Eli

This is the first tintype I made, completed during an alternative photo process class in 2018. The tintype—once an inexpensive alternative to the daguerreotype—is largely a curiosity in the contemporary era. It is particularly tricky but seems truly magical when seen done in person. The process involves treating a metal plate with colloidal silver, exposing it to a very high amount of light with a large format camera, and developing the plate within about six minutes of exposure. Highly unpredictable and temperamental, the tintype process is exhilarating to work with, and it's one of my favorites.