Summary of Early Photography: Making Daguerreotypes
daguerreotypes were a popular form of early photography in the 19th century, spreading quickly across Europe and America.
The process of making a daguerreotype was labor-intensive and required skill and specific equipment.
The daguerreotype plate was made of copper faced with silver, which had to be polished and made light-sensitive using iodine and bromine.
The exposure process involved placing the light-sensitive plate in a camera and removing the lens cap for a long exposure time.
After exposure, the plate was developed using liquid mercury and fixed with a solution of hyposulfite of soda.
The final steps included finishing the plate with a solution of chloride of gold and assembling it in a decorative case for safe-keeping and display.
Daguerreotype studios produced a large number of images annually, with a significant retail industry around the practice.
Speakers/sources
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Notable Quotes
— 03:06 — « Early exposure times were notoriously long and sometimes uncomfortable, often taking more than 20 seconds. »
— 03:14 — « "His head should be placed on a semi-circle of iron fitted to the back of the chair, his arms may be arranged at pleasure." »
— 03:46 — « After mercury vapor reacts with the sensitized silver, the daguerreotypist removes the developed plate. »
— 04:10 — « The daguerreotypist then fixes the plate, making it safe for viewing in normal light by pouring on it a solution of hyposulfite of soda. »
— 05:26 — « In 1849, an American author concluded, "In our great cities, a daguerreotypist is to be found in almost every square." »
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