Digital vs Colldion.. No Contest!

[Spike]

Well, the colldion / ambrotype image (I have no idea what that is) certainly is different, it's interesting. Rather harsh due to the high contrast. Have any "gentler" colldion images to share? I'm thinking more evenly lit or with a softer feel to them.

Spike

As most of you know, my friend from college is doing colldion and ambrotypes.
He recently emailed me two portraits he did using his Nikon D2H and one that he took using the ambrotype process. So I thought I'd share them with you.

Both are good photographs, but the ambrotype shows an incredible amount of character and has a quality of light that is unreal.
He has a small studio set up in his garage, I hope I can post some photographs of him making a photograph soon. It is quite a process.
You can check out more of his latest images at his site.
http://www.collodion.com

Here are a few of his words from an email exchange we had recently about his work.
""It seems that Collodion has its own story to tell about people. I'm beginning to grasp the concept of what I am doing. It's about social identity and individual existence - the process refines what I "see" in the sitters I photograph. The people in my photographs have more presence - more being, than they would have if you met them in everyday life. I'm not simply a social observer, but a kind of existential diagnostician.""

[Spike]

Oops, I just noticed the link to your work, Quinn. I see some of the photos have more contrast than others. That's what I figured, you must be able to create various moods depending on what you're aiming for.

Spike

Have any "gentler" colldion images to share? I'm thinking more evenly lit or with a softer feel to them.

Spike

[berrywise]

How does this form of photography create something you couldn't do with digital? From your post you seem to describe your photography as one where the medium doesn't matter but the connection to the subject does.

I'm also intruiged by your method of critiquing photographs, What would you say (critique) about the image that was posted? Sometimes hearing what the photographer has to say about their own photographs can open the eyes of others.

[Sebastian]

Brian,

This is not about Digital vs. whatever at all, the second image is better because of framing, lighting and contrast, stuff that can be done with any medium. Two different settings, two different looks, and two different proceses, no way to compare them whatsoever.

Sure, there is a certain quality to the work that can not be reproduced by other processes, but to say that it's better than those is missing the point, IMO.

GJphoto,

Welcome. I think the process that you use and the way it forces you to approach and view your subjects will let you provide a very unique viewpoint on this site. Looking forward to seeing and reading more form you.

Take care guys!

[mtbbrian]

Not at all Seb..
My intent was to show the differences between the two process', one from the 21th Century process and one the 19th Century process.
I also wanted to show a different process, one that is done by a handful of people worldwide.

I only titled it such, because the color image was shot with a digital camera.

Brian

[Sebastian]

Not at all Seb..
My intent was to show the differences between the two process', one from the 21th Century process and one the 19th Century process.
I also wanted to show a different process, one that is done by a handful of people worldwide.

I only titled it such, because the color image was shot with a digital camera.

Brian

I understand...

[Peter_AUS]

Well now I have a much better understanding of the image now it has been explained a little more. As this is the Viewfinder Forum and not the Critiqueing Forum I wasn't Critiqueing the photo at all, I was commenting on what I visually saw when first looking at the images.

Still looks haunting though. I think I remember seeing these types of photos of "Dead People", late 1800's, probably what triggered off my ageing memories of things.