Ambrotype photography is a photographic process that was developed in the mid-19th century. It is a type of wet plate collodion photography that produces a positive image on a sheet of glass.
Frederick Scott Archer invented the process in 1851. It became popular among photographers for the next two decades. This was until improvements lead to the much better dry plate process.
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Steffen Diemer
How Are Ambrotypes Created?
To create an ambrotype photograph, a sheet of glass is coated with a thin layer of collodion. The nitrocellulose and ether created a syrupy solution. The collodion is then sensitized with silver nitrate, making it sensitive to light.
The glass plate is then exposed in a camera and developed immediately after the exposure while the plate was still wet. By pouring the developer solution on the plate, a chemical reaction is initialized. This created a positive image. The final step involves fixing the image with a fixer solution, making it permanent and preventing it from fading.
What Makes Ambrotype Photography Important?
Ambrotypes are known for their high level of detail and clarity, making them a popular choice for portrait photography. They were often produced in small sizes and mounted in decorative cases for display. Ambrotypes were also used for scientific and documentary purposes. They could capture fine details that other photographic processes could not.
This style of chemical photography is like other styles, including daguerreotypes, tintypes, and albumen prints. The process was developed as an improvement over the earlier daguerreotype process. These produced images on polished metal plates. Ambrotypes, with their glass support, were lighter, more durable, and less expensive to produce.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Ambrotype Photography
Ambrotype photography can produce highly detailed and sharp images. Because the image sits on glass, it can be viewed in high resolution and is less likely to fade over time. Additionally, ambrotypes have a unique aesthetic quality. Their slightly translucent appearance brings a delicate tonality.
This style of photography is complex and needs specialized equipment and chemicals. The process also requires a darkroom and a skilled practitioner. Both reasons make it less accessible to amateur photographers.
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What Came After Ambrotype?
One of the biggest jumps in chemical photography after the ambrotype was the development of the dry plate process. Before the 1870s, photographers had to prepare their photographic plates shortly before use. This was a time-consuming and complicated process. The dry plate process, however, allowed photographers to buy pre-coated plates that could be stored and used at a later date.
Richard Leach Maddox developed the dry plate process in 1871. It involved coating a glass plate with a dry emulsion made of silver bromide and gelatin. The plate could be exposed in a camera and developed using a standard developer solution. This process greatly simplified the photographic process and made it more accessible to amateurs.
The dry plate process allowed longer exposure times. This opened up new possibilities for capturing motion and low-light situations. In turn, there was development in faster lenses and improvements in camera design. It paved the way for other photographic developments such as roll film and digital photography.
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Overall, ambrotypes represent an important milestone in the development of chemical photography. Its high level of detail and unique aesthetic qualities have made it an enduring art form. Its influence is still seen in contemporary photography.