Daguerréotypomanie

Season Disorder

2011-12-18T16:34:00.000-08:00

Details:
4x5 Daguerreotype
Iodine: Strong gold-yellow, 60 seconds
Bromine: 50 seconds
Second Iodine: 25 seconds
Exposure: 9600w/s @ f2.8 with 22" reflector
Development: 4:30 @ 70˚C

Summer Relic

2011-12-05T21:40:00.000-08:00

Details:
4x5 Daguerreotype
Iodine: Strong gold-yellow, 45 seconds
Bromine: 70 seconds
Second Iodine: 20 seconds
Exposure: 4:20 @ f8 (10ev)
Lighting: afternoon shade
Development: 4:30 @ 70˚C

Still a bit overbromated, but getting there...

Testing...

2011-12-05T21:32:00.001-08:00

Details:
4x5 Daguerreotype
Iodine: Strong gold-yellow, 50 seconds
Bromine: 10 to 120 seconds
Second Iodine: 20 seconds
Exposure: 3:20 @ f11 (13ev)
Development: 4:30 @ 70˚C

I further diluted my bromine water to 1:200, extending my fuming times into a reasonable range. The test nicely shows how too much bromine (120 seconds) effects the image.

On their way out...

2011-08-23T20:33:00.000-07:00

Details:
4x5 Daguerreotype
Iodine: Dark yellow (40 seconds)
Bromine: 7 seconds
Second Iodine: 15 seconds
Exposure: 9600w/s @ f2.8 with 22" reflector
Development: 4:30 @ 70˚C

I haven't scanned anything in a long time. Sorry internet, I just can't be bothered. Here is a recent endeavor made after my switch to bromine water. My current use, which still needs some tweaking, is 1.5ml bromine water to 150ml distilled water for seven seconds. It needs to be mixed for each plate.

Venetian Cat

2011-08-23T10:16:00.000-07:00

Details:
4x5 Daguerreotype
Iodine: 50 seconds
Bromine: 8 seconds (1:100 bromine water)
Second Iodine: 20 seconds
Exposure: 9600w/s @ f2.8 with 22" reflector
Development: 4:30 @ 70˚C

The Aphid Eater

2010-10-09T20:21:00.000-07:00

Details:
4x5 Daguerreotype
Iodine: 35 seconds
Bromine: 8 Seconds
Second Iodine: 10 Seconds
Exposure: 9600Ws @ f2.8
Lighting: studio strobe, one head, 22" beauty dish reflector
Development: 4:30 @ 70˚C

Stereo!

2010-10-08T20:52:00.000-07:00

Details:
4x5 Daguerreotype
Iodine: 35 seconds
Bromine: 12 seconds
Second Iodine: 35 seconds
Exposure: 5:00 @ f11
Lighting: afternoon shade
Development: 4:15 @ 70˚C

Tried a cool new toy, a stereo lens set and shutter made by Wista for their 4x5 cameras, with a matched pair of 130mm f5.6 lenses. I have no idea how to make successful stereo images, but I suppose I will eventually learn.

That Cover Glass

2010-04-19T21:51:00.000-07:00

I sent this image for exhibition somewhere in Texas, and it came back destroyed by poor packing with a smashed cover glass. Lesson learned: I will always specify how my plates need to be packed.

I put off replacing the glass until today, almost a year, and now regret it. The air leaked in by the cracked glass tarnished the plate in weird ways. A second lesson learned.

Our Garden Gate

2010-04-18T21:37:00.000-07:00

Details:
Half-Plate Daguerreotype
Iodine: Magenta (60 seconds)
Bromine: 2 seconds
Second Iodine: 20 seconds
Exposure: 45 seconds @ f11 (leaves: 12.33ev)
Lighting: a sunny day in the northwest
Development: 4:15 @ 70˚C

Tried lamp black as a second polish after the rouge, and it left all kinds of weird spots. Very thin silver plating on the half-plates which I had made a few years back.

The Pink Dress

2010-04-04T21:23:00.000-07:00

Details:
4x5 Daguerreotype
Iodine: 60 seconds
Bromine: 3 Seconds
Second Iodine: 30 Seconds
Exposure: 9600Ws @ f2.8
Lighting: studio strobe, one head, 22" beauty dish reflector
Development: 4:45 @ 70˚C

Another crappy through-the glass scan...

She would rather be outside

2010-04-03T21:15:00.000-07:00

Details:
Quarter-Plate Daguerreotype
Iodine: yellow with red-edges (70 seconds)
Bromine: three seconds
Second Iodine: 30 seconds
Exposure: 9600Ws @ f2.8
Lighting: studio strobe, one head, 22" beauty dish
Development: 5:00 @ 160˚F

A horrible through-the-cover glass scan...

Too much bromine

2010-03-20T09:29:00.000-07:00

Details:
Iodine: 50 seconds, gold-yellow
Bromine: 12 seconds, light magenta
Second Iodine: 20 seconds
Exposure: 9600Ws @ f2.8
Lighting: studio strobes, one head, 22" beauty dish reflector
Development: 2:15 at 80˚C

Image faint and flat: Too much bromine!

Mina at 7200Ws

2010-02-20T09:19:00.000-08:00

Details:
4x5 Daguerreotype
Iodine: 50 seconds
Bromine: 12 seconds
Second Iodine: 20 seconds
Exposure: 7200Ws @ f2.8
Lighting: studio strobe, one head, 22" beauty dish reflector
Development: 2:15 @ 80˚C

My first attempt at using studio strobes with daguerreotypes. I wrote this elsewhere:

My daughter agreed to sit, although complained about the flash afterward. To make up for it, I allowed her to push the button while I sat in the chair. It wasn't as bad as the descriptions I have heard of Jerry Spagnoli's set-up--burned hair and all of that--but it does make a very loud POP and you see spots for a minute or so. Anyhow, as you can see, the image is present, although this is a rather ugly example.

Anyhow, I used a Speedotron 105 "Quad" four-cable head in a 22" "Beauty Dish" reflector at 7200 watt seconds (with 4803 and 2401 boxes). The rim of the reflector was about 32" from subject, and was placed above and to the right of the camera.

Sleepy Muse

2009-10-12T12:55:00.000-07:00

Details:
Quarter-Plate Daguerreotype
Iodine: yellow with red-edges
Bromine: red with slight yellow interior
Exposure: 30 seconds @ f2.8 (skin: 12ev)
Lighting: florescent (8x55w)
Development: 2:50 @ 176˚F

Wow, pretty ugly tones! The finger smudges don't help either. I have to work on improving the effect of the florescent lights. Over all the image is better, but perhaps still a bit over developed.

After the bouncy castle

2009-09-27T21:21:00.003-07:00

Details:
Quarter-Plate Daguerreotype
Iodine: yellow with red-edges
Bromine: red with slight yellow interior
Exposure: 20 seconds @ f2.8 (skin: 11.33ev)
Lighting: afternoon shade, north light
Development: 3:15 @ 176˚F

3:15 over mercury at 176˚F pushed the developing over the edge, as can been seen by all the weird little splots. Underexposed too?

Early Pumpkins

2009-09-24T08:31:00.002-07:00

Details:
Quarter-Plate Daguerreotype
Iodine: yellow with red-edges
Bromine: red with slight yellow interior
Exposure: 1:30 minutes @ f5.6 (Zone V: 11.66ev)
Lighting: 8 x 55w Florescents
Development: 2:00 @ 176˚F

It has been quite a while since I have made any traditional Daguerreotypes. This plate--although underexposed and possibly under-quicked--is a great success, and hopefully the beginning of a new season of image making.

Enturbiado

2007-08-13T18:45:00.000-07:00

Details:
100x125mm Daguerreotype
Exposure: 30 seconds @ f14 (Zone VI: 15ev)
Development: 2:45 @ 170˚F

Details:
Uneven bromine coating: I have no idea why, but at least it isn't blue.

urna, otra vez

2007-08-01T15:02:00.000-07:00

Details:
100x125mm Daguerreotype
Exposure: 30 seconds @ f16 (Zone VII: 16ev)
Development: 3:45 @ 156˚F

Todavía azul

2007-07-24T19:37:00.000-07:00

Details:
100x125mm Daguerreotype
Exposure: 6 seconds @ f4 (Zone V: 12.33ev)
Development: 2:45 @ 174˚F

Notes: Still blue! Can't quite figure out why the images are not neutral. Perhaps humidity?

Incómodo

2007-07-21T17:39:00.000-07:00

Details:
100x125mm Daguerreotype
Exposure: 8 seconds @ f4 (Zone V: 12.33ev)
Development: 3:45 @ 160˚F

Notes:
Overexposed and overdeveloped.

Árboles podados

2007-07-17T18:00:00.000-07:00

Details:
100x125mm Daguerreotype
Exposure: 1:00 minute @ f16 (Zone VII: 14ev)
Development: 2:45 @ 177˚F

Daguerrotipo escamoso

2007-05-06T19:07:00.000-07:00

Details:
6.5 x 8.5" Daguerreotype
Exposure: 8 seconds @ f3 (Zone VI: 12.66ev)
Development: 3:00 @ 175˚F

Notes:
A failed experiment with interesting results. The plate was made on silvered glass (see instructions here). I made a few marginally successful Becquerel plates last year using silvered glass, however something about the traditional method (perhaps the heat of the Mercury?) caused much of the silver to flake off in the fixer.

Flor del plátano

2007-05-04T17:45:00.000-07:00

Details:
100x125mm Daguerreotype
Exposure: 2:30 minutes @ f5.6 (Zone V: 10.66ev)
Development: 2:20 @ 179˚F

Nuestros árboles

2007-04-15T13:24:00.000-07:00

Details:
100x125mm Daguerreotype
Exposure: 1:30 minutes @ f5.6
Development: 3:00 @ 176˚F

Sepulcro vacío

2007-04-08T15:07:00.000-07:00

Details:
100x125mm Daguerreotype
Exposure: 30 seconds @ f16 (Zone V: 14ev)
Development: 3:00 @ 178˚F

Roya Desarrollado II

2007-04-05T14:34:00.000-07:00

Details:
100x125mm Daguerreotype
Exposure: 15 seconds @ f2.8 (Zone VI: 12.66ev)
Development: 2:30 @ 194˚F

Roya Desarrollado

2007-04-03T19:51:00.000-07:00

Details:
100x125mm Daguerreotype
Exposure: 15 seconds @ f2.8 (Zone VI: 12.66ev)
Development: 3:30 @ 215˚F

Los palos (del chocolate)

2006-05-20T16:39:00.000-07:00

Details:
100x125mm Becquerel Daguerreotype
15 minutes @ f5.6 (Underexposed by 1/2 stop)
Wood: 12-14ev (inconsistent sun)

Altar de la muñeca

2006-05-15T17:25:00.000-07:00

Details:
100x125mm Becquerel Daguerreotype
2.5 minutes @ f5.6
Inside Altar: 12.33ev
Outside Altar: 14.33ev

Cruz Doble

2006-05-09T21:38:00.000-07:00

Details:
100x125mm Becquerel Daguerreotype
3 minutes @ f5.6
Shadowed White: 13ev

Jesús De Piedra

2006-05-07T14:21:00.000-07:00

Details:
100x125mm Becquerel Daguerreotype
2.5 minutes @ f5.6
Midtones: 12.66ev
White : 14.66ev
Blow Out: 16ev

Panteón Wall

2006-05-06T15:29:00.000-07:00

Details:
100x125mm Becquerel Daguerreotype
30 minutes @ f2.8
Wall: 11.66ev
Shadow: 9.66ev

Sepulcro

2006-05-06T11:25:00.000-07:00

Details:
100x125mm Becquerel Daguerreotype
2.5 minutes @ f5.6
White: 13.66ev

El Árbol de los Vecinos

2006-05-06T11:23:00.000-07:00

Details:
100x125mm Becquerel Daguerreotype
5 minutes @ f5.6
White: 14.66ev
Brick: 12.33ev

Papayas Insípidas

2006-05-06T10:10:00.000-07:00

Details:
100x125mm Becquerel Daguerreotype
15 Minutes @ f4
White Wall: 12ev
Shadow: 10ev

On Daguerreotypy

2006-05-01T00:00:00.001-07:00

Daguerreotypes are mysterious and beautiful. Their images--positive, negative and mirror at the same time--have an amazing sense of depth and delicacy. The process, although difficult, toxic, and expensive, is highly enjoyable and meditative, combining the skills of jeweler, chemist, photographer and bookbinder. Yet the most intriguing aspect of the Daguerreotype for me is its "presence", or to make up a word, its thing-ness. This seems particularly important in the age of digital reproduction. A Daguerreotype, unlike a screen image and even the most perfect silver, platinum, or albumen print, is foremost a three dimensional object. Made of copper, silver, and glass they are surprisingly heavy, yet seem to fit perfectly in the palm of a hand. Finally, daguerreotypes are all flawed. Producing a perfect blemish-free image is near impossible. I find something comforting in being forced to leave so much to chance.

Originally Published by The Online Photographer