Tintype photo shoot - Images from an afternoon tintype shoot (One image contains modest nudity)

Tintype was the photographic medium of choice in the mid-late 1800's. It is also sometimes called a ferrotype.

A friend of mine has constructed a Tintype photo lab on wheels and it is really entertaining. The following images and the narrative are from a visit he made to my house.

It was a gathering of a few friends and we got a little silly with the photo shoot, eating and drinking and playing with toxic photo chemicals.

This is NOT a how to on tintype.

One thing I will say is that the tin type makes me look about 10 years younger. This image is 4x5 inches, and was shot with a medium format field camera. (image shot by my friend)

This is me on metal. 

Have a look at the camera from the backside. 

When the photographer composes the image it appears inverted on the ground glass focusing plane.

It is really quite fascinating, the camera draws a lot of attention and people LOVE being photographed with it.

Two of my friends are accomplished aerial yoga instructors and aerial sling performers. Here you see two images of these women up in a tree practicing. The images are floating in a chemical wash bath.

Speaking of chemicals here you see some mad scientist action. What you see here is a dark enamel being applied to the metal plate. The metal plate with have photosensitive material applied next, that will occur in the dark.

Since much of this work must be done on site and while the chemistry on the metal image plate is still wet, a portable darkroom is must. My friend constructed his to be urban friendly and he tows it with his bike, some photographers have even turned buses and moving vans into giant tintype labs on the go. 

Here you  see the photographer working under the light canopy while one of the subjects looks on. 

The photographer in action. This camera is really old and really cool, everything smacks of ancient.

Everyone loves playing with the camera and looking thru it. (almost as much as posing for it)

Another toy people can't keep their hands off of is the light reflector. Is the funnest thing to f around with.

Looking sharp brother, nice shadow man.

Working under a cloth to get the image in focus and developing in the portable darkroom is hot work, my man is drenched in sweat. This is hard work on 95 degree day.

Fueling the tintype shoot with snacks, drinks and plenty of conversations around the subject of net-positive urban planning. Summertime in Minneapolis is simply the best.

Back to the garden to shoot one last subject.

Here is a sample of a few images as they sit out to dry. They have a very unique look and feel. The bottom image is of me pretending to be dead, why? Who knows; this old camera brings out some weirdness.

I have to say this was a blast. 

We finished up the evening relaxing in the backyard with a Coen bros film and some serious chess as well.