Shooting in LA Streets With an 8x10 Camera Using Wet Plate Photography by Ian Ruhter

In 2012 I spent a day following photographer Ian Ruhter around the streets of Los Angeles, CA as he stopped people asking if he could shoot their portrait.... using wet plate photography. I happened to have my point-n-shoot camera with me so I decided to pull it out and film just in case. This is the result.

video and text by Laura Austin

© Ian Ruhter

It was getting late in the day and I made a decision to push my portable dark room around the corner to see if I could shoot some homeless people that live in skid row. It was going to be a pretty big mission and I was not sure how the people that live on this street would react to me. All of a sudden this man in the photo walked up. I started talking with him and after 10 minutes I asked hi if he would shoot a photo with me.

 I ended up shooting one of my favorite photos of all time .My friends and this man ended up hanging out for a hr we all hung out like we were old friends. He is one of the nicest people I have ever met. He told us that he was pushing his cart around collecting bottles and cans and how bad is feet hurt. The crazy thing is he has casts on both legs could you imagine what that would be like?

 I was talking to my grandpa years ago about my problems. He told me if every one through their problems in the street and you could see what every ones were you would go and pick yours back up.  

( text via Ian Ruhter Photography)

Maybe you know other famous projects of this photographer:

• Photographer Ian Ruhter Capturing Motion on Wetplate (PART I ) 
• Shoot snowboarding with one of the oldest photo processes: Wet Plate Project by Ian Ruhter (PART II )