kendall's practicum photography blog: September 2017

Tintypes, also known as ferrotypes, were patented in 1856 by an Ohio chemistry professor named Hamilton Smith. The tintype was not a relatively new method, but it was derived from previously existing commercial processes, and is really just an evolution of them. Creating a tintype consisted of practically the same process used to create ambrotypes, where the surface used for the image was glass. However, with tintypes, the image surfaces were not glass, but instead iron (despite the name). Tintypes are iron plates that have been coated with a black lacquer. This lacquer allowed for a smooth tonal surface on which the image was able to be developed, and simultaneously prevented the iron from rusting. The tintype was also more commonly called the ferrotype in its time. The name ferrotype was derived from the word ferrous, which is the name of iron in chemistry. These images were also called melainotypes, which was a variation of the melano prefix, meaning dark or black, for tintypes typically exhibited great detail on a varied gray background. Their average size was usually about 2.5 by 3.5”, however, various sized were able to be produced, some even as small as postage stamps. Initially, tintypes were presented in ornate cases with pressed metal borders, but later ost were displayed in decorative card sleeves, specially designed albums, or even let loose. The emulsion, or lacquer, on the tintypes was relatively sensitive and often scratched due to mishandling and carelessness. Tintypes were more simple than other methods, and were easier to produce from an economical standpoint. The invention of the tintype further enhanced the reality of photography to the public. Following their invention, the photography business boomed and made family portraiture more accessible and affordable to the average person. Photography studios were able to use cameras mounted with multiple lenses to enable them to produce up to a dozen exposures on a single plate. The tintype had the most successful and longest run of all the 19th century photographic processes in history. Although their popularity was later overcome by the introduction of paper images in the 1860s, tintypes were still produced until the early 1900s.

The process starts by getting the actual exposure. The subjects are typically asked not to smile because the exposure takes such a long time. The plate the image is on is usually glass or aluminum, and the image is developed using a mixture of iron, vinegar, and alcohol, which is stopped with water. The plate is dried over an oil lamp, using lavender oil, alcohol, and gum sandarac seal in order to give the image and aromatic seal, so it doesn't reek of chemicals.

I like this image because her face and the hair falling in it is so clear and sharp, and then the rest is all foggy, and I think it just looks super stunning!

I really like the spottiness of this photo, and how odd it it. I think the shadows in it are really interesting and add to a kind of eerie tone.

This image is super pretty, and I like the texture of the background and along the outsides of the plate.

The texture of the image is so gorgeous, and i like the white gash going across his lip. I'm pretty sure it's just the way the photo developed, but i think it looks super cool!

Again, the clarity of the face and the fogginess of the rest of the photo is super stunning here.

I like the development of this photo. The outside makes it look super dated, and the shadows are super pretty.

I like the odd clarity of this one. His eyes are super sharp, and his nose and the sides of his face are foggy, which just makes it look more dynamic and super cool.

Not sure if it's just the glare or not, but the plate on this one looks super cool as well. I like the streaks in the upper left hand corner.

I love the clarity and texture here. You can see all the fine details of his beard along with the texture of his skin which is awesome.

The background for this photo is what makes it so cool. I love how muggy it is towards the center and then how it all fades to black.

I want my tintype to be of someone close to me, because I know that I will keep this forever, and I'd like it to be someone I cherish. Since my younger brother, Otto, goes to school here, I think he'd be my best bet. He has freckles across his nose too, which I think would add some really cool texture, and look super nice with the tintype. I''d want it to be a close up of his face, with a serious expression on it, and I'd probably make him wear a solid black shirt. If I didn't use him, I'd probably do my best friend Hope and the same rules would apply as I mentioned before.

I want to print cutouts of parts of my models’ faces and tape them onto their face using colorful tape (yellow or something), and have a colorful background to make it for funky and pop culture-y. I will be shooting in the studio, and my models would possibly be Ashley Smith, Piper Kopser, Ava Nielsen, or Alyssa Poole (not sure yet, but they asked if they could model for me sometime). I can really shoot at any time of day since it will be in the studio, and I’d like to start shooting soon--maybe sometime in the next few weeks! Here’s some example pictures:

2. I’d like to work on my graphic design/photoshop skills combining two images and cutting them up on top of each other. Basically doing another David Hockney shoot digitally and making them even better. I would shoot this in the studio and edit them to be black and white. Models would be the same as a above.

3. I’d like to do a shoot where my model’s makeup is sort of tilted and not completely on the facial feature they belong to. This would be a fun and interesting way to slightly distort the facial features of my model. I would also shoot this in the studio, and the models would be the same as above probably.

4. I would love to do a shoot with mirrors and reflection. These would also be taken in the studio at any time of the day, but I would also like to do some outside with the reflection of the sky and such instead of just their face. I would probably paint my model’s faces in some way to add to the effect. And I already have pieces of a mirror that we cut up at my house.

5. Lastly, I think that this would be really fun and cool, but I’m not sure how you would do it. Instead of describing it, I’m just going to leave some examples for you to look at. I would edit them to be black and white, and they’d probably have to be taken inside.

6. If that doesn’t work out, then I’d like to do some multiple exposure shots- except I have no idea how to do them! They’d either be edited in black in white or kind of rainbow prism-y colors.