Walter Hugo's Life Size Ambrotypes

[Davec101]

Wrote a mini review of this really interesting wet plate show on at the Shizaru gallery in London's Mayfair, only two days left to view so if you are in the area this is a must see. Blog post is here also has a video of how they were created.

 

[MDR]

I hate to say it but I am not sure that this photograph are all that good. I've seen a lot of better done wetplate work and if it weren't for the process and the subjects fame nobody would take notice of this work. Still I am glad that Walter Hugo used analogue material. Thanks for the link.

Dominik

 

[Davec101]

I hate to say it but I am not sure that this photograph are all that good. I've seen a lot of better done wetplate work and if it weren't for the process and the subjects fame nobody would take notice of this work. Still I am glad that Walter Hugo used analogue material. Thanks for the link.

Dominik

It is my understanding that creating wet plates at 20”x16” inches is quite challenging this would reflect the artefacts on the plates. I guess you have to see them in person to really appreciate them. I think the premise of the show was quite interesting, of all the wet plates on show there is one person who it would be appropriate to call ‘famous’, that is the upcoming actor Eddie Redmayne who featured In ‘ My week with Marylyn'

 

[Allen Friday]

Thanks for posting. I have done a few large wet plates, and I can attest that once you get above 11 x14, the difficulties grow exponentially. The "artifacts" of the process do not bother me, I think they add to the images. I would love to see these in person. The video at the end is quite interesting.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

Hey thanks for the link! Awesome video.

 

[MDR]

No question about it large plates are extremely difficult to coat but that's a technical challenge and not an artistic one. Sally Mann's work comes to mind when I think about using process artefacts to enhance the works emotional content. Maybe I was beeing a little harsh in my first comment but I just came back from a week looking at 19th century wetplates every day from 9am to 6pm and they were mostly flawless even the large ones.

Again thanks for the link

Dominik