iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Tony Richards @tonyrichards.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

One 5x4 tintype case assembled and ready for its owner. A 3D printed body and insert, book cloth cover and paper tape hinge, velvet pillow and brass clasps. #tinype #wetplatecollodion #analoguephotography @spinnersmillartistsstudios

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Reposted by Tony Richards

Katarzyna Anna Kapitan @kakapitan.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

#jobklaxon Lecturer in #digitalhumanities at @ucc.ie Salary: €42,102 - €72,452 (Scale B) / €44,169 - €68,942 (Scale A). Applications must be submitted online via the University College Cork vacancy portal (ore.ucc.ie). Maybe of interest to the @digitalmedievalist.bsky.social community!

ore.ucc.ie

University College Cork Vacancies

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Tony Richards @tonyrichards.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

A bit of fun with @andy.moopa the last few weeks. We've been trying to make some basic cases for a pop up tintype studio for a festival this Summer. Bouncing ideas etc DIY 3D printing and bookbinding More info and pics over on my blog. #wetplatecollodion #tintype #ambrotype #analoguephotography

Tintype in 3d printed case with buckrum cover, taped hinge, gold 3d border and red velvet pillow

Gold 3D printed insert borders in a 3D printed tintype case. It has a bookbinding taped hinge

Adding bookbinding buckrum cloth to the 3d printed case.

13 finished tintype cases stacked nwxt to a Bambulabs A1 3d printer.

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Reposted by Tony Richards

The John Rylands Library @thejohnrylands.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

✨MEMORIES, COLLECTIONS AND THE PASSAGE OF TIME✨ We’re proud to announce an upcoming exhibition showcasing work from Pinc College's partnership with Rylands Heritage Imaging Lab. The project has been shaped by students visits, workshops, and conversations with the John Rylands team.

Painted photographic head and shoulders portrait of a young woman in Victorian dress, facing left

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Tony Richards @tonyrichards.bsky.social · 17/01/2026

Toning cyanotypes with Haritaki powder / Terminalia Chebula. I think I like it. More info over on my blog. #cyanotype #altphoto #analoguephoto #darkroom

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Tony Richards @tonyrichards.bsky.social · 04/01/2026

5x4 film cyanotypes whilst the sun shine briefly in Portugal. Its been raining heavily for days. I brought out a decent tripod for the Sinar 5x4. And all the chems are still working fine. More info over on my blog. #foma400 #analoguephotography #portugalphotography #darkroom

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Tony Richards @tonyrichards.bsky.social · 02/11/2025

A bit of fun from the last couple of Saturdays. 12x15 inch paper negatives, using the new to me Process camera, at Spinners Mill Open Day and Open Studios. #papernegatives #darkroom #analoguephotography #ilfordphoto

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Tony Richards @tonyrichards.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

The Nights Are Drawing In exhibition is open Thurs, Fri and Sat 10-4 until 6th November. I'll be invigilating on Friday and available to assist with sales and questions about the many talented artists on show. This is my toned cyanotype "Sun Print" submission. #exhibition #cyanotype #sunprint

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RPS Historical Group @rpshistgroup.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

Our July Newsletter is now available via the link in our profile. Including an illustrated report by Caitlin Greenwood of The Museum of North Craven Life about our recent visit to @tonyrichards.bsky.social wet plate photography studio

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Tony Richards @tonyrichards.bsky.social · 08/06/2025

My studio is back to normal. Developer, Fixer & Collodion mixed. A tintype test. I just need to filter the silver and I'm ready for the demo and talk at Wigan Photographic Society on Tuesday. #wetplate #wetplatecollodion #analoguephotography #darkroom #historyofphotography #tintype #ambrotype

Quarter plate tintype for chemistry tests.

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Tony Richards @tonyrichards.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

Perfect light for the camera obscura this morning. Fingers crossed for good weather tomorrow for the Centenary Open Day @leighspinnersmill #largeformat #alternativeprocess #cameraobscura #leighspinnersmill

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Tony Richards @tonyrichards.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

I'll be turning my studio into a Camera Obscura for the mills Centenary Open Day on the 7th June Here are a couple of tests, it really does rely on a bright day, so fingers crossed the sun returns. Although I do like those clouds. #cameraobscura #analoguephotography #historyofphotography #optics

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Tony Richards @tonyrichards.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

I thought I'd give Caffenol processing a go today after putting it off for many years. I'll have to give it another go. More info and thoughts over on my blog. #alternateprocess #caffenol #analoguephotography

Some prints made from the cagfenol negatives. Not too bad considering.

Negatives mad with caffenol process held up to the light

Print made with the caffenol negatives. Showing a large ladder at a window in my empty studio.

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Reposted by Tony Richards

RPS Historical Group @rpshistgroup.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

New event just added to our 2025 Programme. A Collodion Studio visit hosted by @tonyrichards.bsky.social at Spinners Mill, Leigh on Saturday 21st June 2025 (1045-1600). Places free but limited. Book via link in bio.

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Tony Richards @tonyrichards.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

#Cyanotypes from 5x4 inch Foma film pinhole negatives. 30 minute exposures with the paper I coated yesterday. 1 Just out of the contact print frame (picture frame). 2 Cyanotype only. 3 Toned with hot instant coffee (2 teaspoons). 4 Toned with cold Yorkshire tea. (4 bags). #alternativeprocess

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Tony Richards @tonyrichards.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

We had a wonderful Open Day at Leigh Spinners Mill this Saturday. Thanks to everyone who called into my studio to see what I do and chat photography. In the brief, quieter moments, I was able to take time to show visitors some contact printing. The next one is our Centenary event on the 7th June.

Chatting to visitors in my studio during Open Day.

Van dyke brown print from 5x4 negative of studio chair.

Crop of Van dyke brown print from 5x4 negative of studio chair.

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Tony Richards @tonyrichards.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Mixed some Van Dyke Brown chems today, not done any in a long while. Cropped from 12x15 inch glass plates. #alternativephoto #largeformat #darkroom #vandykebrown

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Tony Richards @tonyrichards.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

A lovely workshop yesterday with @orrin.pierre and @elyssaiona, who both produced some great tintypes and ambrotypes. Good to meet you both, and well done on producing some great images. #wetplatecollodion #wetplateworkshop #analoguephotography #tintype #ambrotype #victorianphotography

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Tony Richards @tonyrichards.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

A revamped rusty and mouldy Coronet camera. It still works before anyone tells me off. :) More info over on my blog. #analoguephotography #filmphotography ##ilfordhp5 #coronetcamera

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Reposted by Tony Richards

Dr Janette Martin @hisjlm.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai... The John Rylands Library is looking for a new Head of Collections. Please do share widely. I'd like a good boss 😁 @historyhannahb.bsky.social @janeydonald.bsky.social @bronterre1.bsky.social

jobs.manchester.ac.uk

Head of Collections, Teaching and Research:John Rylands Library

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Tony Richards @tonyrichards.bsky.social · 01/02/2025

Lovely wet plate collodion workshop with Gareth today. Worked his way up from quarter plate to some great whole plate tintypes and ambrotypes. Even the one of yours truly. #wetplateworkshop #wetplatecollodion #tintype #ambrotype #analoguephotography #victorianphotography #darkroom

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Tony Richards @tonyrichards.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

Underdeveloped 35mm negatives that were so thin I didn't given them a second glance in 2022 until now. Printed on Ilford Matt Classic FB at Grade 5. Yes, Grade 5. I was really surprised by the tonality and detail. Not the most interesting of pics, but I might Bromoil them to see how they look.

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Tony Richards @tonyrichards.bsky.social · 11/01/2025

I had a very interesting workshop with @saradominici.bsky.social yesterday. She raised a number of theoretical and hypothetical questions related to darkroom practice. Such as what does a plate look like over time if its developed, washed NOT fixed but varnished. I had no idea. Let's find out.

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Tony Richards @tonyrichards.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

Thank you, Lour, for booking a tintype portrait session via Eventbrite @spinnersmillleigh Winter Open Day. It was lovely to meet you, and I hope you are happy with your plates. Sometimes, the first plate is always the best. #tintype #wetplate #analoguephotography #victorianphotography #darkroom

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Tony Richards @tonyrichards.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

Who says you can't smile with wet plate photography? Granted, this is with a large ammount of flash photography. I usually use and prefer daylight, but with winter coming, I thought I'd give flash a try. Full power, one pop at F4 #tintype #wetplate #victorianphotography #analoguephotography

Tintype of Janet Howkins, mixed media artist, smiling. Using flash lighting instead of daylight.

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Tony Richards @tonyrichards.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

As part of our Open Studios Day I'm offering a number of Tintype Portraits bookable via Eventbrite. If you don't fancy having your likeness captured, just call in for a brew and a chat. There's lots going on at Leigh Spinners Mill 30 November 2024 10-1700 #tintype www.eventbrite.com/e/tintype-po...

eventbrite.com

Tintype Portraits

Have your portrait captured as a tintype, using the Victorian wet plate collodion process with a mahogany camera and brass lens.

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Tony Richards @tonyrichards.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

I've been testing a paper for Bromoil suitability of late, mainly because quite a bit has been offered to me for sale. This matrix has been superheated prior to the soak before inking. I'm happily surprised at its inking and handling of the lost shadow details. #bromoil #analoguephotography

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Tony Richards @tonyrichards.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

Hello all. I'm Tony, a practitioner of historic photographic processes. I say practitioner as I'm always practicing. Main areas of interest are wet plate collodion, bromoil and histories of early photography. Follow me if you'd like to keep track of what I get up to. Also on Insta and my blog.

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