DESPITE the growth of digital photography and smart phone snappers, the Island took a trip down memory lane when two wet plate photographers pursuing separate projects met by chance outside photography hub, Dimbola Lodge.

Fittingly the home of celebrated Victorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron, Dimbola is hosting Honza Sakar's first UK exhibition to showcase the relevance of wet collodion photography today.

Honza created an emotionally charged collection of portraits using the traditional wet plate method, which are displayed alongside his black and white Isle of Wight landscapes at the Lodge.

Coincidentally, fellow wet plate photographer Jack Lowe arrived on the Isle as part of his seven year project to visit and photograph all 238 lifeboat stations and their crews around the coast of the British Isles.

Jack, the grandson of famous Dad's Army actor Arthur Lowe, embarked on the scheme in 2014 and has so far captured 125 stations in Victorian-style black and white photographs on glass plates.

The iconic images will graphically publicise the work of the lifeboats and their crews around the coast.

While on his Island visit, Jack visited Dimbola Museum — only to find another wet plate mobile darkroom parked outside.

On his Instagram, he said: "The people who look after Dimbola were extremely excited. Imagine, two mobile darkrooms suddenly parked outside the home of a photographic pioneer.

"The extraordinary coincidence had to be recorded for posterity so we parked our vehicles next to each other for some quick photographs. It was a pleasure to meet you, Honza."

Honza's exhibition finishes this Sunday, and calendars and individual prints featuring Jack's lifeboat pictures are currently available from here.

Those interested can see their work on their Instagram accounts, @lordlowe and @fotografnaplech.