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Stan White – self portrait c1996

Toronto. Over the years, photographic processes continuously evolved. For example, some effort was made to deliver less expensive cased images (Daguerreotype look-a-likes). One solution was to take a negative using the then new wet-plate technology and treat it to reverse the tonal range, bleaching the black areas white and using a black background in the case to simulate the blacks in the clear areas of the ‘negative’.

More recently [mid 1990s] courses and workshops demonstrated the old technique to a new contingent of photographers. Stan White had a column in the journal called simply “Stan White’s Corner”. For issue 22-1 Stan wrote of his experiences with a workshop across the lake at GEH.

The self portrait at left comes with this paragraph: Note the rubber glove; the photograph was taken during a processing session. The blue-only sensitive emulsions were tricky on even the most perfect complexion. The writer finds this picture most useful when applying for a senior-citizen discount, not too many people will argue your age when your photograph is an ambrotype.

Stan begins this column, “I am now back from my second one-day workshop sponsored by Eastman House, the first being the Daguerreotype Workshop the subsequent results from which were featured in a previous issue.

“This latest offering was on wet-plate collodion – ambrotypes, tintypes and other wet-plate applications. The work of the principal instructors Mark Osterman, and his wife France Scully Osterman [June 1998 speakers at the PHSC], was superb and showed a wide range of ambrotypes and tintypes, treated in a variety of different ways, as well as wet-plate negatives printed on modern papers.

“One 8 x 10 inch contact print of a full-length portrait printed on modern Ilford double-matt paper had a tonal range the like of which I have never seen bettered. There is a tolerance to the combination of plates of purblind sensitivity coupled to simple Petzval glasses – for neither takes advantage of the other‘s shortcomings and the result is pleasingly familiar to the eye like the simple taste of honest bread and cheese.

“Modernity has paid a heavy price in quality, for the convenience of all-encompassing photographic utility. …”

The column is available on the members-only DVD as the issue 22-1 pdf file. Instructions on joining/renewing are shown above (MEMBERSHIP) and to the Right depending on the choice of payment type (Cheque, Credit Card, PayPal Account, etc.). Any questions, email Lilianne at member@phsc.ca.