about

Markus Hofstätter – Portraits & Wet Plate Collodion

People have always been my main subject. I love capturing the beauty, individuality, and presence of each person through thoughtful portraiture and the historic wet plate collodion process. I am a photographer and artist from Austria with a strong focus on portraits and wet plate collodion photography. Over the years, this work has been recognized through awards, publications, exhibitions, workshops, and media coverage. After several years in sports photography, I specialised more and more in portraiture. My fascination with human variety led me to a worldwide street portrait project using medium and large format cameras. This deceleration eventually brought me to the wet plate collodion process. Today, my work combines expressive portrait photography with handcrafted historical techniques. Besides commissioned work, I also write for photography publications, give workshops and talks, and continue to develop personal projects such as the Inspired Series.

Wet plate collodion

The wet plate collodion process, invented in 1851, allows me to create unique portraits on metal or glass using a fully handcrafted analog workflow. I use historic equipment, prepare my own chemistry, and take the time needed to create powerful, one-of-a-kind images. This process is slow by design, and that is exactly what makes it so special. The session becomes part of the final artwork, and the finished plate is not only a photograph but a physical object made to last. Whether in the studio, during a workshop, or in a public demonstration, my goal is always the same: to create portraits with depth, character, and a visible connection to the craft behind the image.

Workshops, talks & contact

In addition to portrait sessions, I offer workshops, talks, and demonstrations on wet plate collodion photography. My work has also been featured in books, magazines, newspapers, documentaries, and online media. For portrait bookings, wet plate sessions, workshops, or speaking requests, please use the contact options on this website. click here for contact

Awards, exhibitions and documentaries

Awards

2025 Bundespreis 2. Platz Porträtfotografie

2025 Landespreis 1. Platz Porträtfotografie

2025 Landespreis 2. Platz Illustration

2023 Goldene Gesellschaft Medaille für meine fotografische Arbeit

2023 QEP Zertifizierung

2023 Honorable Mention International photo awards

2023 3 x official selection International photo awards

2023 WKO Photograph of the year

International photo awards 2022 analog portrait Honorable Mention (inspired series)

International photo awards 2022 analog portrait 4 x official selection (inspired series)

Top 101 international portrait photographer 2022

Top 101 international portrait photographer 2021

2020 Berufsfotografenaward NÖ 1. Platz Porträtfotografie

Teilnahme La Gacilly Baden 2021 (Infrarot)

Teilnahme La Gacilly Baden 2020 (Infrarot)

World Photographic Cup Best of Nations Award 2020 (Kollodium Nassplatte)Menschenbilder Niederösterreich 2020

Teilnahme La Gacilly Baden 2019 (Kollodium Nassplatte)Menschenbilder Niederösterreich 2019 (Kollodium Nassplatte)

Berufsfotografenaward 2018
1. Platz Kreativfotografie (Kollodium Nassplatte) 3. Platz Erotik & Glamour

Berufsfotografenaward 20161. Platz Portraitfotografie 3. Platz Sportfotografie 5. Platz Sportfotografie 5. Platz Hochzeitsfotografie (Kollodium Nassplatte)

Nominiert

Kitz Award 2018

Exhibitions

10/2011 Austellung während der World’s Top Gun in Eger (Ungarn) – Billard Fine Art Prints
11/2011 Austellung während der Coloseum Open in Sarajevo – Billard Fine Art Prints
3/2013 Ausstellung Porträts – Strassenfotografie und Sport im Haus der Generationen – Kreativausstellung - Muckendorf 4/2015 Ausstellung Analoge Straßenportraits und Nassplatten im Haus der Generationen – Kreativausstellung - Muckendorf 5/2016 Nassplatte Gelb-Rote Tulpen Ausstellung in China – Artron Ausstellung: Blog Artikel dazu: http://blog.markus-hofstaetter.at/2016/05/yellow-red-tulips/10/2016 Ausstellung und Vorführung Nassplattenfotografie im Haus der Generationen – Kreativausstellung - Muckendorf Blog Beitrag dazu: http://blog.markus-hofstaetter.at/2016/10/ausstellungseindrucke-exhibition-impressions/4/2017 Ausstellung und Nassplatten-Workshop im Craft Camp – Himmelkeller Blog Artikel dazu: http://blog.markus-hofstaetter.at/2017/05/craft-camp-2017-im-himmelkeller3/2019 Austellung Stereo Nassplatten und mehr:http://blog.markus-hofstaetter.at/2019/04/exhibition-impressions/

8/2019 Ausstellung und vorführung Schallaburg
http://blog.markus-hofstaetter.at/2019/09/exhibition-and-wet-plate-shooting-on-castle-schallaburg/

9/2019 Ausstellung Menschenbilder Stockerauhttp://blog.markus-hofstaetter.at/2019/09/nassplatternportrait-bei-den-menschenbilder-2019/

10/2019 Kulturvernetzung Tage der offenen Ateliers

http://blog.markus-hofstaetter.at/2019/10/wet-plate-exhibition-in-my-studio-tage-der-offenen-ateliers-no/

2022 Ausstellung Persenbeug Kopf Hand Herz (10 Bilder in Übergröße - Kollodium Nassplatten Porträts)

2022 Ausstellung Burg Ottenstein (5 Bilder)

2023 Menschenbilder

2024 Menschenbilder

2025 Fomo Graz

2025 Persenbeug - Strassenporträts "Ausstellungsthema" Zusammen

2026 Fomo Graz

2026 Menschembilder