My living history impression:
As you can see in the picture above, it's pretty simple with a minimum of equipment and props. I take effort to be period correct and keep any modern material and devices out of sight.
I use the same chemicals and methods that 19th century photographers utilized.
I'm happy to answer questions about the process, and enjoy telling people how photography evolved.
My interest in wet-plate photography came at the urging of Brad Bigley. We both took a workshop under expert wet-plater Robert Szabo and I was hooked. I haven't shot any film since that fateful weekend in April 2007.
I began photography more than 30 years ago while a student at LSU working for the yearbook and newspaper. From there, I became a reporter at the Alexandria, La., Daily Town Talk, where I also took photos. Next I worked at the Shreveport Times as a photographer, then moved to Lafayette, La., to head up the Acadiana bureau for the Baton Rouge Advocate where I worked for 23 years. Now I work for the LSU AgCenter Communications Department, writing and photographing Louisiana agriculture.
Although I have worked mostly civil war reenactments, I will photograph any event with wet-plate photography, and I'm up for a challenge. I will also conduct demonstrations of the process for schools, libraries and other similar institutions. If you'd like to contact me about arranging a session, go to my contacts page.
TINTYPE PHOTOGRAPHIC EMPORIUM
Beauvoir Fall Muster near Biloxi, Miss. October 2007
I recently demonstrated wet-plate collodion photography for the release of a book detailing the work of Baton Rouge photographer Andrew Lytle. Here's a link to an article on the presentation and the book: http://www.lib.lsu.edu/special/exhibits/current.html
