"michelle" 2008

i am afraid to ask what is with her collar bone area.....

Silicon chest implants I believe...

another powerful photograph ... sort of illustrates the idea that you can become what you believe you are ...

That's really some image.

I like the image David. Do you think the dark spots are from oversaturation of silver iodide in the sensitizing bath? I wonder what the human race will look like in another century?

Oh my goodness... I didn't notice the top of her ears till I looked the third time. Yikes. Don't you have to wonder what took her there? (and I don't mean aliens)

David - wonderful photograph! And, thank you for showing an image with a technical imperfection, it is heartening to me.

There is a question that I have to ask, are going to digitally remove the spots from the image? The spots are distraction from your wonderful photograph, and unless you are able to photograph this woman again, I would encourage to do what it takes for you be happy with this photograph and not bury on some shelf because of the technical flaw.

Joe, Yes it does come from a build up of iodides in the silver bath...I'd kept that bath going for 4 years by just filtering and replenishing without ever sunning...till that weekend. Then it got ugly...most of the work was ruined.

Jay, I only exhibit the original tintype plates, so digital retouching wouldn't really help me unless I started making inkjet prints (unlikely). I accept (and like) the inherent flaws in the wet plate process, unless they clearly diminish the power of the work. In this case it's close...but I am so compelled by the strangeness of her body modifications that I overlook both the black spots and the blur which also bugs me a little. The blur comes from the 1 minute exposure late in the day.

I have this up right now in a show in Provincetown MA, even with my reservations...

-David

even with the black spots,
this is a stunning image!

thank you for posting it ...

john