Sean MacKenna (1932 – 2012)

Sean MacKenna (1932 – 2012) was a widely respected practitioner of wet plate since 1999 after falling ill and being unable to work in civil war reenactments. He was a generous man who gave and taught many. He passed away in 2012.
From: Born Ireland, lived in London, UK.
Shows: Ambrotypes, Tintypes / Ferrotypes, Wet plate collodions.


Sean was a retired archaeological conservator, although in a much earlier era he worked as a photographer. Way, way back in the 1950s he started with Jeromes, a long extinct chain of London portrait studios, and then at all kinds of photographic work including holiday camps. Sean finished up as a lithographic camera operator. Thirty years ago he changed course and became an archaeologist and as he had a chemistry degree eventually became a conservator specialising in Roman painted plaster.

Sean started working in the Collodion process, and after a great deal of difficulty finding the necessary chemicals, particularly collodion, he managed to make his first successful ambrotype in September 2000. Sean spends much of his time making cameras, finding suitable lenses and making all the necessary ancillary equipment.

Sean said:

“The great disadvantage for the modern collodion worker is that everything you need for coating, sensitising, and processing has to be made up by yourself, there are no kits available. The would be photographer in 1860 could go in to a photographic stock holder and buy everything he needed, equipment, chemicals and materials.”

Sean received a great deal of help from Mark Osterman of George Eastman House, who was extremely generous with help and advice. He also supplies a first rate manual for the process.

Sean re-enacted, for a number of years as a Union army officer. He eventually became commander of the Union army in our society (SOSKAN). In 1999 he was very seriously ill and feeling no longer able to carry on as a soldier decided to take up wet plate photography. So, it was goodbye Major Sean MacKenna and hello Professor MacKenna, Photographic Artist.

Sean passed away in 2012.

More about Sean:
Articles by Sean

 
 
Recommended reading - Books on Wet plate collodion and Ambrotypes
Chemical Pictures The Wet Plate Collodion Book: Making Ambrotypes, Tintypes & Alumitypes by

Chemical Pictures The Wet Plate Collodion Book: Making Ambrotypes, Tintypes & Alumitypes

by Quinn B Jacobson

Covers everything you need to know about wet-plate collodion photography.
 

Making the Sliding Box Camera: For Wet Plate Collodion or Daguerreotype Photography

Making the Sliding Box Camera: For Wet Plate Collodion or Daguerreotype Photography

by Ty Guillory

Learn how to construct a camera in wood, dating back to the daguerreotype era.
 

Making the Traditional Wet Plate Camera: Suitable for Wet Plate Collodion, Dry Plate, or Daguerreotype Photography

Making the Traditional Wet Plate Camera: Suitable for Wet Plate Collodion, Dry Plate, or Daguerreotype Photography

by Ty Guillory

From the basics to more advanced techniques on building a historically-correct bellows camera for plate photography.
 

The Ambrotype: A Practical Guide by Radosław Brzozowski
Buy directly from the author

The Ambrotype: A Practical Guide

by Radosław Brzozowski

8 of 10   Rated 8,0 – based on 6 votes

A step-by-step practical guide to ambrotypes.
 

The Wet Collodion Plate: 16 Steps To Making The Plates by Will Dunniway

The Wet Collodion Plate: 16 Steps To Making The Plates

by Will Dunniway

9 of 10   Rated 9,2 – based on 26 votes

The veteran of collodion demonstrates in easy steps how to make plates.
 

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