Making a Tintype

Process Historian Mark Osterman demonstrates the making of a Civil War-era tintype.

[Peace-qmsp]

The art of writing with light, beautiful

[outremer]

Thank you for this. I came here after scrolling through all of Abraham Lincoln's photos and was amazed at the level of detail and resolution they were able to capture in the 19th century.

[jan]

amazing!! i love the long processing, this video is making me love old school photography more!! thanks for sharing!!

[JWheeler]

I still rather enjoy this video every time I come across it. I would love to take a workshop there.

[TheLisaGate]

I’ve collected a couple hundred tintypes over the years. This was a fantastic video! I loved seeing the process.

[elwyncrawford]

Old time magic! Wonderful video. Thank you ...

[Rstars]

"Now let's do a selfie together!"

[Trundlebedtales]

This is absolutely wonderful to share. I so want a tintype made of me. It's one of my life goals.

[robertgoidel]

I noticed that the image is made into a positive. How is the reversal method achieved? Are you familiar with the later paper ferrotype of photography achieved at State Fairs or Carnivals from the 1950's to the early 1960's? Always wondered about the chemistry involved. Great Video! Thank you!

[floridaironclad]

Awesome banjo picking. This video will help me shoot better photos, thanks

[flecktarn]

im glad to see people doing this....this is super cool

[ambrotype]

Mark Osterman is truly the modern master of the wet plate process
as well as many historic processes.

[ShaddySoldier]

Makes such a clean and crisp photo that digital and film can't capture. The other two are good in their own rights but tin types have that special something to em

[MigdalBaval]

@drhtcl No - he is carnishing the plate. This is to protect the delicate collodion surface on he plate to make the image last longer. Otherwise, it would get all nasty and scratched up as time went by. Another upside is that the varnish contains oil of lavender, so it smells lovely =)

[zoeymelf]

Some random answers to questions people have posed below.... @dodphoto, you can purchase the chemistry from Bostick and Sullivan, @ flashmx Wood holders should last quite some time, the material that people use is called trophy plate aluminum, @picaticatara. Tintype images can last over a hundred years.. @ georgeeastmanhouse. Thanks for posting this video! You guys make it look so easy!

[RogersPhotographyGuilford]

1:52 yes I always use that method to hold up the "stiffs" I photograph (levity: yes I know the technique so don't even bother...). Stunning work!

[jlimarquez]

Mark is a referent in a wet plate world, He makes easy a complicated process.
Thanks for the video is very "clear".

[darthsidious]

hahaha i poured silver all over my hand the first time i took one of these photos. i assist.. at least to my best capabilities a tin type photographer who i adore. his equipment is amazing! i would love to eventually have my own camera but failed to realize the massive investment this trae takes. especially to the History junkies that like doing everything in complete period conditions.

[sgsan]

I thought he went to develop the photo after @0.45 and realised only later that he was just getting started.

[MrFritz]

Mark, what a nice clean image. I'd like to see more from other tintypists. There are so many smoky images from practitioners. I'm blessed to have had such fine teachers like Sabo and Dunniway. Kind of spoils one after that. Always appreciated your's and Francis's as well. - Fritz Kirsch