Toronto. … in the 1870s. Hard to imagine, but this crisp, well exposed portrait of a little girl is over 150 years old! Many prints this old – or far younger – have succumbed to fading, lost detail, etc. This image, while upscaled in Topaz Photo AI and sharpened slightly in Focus Magic, is still an eye-catching portrait of a small child. In fact, even unadjusted it was used as a cover shot on issue 38-2 of our journal.
Its wonderful shading and crispness – even a century and a half later is a testament to the photographer, and the unusual process used. Our late editor, Bob Lansdale says it best, “The adorable portrait on our cover is by Turner & Drinkwater of Hull, England from the late 1870s.
“It retains its full image from fading because it is a Patent Chromotype permanent print, otherwise known as a Carbon print. The Chromotype process lasted about 10 years before going out of favour for the more easily produced Bromide print process.”
Bob specialized in collecting these beautifully preserved photographs of which this is but one example. In other issues he published articles explaining the timeless process in its various forms and names.
The detailed and well researched articles on the Chromotype process are on the DVD we send to all members. The personal DVD which we mail covers Photographic Canadiana volumes 1 – 40, a full index, and other goodies.. Not a member? Just follow the steps to the right, or view the MEMBERSHIP menu item above. Sign up and the DVD will be sent to you via Canada Post.