Highest altitude ambrotype photograph

The highest altitude ambrotype photograph was taken at 5,871 m (19,261 ft) and was achieved by Jan Skwara (Poland), on Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, on 27 September 2024.

Jan decided to combine his two passions of travel and historic photography with this record attempt. He planned to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and take an ambrotype photograph, which is a positive photograph on a glass surface produced through a wet plate collodion process, invented in 1851. Preparation for the attempt took him several months. It included testing and modifying the required photographic chemicals to work in low temperatures, building portable darkroom that will fit into his backpack, and physical training. Heavy luggage, low oxygen and volatile chemicals were major challenges along the way. The image on top Mount Kilimanjaro was taken after 6.5 days journey, acclimatisation and testing and after 7 hours hiking with equipment on the final day.