My daguerreotype

prints

Daguerreotype response

The daguerreotype workshop at Project Basho was amazing. I have learned about daguerreotypes in history of photo, but I never imagined that I would get the opportunity to actually make one of my own. The process to make one was so precise, yet so tedious. When most of us learned that we polished our plates wrong, it was a sad discovery. But it was so excited to see the image develop after such a long day of prepping, polishing, and waiting. It was such an awarding experience. I hope I can do it again in the fall when he returns.

Still life with tree and two small, stuffed mammals, between 1840 and 1860

From: Daguerreotype collection (Library of Congress)

Lauren's daguerreotype paper

Well handling the daguerreotype you have to wear a facemask and gloves so that you are not harming the plate.  The surface of the plate is very sensitive if u touch it you can smudge it or scratch the surface of the plate. First you have to buffer the plate with a soft leather covered paddle, which is dusted with pigment.  Some of the chemicals involved in the process can be harmful to people.  You only have one chance to get a good exposure. If the image shows up on the mirror like surface it has a positive and negative quality. In the light the image looks like a negative and in the dark you can see the image clearly.