Saturday & Sunday

November 1 & 2
10 AM - 6 PM

Class Size Max: 6

Prerequisite: Prior wet plate experience is helpful but not a requirement.

“For the purpose of amusement, the photographer might carry us even into the regions of the supernatural.” Sir David Brewster, (1856). The Stereoscope: Its History, Theory, and Construction

Spirit photography began in the 1850’s when early photographers discovered that ghosts, sometimes by chance, appeared in their images. Was this the result of a long exposure or evidence of a spirit?

This two-day workshop begins with a brief lecture on the history of spirit photography, the influences behind the movement, and how it became a cultural phenomenon. The class will examine different types of spirit photographs from the 19th century and investigate ways of recreating such ghostly effects. For both beginner and advanced students, this course provides hands-on experimentation in achieving spirit photographs using the wet plate collodion process. Participants will explore a variety of methods for producing ghost images and will leave with their own spirit photographs. All chemistry and materials are provided.

Tuition includes a $50 material fee

If your desired tuition option is unavailable, please email info@penumbrafoundation.org and we will do our best to accommodate you. If the entire class is sold out, we can add you to the waitlist.

Images © Jolene Lupo and previous students

Jolene Lupo is a New York City-based photographer specializing in the wet plate collodion process. Her work explores themes of death, memory, and identification. Lupo received her BFA in Photography, from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Largely informed by the years she spent managing Penumbra Foundation’s Tintype Studio, her work is process-based with an emphasis on physicality and material. She has led numerous panel discussions on the relevance of analog photography in the digital age and hosted tintype portrait events across NYC and abroad. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, Metro, and Caitlin Doughty’s Ask A Mortician video series.