Serious science, with history., January 25, 2002

An excellent study of a somewhat ignored area of early photographic practice. The authors are unusually detailed about the science of the process, some of which isn't really understood even today. But the narrative of the personalities involved in the early days is used to great effect throughtout. Daguerreotype isn't really my field, but I'm now fascinated!

That is what the head of my fine art department told me when I was majoring in fine art photography years ago. This type of photographic collection and historical explanation is a part of American art history and not to be overlooked. The guys who worked in the mercury vapored darkrooms basically sacrificed their lives for some of this stuff. If you ever see these at estate sales, etc. buy them and put them away, there are only a limited number of them floating around from an era gone by. Great book, must have for the serious photographer.