Research Says Daguerreotype Photos Contain Metallic Nanoparticles

24. Jun. 2019
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News
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Daguerreotype remains a fascinating photographic process to this day, and recent research gives us more reasons to remain impressed.

It’s been nearly two centuries since Louis Daguerre introduced his daguerreotypes, yet the allure of the early photographic process remains as strong as ever. In fact, it intrigued an interdisciplinary team of scientists to conduct research on the unique characteristics of the images produced on silver plates, particularly how they can look slightly different depending on the viewing angle. They discovered that this curious optical effect is created by the presence of metallic nanoparticles — 19th-century nanotechnology, as they decided to call it.

You Can Own a Vintage “Tintype” of Edgar Allan Poe for $150,000

30. May. 2019
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Vintage
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If you’re an avid collector of historic tintype images or simply interested in curious-looking, antique pieces, this ebay listing should get you intrigued at least.

Previously in our non-camera vintage finds, we’ve seen a number of interesting and historic prints come up, including a vintage Ansel Adams print, signed Henri Cartier-Bresson prints, and a rare Andy Warhol Polaroid self-portrait. Today, we’re adding another intriguing item to our list; a vintage tintype of American poet, editor, and literary critic Edgar Allan Poe. If that’s something you’d like to add to your collection of vintage curiosities, it’s going to cost you $150,000.

This Panoramic Photo was Shot with Multi-Plate, Multi-Lens Daguerreotype

12. May. 2019
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Photography Culture
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If you’re looking for novel and challenging ways to create your next panoramic photo, the “antorama” will certainly be of interest to you.

Today’s technology has given us many ways to create panoramic photos, but we bet that all of you are yet to try shooting with this technique. San Diego-based Anton Orlov has been busy experimenting with some daguerreotype techniques, but there’s one project that he was able to do successfully. He recently shared with us the results of an interesting panoramic photography method that he developed himself: the “Antorama.”

Explore Photography’s Origins with George Eastman Museum’s Photographic Processes Series

07. Aug. 2018
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Education, Learn
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Photography may already have progressed by leaps and bounds, but an interesting video series by George Eastman Museum reminds us of how it all began.

For today and future generations, film photography may already seem to be as traditional as photographic processes go. But it actually stretches way back. For us to be able to appreciate how far photographic technology has come, George Eastman Museum created a series of videos that take us back to the processes that revolutionized how we see and capture the world through photography.

National Portrait Gallery’s 50th Anniversary Exhibit Celebrates Daguerreotype

20. May. 2018
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News
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Mark your calendars and time your visit to the National Portrait Gallery for the “Daguerreotypes: Five Decades of Collecting” exhibit opening on June 15th

As part of its 50th anniversary, the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery will be celebrating the daguerreotype process with an intimate exhibition of fascinating portraits made in the 1800s. A showcase not to be missed, “Daguerreotypes: Five Decades of Collecting” will open on June 15th and will feature 13 small-scale, one-of-a-kind daguerreotype portraits that have become an essential part of the museum’s collection.

Lomography Daguerreotype Achromat Lens Now Comes in a Gold-Plated Edition

08. May. 2018
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News
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Go for gold with Lomography’s limited edition gold-plated Daguerreotype Achromat 2.9/64 Art Lens

Some art lenses are complete luxuries to shoot with, and others make sure to also look the part. A perfect example is the limited, gold-plated Daguerreotype Achromat 2.9/64 Art Lens, which Lomography has recently and proudly introduced as the latest addition to its Daguerreotype Achromat collection. If you’re looking to add a dreamy look to your photos and have a taste for luxurious gear, this art lens should be interesting to you.

Anton Orlov’s 4×5 Camera Has an f0.7 Lens

18. Oct. 2015
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Cameras
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All images by Anton Orlov. Used with permission.

Fact: as a camera sensor/film plane becomes larger, the depth of field at a given aperture and focusing distance becomes congruently smaller. Many photographers can barely get anything in focus at f0.95 on a 35mm size full frame camera sensor–so just imagine how tough it would be to capture a scene at f0.7 on a 4×5 piece of film.

That’s what photographer Anton Orlov can do with a new camera that he recently made. By using an X-ray lens with an f0.7 lens, he tries to shoot on 4×5 film–which is incredibly tough to do. Anton was born in Moscow then came to the US in 1994. Here, he got a B.F.A in photography from San Jose State University, and in 2012 he built a travelling darkroom called the Photo Palace Bus. He now resides in San Diego, CA and runs a rental darkroom.

As Anton proves to us, this type of work is far from simple.

Check Out the History of Photographic Processes with These Videos

05. Aug. 2015
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Photography Culture
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darkroom.MOTAL-6-680x453

The advent of 35mm photography largely simplified the picture-taking process, and cameras become far more affordable and accessible. Before this, however, the process was much slower, more intricate, and greater technical knowledge was necessary to get the result. The history of photography, both as an art form and a technical process, is, in a word, fascinating.

Thankfully, the George Eastman House has put together a beautiful series of videos about photographic processes well before the advent of 35mm photography. The 12-chapter series explores the Daguerreotype, Talbot’s processes, the cyanotype, the collodion, albumen printing, platinum printing, pigment processes, the Woodburytype, the gelatin silver process, color photography and digital photography. Each episode is around five minutes long for easy viewing.

Take a dive with the first video embedded below.

The Daguerreotype Photography Process Just Turned 175 Years Old

21. Aug. 2014
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Photography Culture
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Photo via Photohistory

One of the oldest photography processes just turned 175 years old. This process was developed way before film and film emulsions and in a time when medium and large format photography ruled the world. Back then, the standard in photography required you to use silver plates coated in a photographic emulsion and had to be individually prepared. When they were set, they were placed in a holder. The camera and lens were then focused on the subject. Then the subject was asked to keep very still and the plate loaded into the camera. Now it was time to shoot. A very long exposure was taken due to the narrow aperture needed to get anything in focus at all–so subjects had to remain very still.

When the shot was over, the plate holder and plate were brought into a darkroom and within around 10 minutes an image emerged on the plate. Different chemicals were added to fix the look a bit. We refrain from saying color because of the fact that color photography wasn’t quite around back then.

More history in the form of a video is after the jump.

Via Shooting Film, George Eastman House, Wikipedia