Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittany Bradley.
Hi Brittany, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in Groveland CA a very small town near Yosemite national park. My journey into photography began during my childhood visits to Yosemite, where I became obsessed with capturing the natural beauty around me. My father played a significant role in nurturing this passion. He often let me use his 35-millimeter Yashica FX-D film camera, and I learned to develop film images in a darkroom when I was just eight years old. I have vivid memories of him shouting directions at me through a closet door as I struggled to load film onto the reel in pitch black. Despite the initial frustration, seeing the photos emerge from the wash felt like magic to me.
I won my first photography award at the Tuolumne County Fair when I was about ten years old. This early recognition fueled my passion further. Over the years, I developed a deep admiration for the pioneering photographers who documented and helped preserve Yosemite in the 19th century, along with their early photographic techniques and equipment. I went on to major in Photography and Journalism at California State University Sacramento.
Today, I am a wet plate collodion and alternative process photographer based in San Jose. In addition to photography, I am also passionate about roller derby. One of my current projects involves documenting roller derby athletes, like the recent sessions I had in Las Vegas for the 2024 Roller Con .
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. Since undergraduate school, I’ve always worked a full-time job while pursuing photography on the side. It wasn’t until 2018 that I felt the urgency and confidence to fully commit to my art career. Throughout my journey, I’ve grappled with the pervasive belief that artists inevitably struggle financially, and this false narrative influenced many of my decisions. Overcoming this mindset has been one of the most significant challenges in my pursuit of a successful art career.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in wet plate collodion photography, a historic and intricate process that I bring into the field using my mobile darkroom, “Ruby.” This method, typically confined to a studio, allows me to document life with the same intent as a documentary photographer, but with a medium that is both temperamental and full of limitations that I navigate and adapt to.
I’m known for my ability to blend the old-world charm of wet plate collodion with modern subjects, creating unique and timeless images. My work has been published in magazines, displayed in museums, and exhibited internationally. It is also part of the collection at the Sutro Library Branch of the California State Library in San Francisco.
I am most proud of my ability to transform a complex and meticulous process into a portable practice, capturing the essence of various subjects in diverse settings. What sets me apart is my dedication to this historic technique and my ability to adapt it to contemporary documentary photography, preserving the authenticity and challenges of the wet plate collodion process while exploring new creative possibilities. Its back breaking work, but my dedication and willingness to do the hard physical labor allows me access to subjects and locations I wouldn’t otherwise get to photograph this way.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Absolutely. There are several resources that have been invaluable to me both professionally and personally.
Books:
– Hold Still by Sally Mann
– Art, Inc. by Lisa Congdon
– Artpreneur by Miriam Schulman
– The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck* by Mark Manson
Podcasts:
– The Great Women Artists Podcast
– History of Photography Podcast by Jeff Curto
– Invisibilia
I also read a lot of monographs. Some of my favorites include:
– Sally Mann: A Thousand Crossings
– Hiroshi Sugimoto’s 2016 Monograph
– Don’t Kiss Me: The Art of Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore
– Ruth Bernhard: Between Art and Life
These resources provide me with inspiration, practical advice, and a deeper understanding of art and photography, helping me to continually grow in my craft and in life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.brittanyrosebradley.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/nitrate_fox/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@nitrate_fox