes are that picture was captured using wet plate photography.”
The Department of Style continues, “using a witches brew of nitrocellulose, alcohol, and ether, the photographer had to work quickly before the wet wash on the glass plate dried. It required a portable dark room and so a small tent would be transported to the sidelines of a wedding, the county fair, or even battlefields to allow the artist to practice his craft.”
While some may have seen various techniques of classic photography in films and others have had the pleasure of experiencing first hand the process of developing collodion photography, watching this video of greg develop photos of classic cars is both inspiring and a kick in the rear end.
As human beings we are instilled with the drive to both innovate and preserve. It can be said that both are polar making them equal in importance when it comes to achieving balance. Without sounding too outer limit-philosophical or like we’ve been taking drags of the magic moss Greg’s vibe and people like him are important for the enrichment of culture.
Stay tuned for more spots on The Department of Style as they continue to do what they do best–capture glimpses of those working hard to enrich society!