Dry-Plate Collodion Negative & Salt Print Workshop
in Sicily, Italy - May 26-30, 2025

3800 € Includes: Welcome reception and dinner May 25th,
six nights lodging, all meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
and all workshop materials. Workshop for 6 participants.

Click here
for 2 minute
VIDEO *

If you're ready to experience large format
and alternative process photography, beautiful Sicilian scenery and amazing food, this is a rare opportunity. This workshop will be hosted by Gianni Cusumano and taught by Mark Osterman and France Scully Osterman on location in Sicily, Italy. The Ostermans are well known to the international photographic community as the leading experts in collodion processes.

Unlike wet collodion, this workshop features a rare dry variant of the collodion process introduced in the mid-1850s. Designed specifically for landscape photography, the technique allows shooting collodion negatives in the field without the use of a portable darkroom as required for wet collodion photography. The sensitive plates may be kept for several months before exposure making them the perfect medium for travel photography.

In this unique workshop, participants will receive instruction in the basic chemistry and concept of the process, hands-on instruction in the preparation, exposure and processing of 8"x10” negatives and making final proofs with salt prints.

On the first day, the Ostermans will guide you in preparing dry collodion plates in the darkroom at Gianni Cusumano laboratory in the center of Castelbuono, Sicily.

For the next 3 days, you will shoot on location using a large format 8 x10" view camera. At the end of each shooting session, the group will return to the darkroom to develop the plates with the instructors. On the last day, you will make salted paper prints from your best negatives.

All instructional information is supplied including the manual, Scully & Osterman Basic Collodion Technique: Ambrotypes & Tintypes, supplemental instructions specific to making wet and dry collodion negatives and salt prints.

Lodging, food and transportation to and from the laboratory is included in the cost of the workshop.  Lodging and food include: 6 nights accommodation with breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Accommodations will be held at Agriturismo Bergi, an educational farm and B&B with twenty acres of gardens, orchards and olive groves. Using local products, the hosts highlight ancient flavors of healthy Sicilian kitchen. The farm is two miles away from the laboratory where the workshop will take place.

The rooms are comfortable Single rooms. To request double or triple room including meals for extra guests not attending workshop, please email Gianni Cusumano for prices & availability before booking.

TO REGISTER:
and for more details,
email Scully & Osterman

*Many thanks to the talented filmmaker Pietro Leone for producing and editing this film.