Robert Christian Malmberg’s “Converse sneakers”
Many photographers today are reviving the photographic processes of the Civil War era. A California news article reports on several photographers in San Francisco who are producing photographs with the wet-plate process. Even Louis Vuitton highlights wet-plate photography in his digital project Double Exposure for the Fall/Winter 2011/2012 ad campaign. Notice how both the news article and film clips emphasize the portrayal of character in wet-plate photography. What do you think are some reasons for the nostalgic return to nineteenth-century processes?
Read the article on San Francisco-area photographers here:
Watch a video on Sam Taylor-Woods, one of the photographers on the Vuitton campaign:
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I think bring the wet-plate process back is a great idea especially for artist in fashion. For fashion its great because most people of this era never seen photos taking in such a way so for LV to do it, its going to make it popular again because its others ways in taking pictures than just DSLR’s and phones. Also fashion repeats its self along with history so why not bring some vintage back ,we do it all the time.
Some reasons for the nostalgic return to nineteenth century wet plate processes; well as we know the wet-plate process was invented centuries ago during the civil war, the process included collodion spread throughout the glass plate, then dipped into silver nitrate solution. According to this article we now learn that photographers today are using such process; for their advertisements. Today we can snap a photo instantly, the wet-plate process gives one the opportunity to elaborate on the slow process and capture the details and work required within the photograph. Once photographers and famous people such as Louis Vuitton continue to use it, the wet-plate process will blossom all over again. The photographs become realistic and the viewers will feel intrigued by the images taken through wet-plate.
I feel the comeback of the wet place process has a lot to do with our culture. We are influenced so much by our history that we love surrounding ourselves with vintage ideals in a modern utopia. The process seems to strike a lot of ideas for modern artist to bring that feeling of depth in a photo unlike they are used to. The feeling of getting to know the character better in a wet plate process photograph is amplified by its sharp shadows and striking light. All the artist feel the presence of more a reception of personality through the process and thus creating a good portrait. Patients is key it gives a new kind of rush by having to wait instead of this instant gratification we are used to with our new technologies. Sam Taylor mentions the end result of the wet plate process presents a sense of stillness that is hard to receive in other photography, that sense of stillness is what draws me personally to the photos of the wet plate process.
I think it’s a great thing that wet-plate photography is back because it gives the image a vintage look, which is more attractive than regular photos. Now a days everyone take photos and use Photoshop to make it look like vintage. But the wet-plate process gives a photo vintage look and sharp look without using photoshop. This process is a hard process and I think its worth doing it. “The process involves pouring a chemical mixture featuring collodion onto a cleaned glass plate, which is then dipped into a silver nitrate solution.” Since company like LV is using this process it will be more famous in photography process and people will start to use it more.
I really enjoy looking at Wet-Plate process photos. It brings a unique and very stylish approach to photography. For the ones who are foreign to this process, when they actually get to see the images, are very astonished by them. I was showing my father, who is a very “old fashion” kind of guy, the wet plate process. He simply said that this work was much better than what going on now in today’s era. I assume the digitial camera life that we live in now. I believe the roughness to these images bring such a nostalgic feel when you see them. I would definitely love to have some images of myself made with this process. Now that the Louis Vuitton brand is campaigning with this process, others will imitate and the Wet Plate process will be the new photography all over again.
I feel like the wet plate process is unique to an artist and can be used in many ways. The wet plate process allows you to manipulate photographs. Photographs look a lot better under the wet plate process to me. Wet plate images are seen all over in magazines. I feel like we see this process every where we go.