Daguerreotypes

These photos were edited to emulate the Daguerreotype style of photography. Daguerreotypes were the first types of photos to be successful and popular. Authentic daguerreotypes are direct positives of an image on a metal plate that are fragile enough to be rubbed off, and require ten to fifteen minutes of exposure time to capture the image. Daguerreotypes were invented circa 1837 by their namesake, Louis Daguerre. The following photos were edited using the Photoshop program to include many of the characteristics of a daguerreotype.

This photo was taken by the port near Waterfront Park in downtown Portland. I chose to make this photo into a daguerreotype because the faded wood, climbing ivy, and lack of modern technology give it an ageless quality and therefore more credibility as a daguerreotype.

This photo was also taken at Waterfront Park, and features the iconic Hawthorne Bridge. Again, I chose this photo because it can reasonably be applied to a 19th century atmosphere.

This photo shows a few books on the bookshelf in my living room. I like the timeless quality of books and chose to represent them through a daguerreotype to emphasize that particular characteristic.

This photo features the shoes of my friend Molly, taken as we were walking in downtown Portland. I chose to photograph her shoes because they embody a vintage and antiquated look that is well-represented through a daguerreotype.

This photo was taken in the Columbia River Gorge during a hike, and shows a mountainous land form framed by evergreens. I liked this photo because of the prevalence of nature in it, and also it is very characteristic of my home, the Pacific Northwest. Additionally, the lack of modern buildings makes it a perfect candidate for a daguerreotype.