Five Historic Photography Studio

Join us and discover Sintra as we bring the magic of historical portraiture to life This immersive experience takes you on a journey through time to the dawn of photography. The specific techniques used create unique images that evoke memories of days gone by. Our studio specializes in using the nineteenth-century photography method known as Wet Plate Collodion, created by Frederick Scott Archer in 1851. A highly intricate and distinctive procedure where the photosensitive materials are coated, sensitised, exposed, processed and set all within approximately fifteen minutes whilst they're still damp - thus their name. Creating these plates can take considerable time, may not always go according to plan and demands dedication and perseverance; however, it results in something truly special – both visually stunning and enduring. As well as witnessing this fascinating process first hand, there'll be opportunities for participants to accompany our guides to the lab / dark room so they too can witness every stage of image creation. If desired, guests can choose to wear appropriate attire dating from the era when such portraits were popular. Your finished photograph should be ready around forty five minutes to sixty minutes after commencing with the session.