This year’s event ran from Friday 14th August to Sunday 16th August 2026, with attendees having access to both the grounds and Guys Cliffe House throughout the weekend. Most people chose to camp on site, while a few of us opted for accommodation at local B&Bs.

The heat proved something of a challenge on Saturday, with some plates becoming fogged. I demonstrated the technique of sensitising by inspection rather than using a fixed sensitising time, which appeared to resolve the problem. Sunday brought slightly cooler temperatures and more favourable conditions for plate making.

As well as making plates of one another and photographing the house and grounds, there was plenty of time for the social side of the weekend. Evenings featured beer, music and a BBQ, providing the usual relaxed atmosphere and plenty of opportunity to catch up with old friends and meet new ones. This year Nicole Malek took the group portrait.

Friday evening also saw an auction of photographica, which raised an impressive £1,650. Combined with £235 from beer sales, a total of £1,885 was raised for Prostate Cancer UK.

Another successful weekend, combining photography, friendship and fundraising — and I'm already looking forward to the next one!

Wetplate Camping Weekend 2026