Collodion Still Lifes

After a long period of shooting mainly portrait work, I've decided to add some new direction into the mix: Collodion Still Lifes.

I love shooting portraits of all types largely because of the human interaction that takes place during the experience. Everyone has such a unique look and it always translates so differently from one person to the next in the Collodion process! While I'm actively shooting portrait sittings and fine art projects in studio, I've decided it was time to apply this antiquated method to creating still lifes. The finished "plates" will be used for wine labels, graphics, and commissioned fine art mixed media pieces for the home and beyond!
This is my first (recent) still life...some aged and wilting roses on a table. It is amazing how they come back to life in 2-D!


The attached image is on a 5x7" plate of tin (ferrotype). Please stay tuned for many more still lifes to come! -Robert Christian Malmberg.

Friends in town from Santa Barbara, CA

Here is some recent plates (ferrotypes) taken of some friends in town visiting from Santa Barbara. The plate on the left is a portrait of artist Rebekah Miles, a painter who's work has been discovered recently by fashion giants Rodarte and used on their fashion accessories (handbags, shirts, etc). Rebekah and Nancy flew out to kick off NYC fashion week w/ a party at Opening Ceremony, where a Hunter S. Thompson style Cadillac convertible was parked curbside with Rebekah's designs thrown about on the interior...

Below is a tintype portrait of Nancy Neil, a dear friend and amazing photographer specializing in intimate portraiture that spans many genres with her unique style and alternative methods. She shoots with the Hasselblad (as seen below) as her instrument of choice, but her eye for special details and color is the true source of her creativity....