A Visit To the Photographer (or, Having Our Likeness Taken)

I love it when reenactments will have a tintype photographer ready and willing to take the likeness of a period-dressed participant. To watch these artists work their magic in creating photographic images from the tin plates and a few chemicals with water simply amazes me. You would think that in our day and age of digital technology something as antiquated as this process of making pictures wouldn't hold any modern fellow's attention in the least, but it certainly does for me. But then, I'm not necessarily a modern fellow, am I? At least not to the full extent of what a modern fellow is.
Maybe it's because it takes a human to create this image instead of a computer. Yeah, yeah, I know - humans create computer programs to give us the means to have our digital cameras and photo processing right at our fingertips. With the program I own - Paint Shop Pro - I can do most anything to my digital pictures with the click of a mouse, including making them look like ancient tintypes, create ghost photos, brighten or darken images, take people or unwanted items out of the pictures (or add to them), repair old scratchy pictures, create sketches...the list could go on and on.
But observing a tintype master at work is an amazing thing. I suppose it's not unlike watching a carpenter build a beautiful quality cabinet in comparison to a put-together-puzzle-like press board piece-of-crap shelf from the local convenience store - not that I think of Paint Shop Pro as a piece of crap. I hope you understand what I'm trying to say here. 19th century photography is a craft that, as I stated above, simply amazes me.
So, won't you join me on my digital photographic journey showing picture-taking in its infancy?

These are just a few of the chemicals I saw being used in the preparation process of having an image taken of my daughter and I. There were also chemicals used to develop the tintype after we spent time sitting in front of the camera.

Here is the "dark room" used in preparing the tin plate. Don't ask me what the photographer does in here. He was pretty busy with not only photographing his subjects, but speaking to the modern visitors. Though I heard him explain a little about the process to them, I didn't want to butt into his presentation. I also didn't think to have paper and  pencil to write down what he was saying.

 

This is what the inside of his "dark room" looks like.

Timing is everything. One one-thousand, two one-thousand, three one-thousand...

 

This is the camera. I was told it's an original from 1864. Kind of intimidating isn't it? Can you imagine having your image taken for the first time back in the 1860's, never before seeing anything like this? Yikes!

This is how my daughter and I posed for our tintype.

The photographer's assistant made sure we were centered properly.

Out came the photographer from his dark room preparation to put the plate into the camera.

It took a bit of time for preparing to take our picture. For one thing, since we were outside, the sun light could wreak havoc on the whole process.

 

Okay - here we go! Time for our image to be immortalized.

This is how it looked to us, and...

  

...this is how it looks to the photographer. Well, in a way - - this wasn't us here. The photographer allowed me to photograph what it looks like under the covering while he took a young lady's image. Not only is the image in the camera upside down, but it's reversed!!

This is the young lady who's image you see in the above picture.

  

Anyhow - with our image taken, the photographer's assistant begins the development process. Besides the chemicals, water is also included in all of this.

It seems that pouring water onto the just taken image is the key to the development.

And then she swished the water around, making sure that the tin negative continued to be mixed.

  

Hey! Look what's happening...!!

How cool is that?? Much, much cooler than having a computer program take care of it, eh?

And voila! Here is the fully developed tintype of my daughter and I, taken on June 8, 2013. Is it perfect? Well, to be honest, yes it is! It's exactly what I wanted (it looks stretched because I took a picture of it with my, ahem, digital camera in order to show you all how it turned out. I took the picture on an angle to prevent glare..)

So, there you have it! A trip to see the circuit-riding photographer. No matter how often I watch the process of 1860's photography, it never ceases to amaze me.

Thanks must go to Kristen - the girl in the blue dress - for she took a number of photos you see here with my camera. Awesome job!!

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Memorial Day Weekend 2013 at Greenfield Village

It takes weeks of preparation.
The anticipation is high and the excitement builds.
You can't wait for the day to come.
When it finally gets here, it's such a whirlwind that - bam! - it's over before you know it.
No, I'm not talking about Christmas here; I'm speaking of the three day Civil War Remembrance at Greenfield Village that takes place over Memorial Day Weekend.
This really is perhaps the most anticipated event on our calendar.
And this year was not a let down.
The weather, for two of the three days was probably the best weather anyone could ask for: sunny with highs in the upper 60's. The third day, however, we had a down pouring of rain for the afternoon and tear down, though up until around 1:00 it wasn't too bad.
Anyhow, I have a chock full of photographs here for you to enjoy, most taken by yours truly but a few taken by others.

Our campsite is the one on the left, with another member on the right. We in the civilian part of the 21st Michigan encircle a grove of mulberry trees that Henry Ford planted back in the 1930's. The building you see on the far left is the Hanks Silk Mill built in 1810.

Though my tent and fly are pretty basic, some of our members go way beyond what many others do.

A friend of mine made me a pretty authentic checkerboard from an old oak teacher's desk that was being tossed out. Here you see two of our 21st Michigan members playing a rousing game!

Period music was supplied from Mrs. Jones and Miss Cary. Mrs. Cary added her beautiful vocals.

Yes, I portray the postmaster and, though it's not visible here, I have a neat little period set up with the pigeon holes for the letters. I also have replica Civil War era stationary and pen & ink to show the visitors a little of life on the homefront. My wife enjoys spinning wool into yard and will spend most of her time doing so, much to the delight of the visitors and friends alike.

Here is another shot of my wife doing what she loves. She will explain the process of spinning from sheep to shawl, including passing around raw wool so visitors can feel it with the oils still there. She also will let the children card the wool using carding paddles, which they enjoy.

Michigan's own Senator Jacob Howard gives a speech to his constituents about his plans for an amendment to the Constitution to outlaw slavery. Dave Tennies has been portraying the senator for over a decade and does an amazing job in his presentations.

I thought I'd just throw a photo in here so you, too, can experience the wonderful view we all had camping in the grove of mulberry trees. They were planted especially for the silk mill (scroll up a bit to see a photo showing a portion of the mill) in hopes of  providing food for the young silkworms needed to produce the cocoons. This production, however, is no longer presented at the mill, as the time and energy it took to produce the silk was too time consuming for the little amount provided.

Mrs. Paladino hired on a domestic servant. Margaret is still learning the ropes but began her new occupation on the right foot and, I believe, will be a wonderful help to her employer.

This wonderful family joins us from Ohio. We have multiple members who are from the Buckeye State and we welcome them with open arms.

These lovely ladies are not with the 21st Michigan, but are very good friends of many in our group. My wife & I consider them among our best friends.

Our newest member just happens to be a period photographer, and he does a great job in his craft.

During the course of our three day stay at Greenfield Village we always make sure to dine at least one time at the 1832 Eagle Tavern.

By "we" I mean nearly two dozen of us! What a patriotic picture, eh?

More of our friends from Ohio joined us here.

Here is my family, including my new daughter-in-law! She is not a reenactor but allowed herself to be dressed in period clothing as a favor to me for this occasion. Thanks Samm!

A close-up of my family: this is how those in the future will see us!

As you can see, we all took up a section inside this wonderful old building.

The Dressmaker's Shop, run by Kim and Jim Lynch, is the place to go to get accurate period needs when one wants to dress authentically.

Speaking of dressing authentically, a period fashion show, hosted by Beth Turza, was held. Beth certainly knows her stuff when it comes to period-correct clothing!

And the fashion shows always draw large crowds. It's one of the most popular of the extra attractions during this weekend.

And Beth always explains in great detail the whys and wherefores of period clothing

It's not often that Beth includes mourning fashion in her shows. But on this day she did. But I wonder...who is it behind the veil...?

Why...it's Kristen! Kristem has a blog as well called The Victorian Needle. She is also another proud 21st Michigan member.

The St. John's were in line for the fashion show. This mother of a recent high school graduate has been reenacting since she was around 4 years old!

Yes, I was in the fashion show as well. And so was my good friend Sheri. Sheri is part of the wonderful civilian contingency of the 24th Michigan.

Larissa went on the stage with her son to show a toddler's dress. many in the audience did not know that boys wore dresses until they were "breached" at 4 or 5 years old.

Another group of lovely young ladies took part in the fashion show. I've known these women for a bit but don't know which unit they are in. They do a fine job, however, don't they?

Here are some of the military men of the 21st, relaxing "just before the battle."

Ryan drives the horses as the men prepare for battle

The Union army in formation.

A fine looking group of men.

To be fair, I would like to show a couple of Confederate photos. The men portraying the southern boys do a great job and most get pretty heavy into the character of a rebel soldier.

Three fine rebel gentlemen

The good folks at Greenfield Village always throw the reenactors a fine ball.

And everyone wears their finest ball dresses and suits

Everyone had a  - - wait for it - - BALL!

Lovett Hall is beautiful and was built specifically for ball dancing.

The horses were corralled near the 1870's Sarah Jordan Boarding House.

Waiting for the Memorial Day service

The military men line up behind the 1848 Logan County Courthouse. They are preparing to march in a very solimn parade to honor all the military men and women - past and present - in a beautiful remembrance ceremony. By the way, this courthouse was where Abraham Lincoln, as a circuit-riding lawyer, once practiced law.

We civilians also marched and took part in the memorial service.

Our own Kristen (on the right) was one of the women who brought the wreath to the front of the village green during the Remembrance/Decoration Day ceremony. I love that many of the women that take part are dressed in various stages of mourning. It just makes sense in this situation.

Mrs. Paladino, on the left, also took part, as she has done for the last few years. Actually, there are at least a dozen or more women who pay this special tribute.

Kristen misses her beau so much. He was killed at Chancellorsville just a few weeks before. But she knows he is with her...

Finally, here is my wife and I. I am so thankful to have a family that enjoys this time-travel hobby nearly as much as I do. I am truly blessed.

The Civil War Remembrance was, as always, spectacular. Yes, we are "on display" for the 30,000 or so patrons who pay to come to visit us over the three day weekend, but that's part of the fun. This cannot be put into the same category as a typical reenactment mainly because of the crowds and the atmosphere; it is very festive, especially when the weather is with us (as it was, for the most part, this year).
And to be surrounded by all of the historical structures only adds to the whole feel.
Yep - I'm already thinking about next year...and I still have planty of reenactments yet ahead for this year!











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