Fascinating. I am very impressed how he made it look so easy. i learned a lot from this video. i will be thinking about this when i look at old photos from that time. thanks
As an "Original Transcon" RR fan, this is great learning. My "buddy, " AJ Russell, took around 1000 photos back in 1868-1869, including the "Wedding of the Rails" . His photos overall, were very sharp, and can be found on OMCA site. Thanks. PS: Those photographers "Out There" had to be extremely dedicated , and very physically fit, in the pursuit of their craft. 😀 And, thank you, Rob Gibson, for explaining some of what can go wrong during these delicate operations. 😇
My favorite shots of the war - Timothy O’Sullivan's pics of General Grant at Massaponax Church capture an immediacy that is remarkable given the complexity of the process that you so vividly demonstrated here.
I got to meet mr. Gibson at his studio a few years back, he’s a real modest nice individual,very knowledgeable and was happy to oblige me on any questions I had. At that time he had taken photos for the Civil war movie “Gods and Generals” and a tintype of Nichole Kidman for the movie Cold Mountain. I mentioned to mr. Gibson that I had been trying to meet one of my favorite actors Stephen Lang ( General Picket) in the movie Gettysburg because I knew that he occasionally would stop in Gettysburg, well much to my surprise mr. Gibson informed me that again I had missed mr. Lang by about a week and pulled out a photo album of mr. Lang dressed in WWII attire that mr. Gibson had taken with a period WWII camera. I hope to again to visit his studio some day.
Played around with Wetplates, Tin Types back in the 80s with a friend who was an expert and yep, it is very difficult. So much respect to those who pioneered that generation of photography. I smirk when I hear Digi-shooters complaining of noise, wanting bigger sensors, Full Frame vs ASP-C and I think of Brady, Weston, Adams, Bresson who even by today's standards have yet to have been surpassed. Kind of puts things into perspective.
Good Stuff. I just recently got into wet plate and have shot a few dozen plates so far. Pretty steep learning curve at first but I feel I’m starting to get the hang of it finally. I love about 45 mins from Gettysburg and visit often. I’ve seen Rob’s images at one of the antique stores in downtown Gettysburg and they looks great. Maybe one of these days I’ll run into Rob and we could talk shop.
Hello, I watched and liked. Still I have a question, please. I want to reenact taking a photo with a collodium wet plate in the nature. No building in the area. Did a photographer in 1882 had to take a little tent with him in order to apply the chemical on the glass before taking the photo, and would he use the same tent or cover as a darkroom to fixate the picture? How can he get light in that tent without electricity? I read about a red glass window.. Thank you for a reply. Also link to see such a field use dark room on old photos.. or reenacted.
I ran into him with my wife and son 3 days later at Spangler's Spring and he was very standoffish, almost rude when I asked him a few quick questions about his business. Maybe I caught him on a bad day. He seems very nice and friendly here.
Wet plate stressed the hell out of me when I do it but the results are amazing, but after several tests and fails of course because each plate takes 15 mins
That's a myth, most of them did not end up in green houses. Garry Adelman debunks this many times. Most of them ended up at the Library of Congress and some were found at the home of his nephew. But it is true that after the war the photos lost their popularity.
Very cool. As a photographer and civil war buff, watching this clip was pure joy. Thanks for posting.
Yep! You really gotta know what you're doing!
Worthy of a series, as photography lessons, from different eras...
Fascinating. I am very impressed how he made it look so easy. i learned a lot from this video. i will be thinking about this when i look at old photos from that time. thanks
I’ve always wondered how Matthew Brady did it. Thanks!
This is awesome! Had no clue before this video how these were made.
I loved "chemical" photography. I have a darkroom setup in storage - I'll never use it again, but I just can't bring myself to get rid of it.
As an "Original Transcon" RR fan, this is great learning. My "buddy, " AJ Russell, took around 1000 photos back in 1868-1869, including the "Wedding of the Rails" . His photos overall, were very sharp, and can be found on OMCA site. Thanks. PS: Those photographers "Out There" had to be extremely dedicated , and very physically fit, in the pursuit of their craft. 😀 And, thank you, Rob Gibson, for explaining some of what can go wrong during these delicate operations. 😇
Fantastic tutorial! Thanks for sharing
My favorite shots of the war - Timothy O’Sullivan's pics of General Grant at Massaponax Church capture an immediacy that is remarkable given the complexity of the process that you so vividly demonstrated here.
You have to thank youtube for this. This is better than going through books.
Nice video on photography. Old school style.
Thank you for this video. Those photographers had a lot of steps to go through for a photograph.
I got to meet mr. Gibson at his studio a few years back, he’s a real modest nice individual,very knowledgeable and was happy to oblige me on any questions I had. At that time he had taken photos for the Civil war movie “Gods and Generals” and a tintype of Nichole Kidman for the movie Cold Mountain. I mentioned to mr. Gibson that I had been trying to meet one of my favorite actors Stephen Lang ( General Picket) in the movie Gettysburg because I knew that he occasionally would stop in Gettysburg, well much to my surprise mr. Gibson informed me that again I had missed mr. Lang by about a week and pulled out a photo album of mr. Lang dressed in WWII attire that mr. Gibson had taken with a period WWII camera. I hope to again to visit his studio some day.
Wow had no idea the work that went into taking a picture.
Helps me to appreciate the pictures that were taken during and after the war.
That is amazing. How did they even figure out how to do that?
Played around with Wetplates, Tin Types back in the 80s with a friend who was an expert and yep, it is very difficult. So much respect to those who pioneered that generation of photography. I smirk when I hear Digi-shooters complaining of noise, wanting bigger sensors, Full Frame vs ASP-C and I think of Brady, Weston, Adams, Bresson who even by today's standards have yet to have been surpassed. Kind of puts things into perspective.
That was interesting. Really cool to know how that was done back then.
Outstanding 👏👏👏
Great job
This wins the internet.
Good Stuff. I just recently got into wet plate and have shot a few dozen plates so far. Pretty steep learning curve at first but I feel I’m starting to get the hang of it finally. I love about 45 mins from Gettysburg and visit often. I’ve seen Rob’s images at one of the antique stores in downtown Gettysburg and they looks great. Maybe one of these days I’ll run into Rob and we could talk shop.
Hello, I watched and liked. Still I have a question, please. I want to reenact taking a photo with a collodium wet plate in the nature. No building in the area. Did a photographer in 1882 had to take a little tent with him in order to apply the chemical on the glass before taking the photo, and would he use the same tent or cover as a darkroom to fixate the picture? How can he get light in that tent without electricity? I read about a red glass window.. Thank you for a reply. Also link to see such a field use dark room on old photos.. or reenacted.
I ran into him with my wife and son 3 days later at Spangler's Spring and he was very standoffish, almost rude when I asked him a few quick questions about his business. Maybe I caught him on a bad day. He seems very nice and friendly here.
Wet plate stressed the hell out of me when I do it but the results are amazing, but after several tests and fails of course because each plate takes 15 mins
Wow thank you for sharing this! I always wanted to know the process of photography in the 1860s.
That is awesome ..
that was fantastic wow thanks very much
I learned something about Civil War cameras! Thanks! ( What not have the plate nearer? )
Wow this is so fascinating
I just went to Gettysburg two weeks ago!
"Littlefinger"'s twin brother from "Game of Thrones"!!
Very interesting I had no idea it was that complicated.
Looks like half plate? E&HT camera so I assume not a reproduction. FL= 8 inch lens?
Very interesting. At 8:32, you mean to say "spherical aberration", not "abbreviation".
Where do you buy a camera like that.
Try Ebay
What product was then used to blacken the backside? Was it black paint or tar?
Very cool
I have to admit the camera work is a new one on me. I was so dizzy after watching I had to lay down.
What year is that Panhead?
Pretty cool
Most of the Mathew Brady glass plates ended up in greenhouses. The memory of civil war bloodshed became very unpopular in the decades after.
That's a myth, most of them did not end up in green houses. Garry Adelman debunks this many times. Most of them ended up at the Library of Congress and some were found at the home of his nephew. But it is true that after the war the photos lost their popularity.
It sounds like you're trying to speedrun it.