Daguerreotypes

[JonathanBenoit]

With my experience working in a historic research library, I have had the privilege of viewing and handling great examples of daguerreotypes. In the past, I have looked into current photographers that still use this method of photography and it is extremely few. For some of you who don't know, the daguerreotype was the first permanent photographic method.

I have a few issues that I'm wondering if any of you can provide information on.
1. Do any of you have experience with this photographic method?
2. During the civil war the chemicals used were pretty harmful. I'm wondering how safe the process can be done today.
3. I think a homemade Dag camera can be built fairly easy. Anyone know of any equipment sellers for this extremely small market?

Any information is appreciated.

[Anders_HK]

Hi,

Did you search/post here? http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/

Regards
Anders

[LiamStrain]

Hey there.

I've never done Dag's myself (but have done other alternative/historical processes).

I would take a look here as well as the largeformat forum:
http://www.alternativephotography.com/wp/

They have some "how-to's" including one on Dags, that may answer some of your questions (tho it sounds like some of the nasty chemistry is inherent in the process, but at least they are not using mercury anymore).

Also interesting work and links here:
http://www.newdags.com/

[JoeKitchen]

Hey there.

I've never done Dag's myself (but have done other alternative/historical processes).

I would take a look here as well as the largeformat forum:
http://www.alternativephotography.com/wp/

They have some "how-to's" including one on Dags, that may answer some of your questions (tho it sounds like some of the nasty chemistry is inherent in the process, but at least they are not using mercury anymore).

Also interesting work and links here:
http://www.newdags.com/

I feel not using mercury would take away from the mirror effect of the older style Dag's.  Also, I know that although Dagguirre (? not sure on spelling) gave the invention to the French gov't as a gift, he only gave enough information to get a workable process and left the finer tunings of the method for sale, or at least that is what I heard from a reputable source.

[JonathanBenoit]

Thanks for the links. Very interesting information. It looks like Jerry Spagnoli is one of the best using this method.

[DanielStone]

chuck close has done them

http://photo-muse.blogspot.com/2007/09/chu...erreotypes.html

-Dan

[Rod.Klukas]

With my experience working in a historic research library, I have had the privilege of viewing and handling great examples of daguerreotypes. In the past, I have looked into current photographers that still use this method of photography and it is extremely few. For some of you who don't know, the daguerreotype was the first permanent photographic method.

I have a few issues that I'm wondering if any of you can provide information on.
1. Do any of you have experience with this photographic method?
2. During the civil war the chemicals used were pretty harmful. I'm wondering how safe the process can be done today.
3. I think a homemade Dag camera can be built fairly easy. Anyone know of any equipment sellers for this extremely small market?

Any information is appreciated.

Jonathon,
There is a group that has formed interested in the Daguerreotype.  They study the process and materials and share ther findings and information.
http://daguerreian.org/
Another group can be found at   www.daguerre.org/
Hope this helps.   A camera might be built by Alan at  filmholders.com.  He obviously could make the holders as well.
Rod

[Rod.Klukas]

Jonathon,
There is a group that has formed interested in the Daguerreotype.  They study the process and materials and share ther findings and information.
http://daguerreian.org/
Another group can be found at   www.daguerre.org/
Hope this helps.   A camera might be built by Alan at  filmholders.com.  He obviously could make the holders as well.
Rod

another info article i found:   http://www.shinyphotos.com/2004/10/

[Rod.Klukas]

And Rob is working at it with much to share.
http://www.galerie-photo.com/daguerreotype...mcelroy-en.html
Rod

[Christopher Sanderson]

Lu-La published a video piece on the process in Video Journal 12 featuring Mike Robinson of Toronto who teaches historical processes. We show how a Daguerreotype is prepared, exposed and processed.
Chris

[Paul Barker]

In addition to the above here is Mike Robinson's site: http://www.centurydarkroom.com

The first time I saw some really good quality daguerreotypes was at the Royal Academy when they first acknowledged photography as art in an exhibition about 20 years ago. There was a portrait of a native american Indian and, IIRC, Lincoln, which blew me away. Difficult to describe, but they had a spellbinding and haunting quality, something you just don't get from viewing a monitor or printed page.

I also have an interest in other old processes which maybe also of interest. A of link for wet plate collodian and tintype workshops: http://www.johncoffer.com

and a movie of the tintype process by Rob Kendrick: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/best...media_vid2.html

As seen in the movie, the process is potentially dangerous and care is needed, but somehow that appeals, using lethal chemicals and blow torches to create beautiful images. One thing's for sure, whatever the process, I have huge respect for those early photographers!

Watching the image clear as he puts it into the potassium cyanide reminds me of of when I was about 5 years old watching my dad develop a print in the bathroom converted into a darkroom. The first time I saw him put in that blank piece of white (or rather red), paper into the dev tray and watching an image appear was pure magic. I kinda miss that with digital, I suspect I might not be alone.

Cheers

[feppe]

Watching the image clear as he puts it into the potassium cyanide reminds me of of when I was about 5 years old watching my dad develop a print in the bathroom converted into a darkroom. The first time I saw him put in that blank piece of white (or rather red), paper into the dev tray and watching an image appear was pure magic. I kinda miss that with digital, I suspect I might not be alone.

There's a whole generation of future photographers seeing the same magic happen as their dads push a button and the print comes magically out through the printer. And they will feel just as nostalgic when practically all photo display is digital when they grow up, and start buying and refurbishing old inkjet printers.

[KevinA]

With my experience working in a historic research library, I have had the privilege of viewing and handling great examples of daguerreotypes. In the past, I have looked into current photographers that still use this method of photography and it is extremely few. For some of you who don't know, the daguerreotype was the first permanent photographic method.

I have a few issues that I'm wondering if any of you can provide information on.
1. Do any of you have experience with this photographic method?
2. During the civil war the chemicals used were pretty harmful. I'm wondering how safe the process can be done today.
3. I think a homemade Dag camera can be built fairly easy. Anyone know of any equipment sellers for this extremely small market?

Any information is appreciated.

I thought since the freedom of information act it was discovered that Fox Talbot had the first claim on photography, but kept secret for military use, only made public a few years back? i'm sure I heard that on the news sometime back.

Kevin.

[RobMcElroy]

Jonathon,
There is a group that has formed interested in the Daguerreotype.  They study the process and materials and share ther findings and information.
http://daguerreian.org/
Another group can be found at   www.daguerre.org/
Hope this helps.   A camera might be built by Alan at  filmholders.com.  He obviously could make the holders as well.
Rod

Rod et al.,

Both of the web addresses you gave are for The Daguerreian Society, but one of them is outdated (www.daguerreian.org) and not used anymore.  The current up-to-date website can be found at (http://daguerre.org/).

Another excellent website that was created a year and a half ago to feature contemporary daguerreotypes is (http://cdags.org/).  It is loaded with information about the process, galleries of work by contemporary daguerreotypists (including my own), and a forum where you can ask questions about anything related to the daguerreotype.

Cheers,
Rob McElroy
Contemporary daguerreotypist
Buffalo, NY