A Photography Topic on BBC

[Ryewolf]

Skater girls: Gender, joy and slow photography

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-53739203

Have to say I don't find any of these particularly good or even in focus, some have obviously been mirrored to get a better shot... What do you think?

 

[Fogey]

I agree with you.  If they were mine I would bin them.

[JamesT]

On 12/08/2020 at 23:44, Ryewolf said:

Skater girls: Gender, joy and slow photography

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-53739203

Have to say I don't find any of these particularly good or even in focus, some have obviously been mirrored to get a better shot... What do you think?

 

The mirroring is because they are tintypes rather than wet plate negatives on glass, that is a direct positive on a metal plate.

The unevenness is likely the result of the difficulty in getting an even layer of collodion on the plate. Also bear in mind the exposure is probably several seconds, and I don't know whether the photographer used a mid 19th century lens such as a Petzval.

Do such techniques still have value today? I'm not sure (that could be a thesis on art theory in itself).

[Ryewolf]

1 hour ago, JamesT said:

The mirroring is because they are tintypes rather than wet plate negatives on glass, that is a direct positive on a metal plate.

The unevenness is likely the result of the difficulty in getting an even layer of collodion on the plate. Also bear in mind the exposure is probably several seconds, and I don't know whether the photographer used a mid 19th century lens such as a Petzval.

I hadn't read the intro text about how they were produced, that explains a lot about the mirrowing and softness.