Ant Photograph

Born in 1973 in the picturesque city of Marinha Grande, Nuno Marcelino had his first encounter with the photographic universe at the age of 12, in a small shop owned by a photographer near his mother's house. There, he spent endless hours, curiously absorbing the entire process developed in the studio and darkroom. Later, he moved to Lisbon, worked as a production assistant, and joined the photography department of the now-defunct newspaper "O Independente." As a student of the professional photography course at the Portuguese Institute of Photography, he simultaneously worked as a photographer and assistant at the Studio3.11 Collective in Lx Factory. This experience allowed him to collaborate with prominent names in photography, nationally and internationally, in the fields of fashion, architecture, and advertising portraiture. In addition to his work in wet plate collodion, Nuno Marcelino possesses extensive experience as a photographer and video producer, both in Portugal and internationally. Utilizing digital equipment, including professional cameras and drones, he has demonstrated his expertise in capturing moments and producing visually compelling content. His proficiency extends to the entire process, from shooting to editing, showcasing his versatility and skill in the realm of modern photography and videography. However, during this journey, something was lost in the essence that initially inspired him: the rapid massification of digital almost extinguished darkroom work. The search for an alternative led Nuno Marcelino to recreate a process that, besides being fascinating in the final aspect of the images, brought back, in a very special way, "the darkroom." He dedicated himself intensely to the practice and research of chemical formulas and techniques of the wet plate collodion process for about six months. In 2013, he achieved a milestone by opening a small nineteenth-century portrait studio in Alfama, where he immortalized hundreds of people of various nationalities through this unique process. This project has transcended the studio's boundaries, temporarily settling in various museums, galleries, and institutions, spreading the magic and uniqueness of wet plate collodion. Nuno Marcelino's work is not just a technical rescue but an artistic and historical celebration that continues to enchant and captivate.