Adam Savage's Tintype Portrait (from Tested: The Show!)

Meet photographer Michael Shindler, who creates one-of-a-kind tintype photographs using a 19th century wet plate collodion process. At our recent live show, Michael transformed an entire theater into a dark room to photograph and develop a large-format portrait of Adam Savage. The process is beautiful and mesmerizing!

Shot and Edited by Joey Fameli

Tested is:

Thanks for watching!

[daniel.pendzich]

I honestly wasn't expecting the portrait to come out THAT good. Wow, I want a set of that old-timey gear for myself.

[marsus]

I'm glad I found Tested last year.

[obliviousfafnir]

Adam needs to dress in a civil war uniform and have another one taken.

[AnarchyXD]

Wow absolutely amazing what could be done before computers were the norm. Not to mention the quality that came out of it as well. That photo looks like a priceless piece of history. Kudos to the photographer.

[Mister_moy]

That was gorgeous. I could watch that process all day.

[insu_na]

That really is an amazing portrait tho.

[daniel.pendzich]

Anyone hear that guy in the audience yell "missing an eyebrow?" XD

[AlgorhythmKid]

Excellent final result! So amazing when it went to positive in the last step. I'd love to have this done.

[swsephy]

I had never heard of tintypes until the video they did on them a while back. Fell in love with them. The detail is amazing.

[carlrichards]

Amazing to watch. Can you imagine how excited people were seeing this for the first time!

[insanepolarbear]

I absolutely love this method of photography. Its so detalied its insane. An art.

[CoryMcCrazy]

What a stunning portrait after that process. Adam looked so cool after that. Just awesome!!! Thanks as always tested, you guys are keeping my brain filled with all kinds of new knowledge.

[bcgrote]

Mr. Schindler came to several Civil War reenactments that I was at decades ago. Fascinating process, and I'm very glad he is still practicing his art.

[sticustom]

How I would love a photo done by Michael. That was brilliant.

[MikeWood]

One of the first times I have seen a wet plate done on that scale. Amazing stuff.

[onionkeeper]

I love the sense of magic in this demonstration, or rather, the awesome chemical wonder paired with the highly skilled crasftmanship. Shindler makes it look easy, like a true master of his art. Very inspiring!

[cooperolm]

I was shocked by how detailed the final picture was! Really interesting presentation, guys.

[ruzeenfarsad]

What a great presentation from Mr. Shindler and a fantastic result. That was a great image!

[palpatinewasright]

That's brilliant, start to finish showing the process of photography as a magic show was inspired.

[lucky]

I love doing wetplate. seriously my favorite form of photography and to see adam get a portrait done is really cool to me.