"A Novel's Nefarious Ending" Wet Plate Collodion Diptych by Shane Balkowitsch
"A Novel's Nefarious Ending", a diptych, with Shelbe Ann Neubauer and Ethan Michael, captured in the historic wet plate collodion process of pure silver on glass. The book tells the tail of an unexpected visitor later that afternoon.
Carl Zeiss Tessar 300mm lens, 9 seconds and 3 seconds of exposure, 8x10" black glass ambrotypes, natural light at Nostalgic Glass Wet Plate Studio, Bismarck, North Dakota.
Styling and prop assistance of Laine Pope (propmaster of the studio) and behind the scene assistance of Chad Nodland (digital photographer of the studio).
"No Vaccine For Death" Large Wet Plate Collodion Collaboration University of Mary
“No Vaccine For Death” a wet plate collaboration in the historic process of silver on glass. 89 collaborators gathering for no other reason than to create together. We pulled this off with 18 months of planning and zero budget.
Carl Zeiss Tessar 300mm lens, f11, 1 second of exposure, 8x10” black glass ambrotype, at the University of Mary, by Nostalgic Glass Wet Plate Studio. Colored photographs by Chad Nodland the official digital photographer for my studio.
NO VACCINE FOR DEATH
A Wet Plate Collaboration
July 17th, 2021
University of Mary at The Marian Grotto
Bismarck, North Dakota
Nostalgic Glass Wet Plate Studio, Shane Balkowitsch, Ambrotypist
LIST OF COLLABORATORS
Cast: Support Staff and Crew:
Brenda Miller (Plague Doctor) Marek Dojs, Director
Adam Steen (King) Michele Oster Renner, Costumes
Greyson Balkowitsch (Death) Tom Wirtz, Assistant w/ Camera
Sharon Balkowitsch (Dutchess) Ivy Brown Jacobson, Hair
Mike Swenson (Body in Coffin) Michael Stevenson, Costume Design
John LaLonde (Judas on Boat) Jason Lueder, Master Carpenter
Kevin Tengesdal (Throat Slit) Laine Pope, Prop Master
Lance Loken Andrea Heidrich, Hair
Charlene Lelm (Lady at Table) Anthony Nelson, Set Designer
Emily Brandt (Dead Body) Chad Nodland, Head Photographer
Bonnie Balkowitsch (Queen) Paul Noot, Master Artist
Abby Balkowitsch (Sister) Katherine Corbett, Photography
Jessica Gustafson (Skeleton) John Moore, Photography
Benjamin Helget Kelli Jo Swenson, Set Lead
Eric Bobby (Running Naked) Dustin White, Writer & Poet
Amber Sams Melanie Kuntz Malsam, Make-up
Laine Pope (Jester) Shantel Arendes, Bones
Karel Sovak (Grim Reaper) Chad Balkowitsch, Trailer
Peter Woodrow (Laying Hands) Carol Carlson, Support
Tanis Lovercheck-Saunders Nancy Willis, Support
Sami Saunders James Kyle, Photography
Tiana Saunders Marcus Johnson, Photography
Alicia Leingang (Skeleton) Travis Blankenbaker, Armorer
Carlee Gifford (Dead Lady) W. Scott Olsen, Writer / Reporter
Alyvia Balkowitsch (Child) Peter Johnson, Support
Mahliya Balkowitsch Marsha Johnson, Support
Gregg Rutter (Apostle) John Sweeney, Coffin
Rachel Praus (Plagued Soul) Jerry Lindblom, Support
David Leingang (Shield) Eileen Heidrich, Props
Catherine A. Segura (Lute) Harry Heidrich, Support Vehicle
Clint Saunders (Plundering) Anne Polasky (Support)
Herbert Ascherman, Jr. Judith Hammer (Support)
Asher Nodland
Adam Hasbargen (Skeleton)
Monte Faul (Breaking Wheel)
Maja Dojs
Katja Dojs
Winona Kozak (Skeleton)
Derek Lowstuter (Skeleton)
Justin Boone
Molly Clark
John Brule
Gabby Nistler
Ahlauna King
Kailyn Allen
Danielle Monzelowsky (Lady)
Eric Monzelowsky (Lord)
Bobbi Holzworth (Skeleton)
Doug Wurtz (Skeleton)
Rissa Williams (Skeleton)
SUPPORTERS:
University of Mary, Monsignor James P. Shea
University of Mary, Dr. Karel Sovak (Dean)
Bismarck Historical Society, Mike LaLonde
State Historical Society of ND, Bill Peterson, Emily Ergen, Lindsay Schott and Joy Pitts
Bismarck Downtown Artist Cooperative (BDAC), Paul Noot
Image Printing, Inc., Todd Clausnitzer
The Princess Hotel (Mural Installation), Rolf Eggers
“NO VACCINE FOR DEATH”
Death, the great equalizer
Creating an equality among all
Showing mercy for none
No needle to stop it
No booster to slow
Ever marching on
Giving life a constant
Inspiring hope in some
Driving them to greatness
Knowing our time is short
Making the most of what is left
By Dustin White, July 7th, 2021
"Fading Away, Again" Wet Plate Collodion Inspired by Henry Peach Robinson
“Fading Away, Again”, with Eden Jackson, Kathryn Jardee and myself, captured in the historic wet plate collodion process of pure silver on glass. The scene centers on a bedridden young woman dying of tuberculosis, a disease that has been held at bay with modern day vaccinations.
In 1858 Henry Peach Robinson (1830-1901) exhibited “Fading Away” (1858), a picture skillfully printed from five different negatives. This work depicted the peaceful death of a young girl surrounded by her grieving family. Although the photograph was the product of Robinson’s imagination, many viewers felt that such a scene was too painful to be tastefully rendered by such a literal medium as photography. The controversy, however, made him the most famous photographer in England and the leader of the Pictorialist movement, which advocated achieving painterly effects in photography. George Eastman House is the curator of the original works.
Carl Zeiss Tessar 300mm lens, f4.5, 9 seconds of exposure, 8x10" black glass ambrotype, natural light through Northern facing windows and skylights bolstered by one continuous fixture, Nostalgic Glass Wet Plate Studio, Bismarck, North Dakota. Lens cap removal and set assistance by Tom Wirtz.
Apple Creek Gallery - University Of Mary Dedicated to Northern Plains Native Americans
The Apple Creek Gallery at the University of Mary, dedicated to my series "Northern Plains Native Americans: A Modern Wet Plate Perspective", Thank you Monsignor Shea and Austin for bringing this permanent art installation to life. The gallery can be found in the new Lumen Vitae Center at the University here in Bismarck. What an honor to have my work here just a mile up the hill from my original makeshift studio. Thank you Monsignor Shea for thinking my work warrants this attention.
Video of Shane Seeing Gallery for First Time on 3-4-2021: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKu68-9VtuI
KX News story of Apple Gallery: https://www.kxnet.com/news/top-stories/university-of-mary-displays-room-with-local-photographers-pieces/
Digital photos by Chad Nodland the Official Digital Photographer of Nostalgic Glass Wet Plate Studio
Cheyenne Eete Kippenberger "Fire" Miss Indian World 2019-2021 in Wet Place Collodion
Cheyenne Eete Kippenberger
"Fire", Seminole Tribe of Florida, Miss Indian World 2019-2021, captured in the historic wet plate collodion process of pure silver on glass, for my series "Northern Plains Native Americans: A Modern Wet Plate Perspective". She flew in from Florida to participate in my series. I made a promise to Cheyenne to get some of the plates to museums in Florida and two of her state's historical societies now possess the original plates, a huge honor.
Carl Zeiss Tessar 300mm lens, f4.5, 10 seconds of exposure. 8x10" black glass ambrotypes, natural light through Northern facing windows and skylights bolstered by one continuous fluorescent at Nostalgic Glass Wet Plate Studio.
