smieglitz

I'm a photographer, artist, and college photography instructor from Kalamazoo.  I work exclusively in antiquated photographic processes and have a strong interest in photographing (or painting in oils) dream tableaux and the nude in wilderness settings.  My interest in historical photographic processes has led me to currently concentrate on producing unique ambrotypes on deep amethyst or black glass plates using large view cameras to 11x14 format in size.  Examples are in my portfolio, so please have a look.

I'm interested in photographing the nude in the landscape in the Michigan counties of Kalamazoo, Antrim, and Marquette, as well as the Keeweenaw peninsula.

I've also started a portrait project in which I am photographing people and their favorite dolls, and hopefully I'll be matching those up with similarly-themed photographic images from the late 19th- and early 20th-century that I have in my collection.

In 2008, I began teaching outdoor introductory workshops in the antiquated wetplate collodion process.  I hope to expand this workshop activity to my studio environment in Kalamazoo in 2010.

Since I'm doing most of this largely as an artistic venture and not to make money at it, I would prefer to work with others interested in collaborating in artistic projects with compensation in the form of unique plates or prints in the special processes I employ.  I'm usually able to cover transportation costs and provide some monetary compensation on occasional projects, but my preference is to interact with other artistic individuals who are interested in a noncommercial, yet mutually-beneficial artistic collaboration.  Of course, if you participate in a workshop where model fees will be charged to participants, expect a reasonable stipend with transportation and lodging to be included in the compensation.

I hope you enjoy my portfolio and that you will consider working with me on one of my projects.  Thanks.

- Joe