Expedition Spirits & Ghosts
Expeditions Spirits and Ghosts
WHAT
Before you is a unique gathering devoted to nineteenth century photographic practices. At its core stands the wet plate collodion process, accompanied by dry plate collodion, silver gelatin dry plates, albumen and salt printing, carbon printing, collodion chloride printing, photogravure, and even woodburytype.
This is not simply a workshop, but a meeting of kindred spirits drawn to photography in its most elemental form. A practice where chemistry and physics merge into something almost inexplicable. A process where, we slow down and through the pouring of liquids, focusing of light, an image slowly emerges on glass as if from nothing.
THEME: Ghosts and spirits
Spirit photography was one of the most fascinating theme of the nineteenth century photography. Inspired by this tradition, we will use historical processes, analogue retouching techniques and staged scenes to create contemporary interpretations of ghosts and spirits inhabiting the monastery. Costumes and models will be available, allowing participants to construct visual narratives that blur the boundary between presence and absence.
SUMMARY
- Our gathering will be focused on analogue photography processes, especially wet plate collodion.
- We will encourage to shoot on negatives, mostly wet plate collodion negatives. Also dry collodion negatives, silver-gelatine dry plate negatives and silver-gelatine film will also be available. Also paper silver-gelatine negatives might be a fun option.
- We will learn how to retouch glass negatives by graphite pencil, cuttlebone, paint and reactive chemistry that will effect the silver on the glass negative.
- We will mainly print salt, albumen prints and collodion chloride prints. Also carbon print process will be available.
- Without a doubt, while shooting wet plate collodion process we will do lots of troubleshooting.
- Our aim is to create art. Our second objective is to create handmade prints. Our third goal is to gather the material we will make and make a zine, like a small album that will be a witness about us and those four days in July and August 2026.
PROGRAMME
Each day begins with a focused introduction and concludes with reflection and discussion, accompanied by an artist talk.
DAY ONE
- Presentation of several printing methods (collodion chloride, salt print, albumen print, carbon print, gum print, photo-gravure, woodburytype, etc…)
- Presetnation how to manipulate wet plate collodion process to get certain effects.
- Overview equipment, clean some plates, define our goals, motifs and approaches.
- A walk through the monastary, including secret chambers.
- Working the whole day, making glass negatives.
- Overview of the day’s work, talking about challenges, surprises, what have we learned and what we intend to do the next day.
- In the evening we will have an artist talk.
DAY TWO
- Presentation how to hand-retouch a glass negative with cuttlebone, graphite pencil and acrylic paint.
- Presentation how certain chemicals effect silver on glass.
- Learing methods of retouching
- Making more glass negatives
- Varnishing glass negatives.
- Retouching glass negatives.
- Preparing albumen paper and salt paper
- Start printing on pre-prepared albumen and salt paper.
- Toning with gold chloride toner.
- Waxing prints with beeswax.
- Overview of the day’s work, talking about challenges, surprises, what have we learned and what we intend to do the next day.
- In the evening we will have an artist talk.
DAY THREE
- Presentation of collodion-chloride paper
- Presentation of Zebra Dry Plates silver-gelatine dry plates.
- Presentation how certain chemicals effect silver on glass.
- Printing glass negatives as albumen, salt and carbon prints.
- Waxing prints with beeswax.
- Overview of the day’s work, talking about challenges, surprises, what have we learned and what we intend to do the next day.
- In the evening we will have an artist talk.
DAY FOUR
- Presentation of carbon prints on glass or on paper.
- Presentation how to make a zine
- Cutting mats and mating our artwork.
- Printing day.
- Making a pop-up exhibition and celebrating our time together.
The gathering will revolve around analogue photographic processes, with a strong emphasis on wet plate collodion. Participants will work primarily with negatives, exploring wet plate collodion, dry collodion, silver gelatin plates and film, as well as paper negatives. Particular attention will be given to hand retouching glass negatives using graphite, cuttlebone, paint and silver-reactive chemistry.
Printing processes will include salt, albumen and collodion chloride printing, alongside carbon printing. Throughout the process, troubleshooting and experimentation will be an essential part of the experience.
The primary aim is to create meaningful artworks. The second is to produce handcrafted prints. The third is to collect the outcomes into a small publication that will serve as a testament to this shared experience.
EQUIPMENT AND CHEMISTRY
Participants are encouraged to bring their own equipment. For those traveling from afar, all essential tools, materials and chemistry will be available on site.
WHO
This program is primarily intended for experienced wet plate collodion photographers, yet it remains open to all who feel drawn to this medium. Mentors will guide participants through key processes to ensure strong technical results. However, this is not a beginner’s workshop. It is an invitation to push beyond comfort zones, to experiment, and to allow unexpected artistic outcomes to emerge.
Photographers working with film and large format cameras are warmly welcome.
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS
To preserve an intimate and focused working environment, the group will be limited to ten participants.
WHERE
Samostan Mekinje, Polčeva pot 10, 1241 Kamnik, Slovenia
Set within a monastery Mekinje with more than seven hundred years of history (LINK), this location has long inspired artists, seekers and creators of all kinds. Part of the monastery has been carefully restored, offering comfortable accommodation, while a large portion remains untouched, preserving its raw and authentic atmosphere. For photographers, this contrast creates a rare and evocative setting where traces of the past are still alive.
WHEN
From Wednesday 15th to Saturday 18 of July 2026
LANGUAGE
English
PRICE
950 EURfor participation and participants bring their own wet plate equipment. Printing materials and final presentation elements are included in the price. Accommodation is not included.
1500 EUR includes full access to equipment, chemistry and workspace. Accomodation is not included.
RESERVATION
To insure yourself a spot in this event, we encourage you to reserve yourself a spot. A reservation fee of 200 EUR is required and is partially refundable up to six weeks before the workshop. The remaining balance is paid at the beginning of the event.
ACCOMODATION
The monastery offers a range of rooms, from simple monastic cells to more comfortable suites. Prices are ranging from 35 EUR to 60 EUR per night. LINK Additional accommodation can be found in nearby Kamnik, which is a short walk away.
ACCESS
The nearest airport is Ljubljana, Slovenia, approximately fifteen minutes away by car. Regular bus connections run between Ljubljana and Kamnik. Link to the bus connections: https://www.ap-ljubljana.si/en/timetable
MORE INFORMATION
For reservations and further details please contact borut@borutpeterlin.com or whatsapp +386 41 581 626
ABOUT THE MENTOR
Borut Peterlin has dedicated his life to photography. He holds a degree from FAMU and a postgraduate diploma from London College of Printing. His career includes collaboration with Oliviero Toscani at Fabrica and over a decade working as a photographer and photo editor at Mladina.
He is the founder of the first documentary photofestival in the region and has studied historical processes with leading experts such as Mark Osterman at the George Eastman Museum, USA and Calvin Grier in Spain.
Over the two and a half past decades, he has conducted more than one hundred workshops across Europe and hosted participants from all over the world, all drawn by a shared passion for photography as a living, material practice.