WILSON, N.C. — A fresh take on one of the world’s earliest forms of photography can be seen on Friday, Nov. 6, at the Barton Art Galleries. Wilmington-based commercial and fine arts photographer Harry Taylor will visit the galleries for a lecture and demonstration on the tintype technique, from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. This event is open to the public at no charge, and the community is invited to attend.
Dating back to the 1850s, the tintype process is a chemical emulsion that exposes a negative on a thin metal plate coated with dark lacquer. Tintypes were widely used during the American Civil War, since they could be developed in only a minute or two. This was much faster than other popular photographic methods of the time, and so tintypes were considered the “instant cameras” of the mid- to late-1800s. Despite its name, there is no tin in a tintype. Instead, photos are typically exposed on a plate of iron.
In addition to his commercial work, Taylor specializes in the earlier wet plate collodion process to create his tintypes (the other being the subsequent and more convenient dry collodion process). This technique relies on large format cameras and a portable darkroom for on-site processing. His work explores the American South, time, and memory, all while living it. Taylor’s photography has been featured in a number of print and Internet publications, including “Our State,” “Coastal Living,” Slate.com, and the NPR radio pictures blog, as well as on the television show “Sleepy Hollow.” Recently, his photos were exhibited at the Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington.
Taylor earned his Associate’s degree in Photography at Chowan College (now Chowan University), and his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Photography at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.
The Barton Art Galleries, located inside Case Art Building on the campus of Barton College, are open Monday–Friday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. For additional information, contact (252) 399-6477 or artgalleries@barton.edu.
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