publicdomainreview:A collection of haunting daguerreotypes from the studio of Matthew Brady, one of
publicdomainreview:A collection of haunting daguerreotypes from the studio of Matthew Brady, one of the most celebrated 19th century American photographers. Daguerreotype portraits were made by the model posing (often with head fixed in place with a clamp to keep it still the few minutes required) before an exposed light-sensitive silvered copper plate, which was then developed by mercury fumes and fixed with salts. This fixing however was far from permanent – like the people they captured the images too were subject to change and decay. They were extremely sensitive to scratches, dust, hair, etc, and particularly the rubbing of the glass cover if the glue holding it in place deteriorated. As well as rubbing, the glass itself can also deteriorate and bubbles of solvent explode upon the image. See more here: http://bit.ly/1DILj5M -- source link
#daguerrotype#photography#early photography#matthew brady#united states#19th century