Daguerreotype
Being one of the first successful forms of photography, it is appropriate to start with a daguerreotype. Daguerreotype images are made on a silvered copper plate treated to make the surface light sensitive. Hand coloring was applied to this one maybe to enhance the lace pattern and objects the sitter is holding. At this time, the applied color was usually a mix of oil paints and a binder such as gelatin or gum bichromate. The noticeable rings around the painted surfaces is a result of the metal plate reacting to the applied paint. Deterioration can be beautiful and alchemistic as the rings enhance the importance of these added details.
The overall photographic object is in an ornate frame and matted in a commonly used French style called passe-partout. Portraits were common for daguerreotypes because of the long exposure period needed. Depending on the time period and light conditions, sitters had to hold still for 1-2min. Otherwise, the result would be a blurred image. Framed photographs in homes were still a rarity at the time. This was the first time in human history that people were represented with such precision and, thus, not to be forgotten.
Daguerreotypes are often difficult to photograph because of the mirror-like quality of the highly polished metal, making the image difficult to view or appear in the negative depending on the viewing angle.
