Emerging wet plate photographer and activist based in Philadelphia PA.

I began my photography journey in 2019, after buying a used point and shoot camera from Goodwill. I wanted to explore expression through photography and I used my camera to help me process my feelings and surroundings, as I was graduating college and leaving my college town. After learning about and practicing darkroom techniques I knew I wanted to be the one developing photos and working in a photo lab. I had the opportunity to take a wet plate workshop in February 2022, mere months after moving to Philadelphia. After that first lesson I was absolutely hooked.

Since 2022 I have been diligently studying wet plate and different darkroom techniques. To me, it is a beautiful blend of art and science. It has allowed me to use both my undergraduate and graduate experience to create art, and has helped me find a sense of purpose. I am able to express myself, and help other express themselves in a way they want to be remembered by.

Artist Statement

Time and care are necessary to my mission of creating Memento Mori. Through my work with wet plate collodion, I want to explore memory and what it means to be remembered. This was a theme prevalent in Victorian minds when the medium was first developed, and I too wonder about how myself and others will be remembered. There are many people, communities, and places that are not documented by this historical process. It’s not as common to have tintypes from the Victorian era that show people of color, disabled people, queer people, and other marginalized groups. By making tintypes for these groups today I am able to create a timeless memory with them, as well as honor those whose legacies may have been forgotten. 

Another aim of mine is to make the wet plate process more accessible to marginalized groups. There are remarkably few wet plate artists at my intersection of disability and queerness. Transparency of the process is as important as the final product. I have spent the past two years specializing in period-accurate formulas and hope to help revitalize the use of cyanide in wet plate. This process can be difficult without a mentor or financial means, and I would not be able to do it without the community I have found since living in Philadelphia. One day I hope to have my own darkroom/studio where I can offer classes, practice space, materials, and inspiration to the next generation of wet plate photographers.

hellcatdarkroom@gmail.com
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