“The Wet Plate Collodion Process”

With over 25 years behind the lens, Bill Vitiello, a new member to BPS, is a photographer whose work bridges the past and present of photographic art. A true craftsman, he works across all film formats — from 35mm and medium format to large format — and is also an accomplished wet plate collod


ion photographer, keeping one of photography’s earliest processes alive through meticulous, hands-on artistry. Beyond image-making, Bill is an avid camera collector, curating a personal archive spanning the history of photography — from 19th-century brass and mahogany masterpieces to modern mechanical marvels. Among the treasures


in his collection is a fully functional 1912 Kodak 7A studio camera, a reminder of the enduring beauty and ingenuity of analog tools. Driven by a deep respect for photographic heritage and a passion for experimentation, Bill continues to explore the interplay between light, chemistry, and time — crafting images that honor the roots of the medium while offering a timeless perspective on the world.
The “tintype” or “wet plate collodion” process is the second oldest form of photography and dates back to the early 1850’s. Bill will share a brief history of the process and what it takes to make a tintype. Through a live demonstration, Bill will share the magic, precision, and unpredictability of this handmade process — from pouring collodion to developing plates in real time.