photos

[roger]

how can i take a piture of myself so it comes out like a old timey like some of the avtars?
roger 4th. ohio

[Radar]

Find one of the period photographers at an event and get your likeness struck. May also find a photographer that does sepia pictures.

[Spinster]

Roger,

Those are 'wet plate' or 'tintype' period process images, produced by a chemical process on a glass or metal plate.


Larger regional events will have someone making these plates. Depending on the plate size, expect to spend from $30 to $60 for one image. You'll be able to copy it on the scanner of your computer.

[SackCoat]

Plate photography is the best way.

If you have photo editing software, such as Photo Shop, you can make a modern photo look "similar" to the old plate type photos.

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Roger,

Those are 'wet plate' or 'tintype' period process images, produced by a chemical process on a glass or metal plate.


Larger regional events will have someone making these plates. Depending on the plate size, expect to spend from $30 to $60 for one image. You'll be able to copy it on the scanner of your computer.Yep, what she said. Ambrotypes (chemical on glass) and Ferrotypes (chemical on metal plate) can be made at many regional events, as there are over a dozen artists who travel the country. Just some of those folks include Wendell Decker, Wil Dunaway, Del Hilbert, Rob Gibson, and our own Forum owner Robert Szabo. Do a Google search for those names and I'm sure you'll find emails, websites, etc that can tell you where they are or will be

[Tkessen]

Does anybody know how much authentic photographers usually charge for a portrait?
Taylor Kessen

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Does anybody know how much authentic photographers usually charge for a portrait?
Taylor KessenEach photographer is slightly different, and prices vary with the size of the plate. The average lately seems to be between $30 for a 1/6 plate, to $100 for a full plate. I just paid $40 for a 1/4 plate last weekend at a Florida event

[roger]

dose any body know about a guy who used a dark type of plastic over a blk. and wht. poleride picture? the pic came out really convinceing and only took about 10min. to do. ive seen him at one or 2 funtions has any one heard of him?
r.4th ohio ovi

[FloridaHoosier]

dose any body know about a guy who used a dark type of plastic over a blk. and wht. poleride picture? the pic came out really convinceing and only took about 10min. to do. ive seen him at one or 2 funtions has any one heard of him?
r.4th ohio ovi

Moderator note: You will be taken more seriously and find more people willing to assist in your queries if you would slow down, take your time, and use proper grammar, sentence structure, and punctuation when posting on here. Thank you from the moderators and the general reading public...

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

Historical Period wet plate collodion type photographers aside, in the Modern World there are as mentioned the Photo Shop pictures where the contrast, lighting, shadows, and "grayness" can be fudged on a modern color print. When shrunk down to the size of avatars they loose so much that they make for okay avatars.

:) :)

The other being talked about are the so-called "old timey" tourist type images done by a number of vendors that "soup" a Polaroid images of tourists often wearing some pieces/parts of uniforms or clothing and a weapon or two.

I do not know if he is still in business, but a few years ago, IIRC, a Canton, Ohio modern photo vendor was running a business taking modern pictures and "reworking them." You might try contacting Mr. Morris, the Canton sutler as he had run a lisitng for the photogrpaher.

Or, sometimes a helpful lad will just volunteer to Photo Shop an image you send them via email.

CHS

[mike51tenn]

Not to take anything away from the fine work some of the leading tintype and wetplate artists are doing but I like this site for playing around with pics. It would never replace a real period photograph technique but it is fun to play with.

http://labs.wanokoto.jp/olds

[Pvt. Sanders]

I would recommend Wendell Decker. He has been doing it for a long time. He is very knowledgable and pays close attention to detail. He won't even sell you the picture unless he is happy with the finished product. Truly an artists.

Kyle W. Sanders
42nd Ga Vol Inf Co B

[roger]

how do i get this guy mr. morris?

[mike51tenn]

Don't know how current this is:

Vintage Image Studios
Wendell R. Decker
1320 Oliver St.
Bowling Green, Ky., 42104
ambro92@hotmail.com

[harley_davis]

The fellow that did the photo used in my avatar is Dave Rambo, Pipestone Minnesota. If you get into upper Midwest events he is quite often there. I am certain he will be at the Pipestone event this August. He is on Facebook I know. Does great wet plates, some of his work has been used in recent movie productions.
Regards,

[Ephraim_Zook]

I remember a guy, many years ago now, who did photos using 4 x 5 Polaroid film. Polaroid made a film called Type 56 Sepia. I'm sure it's been out of production for a long time now.

[roger]

who is mr. morris?:???:

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

who is mr. morris?:???:Todd Morris, the proprietor of Morris Clothiers (www.morris-clothiers.com)

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

how can i take a piture of myself so it comes out like a old timey like some of the avtars?
roger 4th. ohio

Another option: www.uglymucket.com

[mmescher]

The problem with taking a modern picture and making it look like a period image is the way the chemicals reacted to colors. To get some idea of what can happen, I'd suggest you go to an article on our website http://www.raggedsoldier.com/photo_article.pdf that discusses wetplate photography and color (you are welcome to visit the rest of the Ragged Soldier website while you are there). I would have you note, especially, the comparison of the members of AGSAS and the woman in the bottom left with the blue dress with stripes on the sleeve. In modern gray scale, the sleeve is very dark and doesn't contrast much with the stripes. In the wetplate, the sleeves just jump out at you. Also look at the two women on the right, one with a dark pink dress and the other with a dark pink apron. In greyscale, they appear almost identical but the wetplate they are completely different.

I've played with Photoshop trying to reproduce the appearance of period images and haven't been able to do it. Admittedly, we have an older version and maybe newer ones can reproduce the period appearance. But I'd have to test it quite a bit first before I would believe it.

If you want the image you have to look like a period image for your impression, I would avoid the seppia tone. I'd expect the browning is the result of age acting on the chemicals just as age turns ink brown. A civil war soldier certainly would not have a 150 year old picture (especially since that would be before photography was invented).

Rather than try to doctor a modern image, just spring for the wetplate. It's an investment in quality and it keeps the photographers in business. This latter is important if we want them to be around to serve the reenacting community. They have big bucks invested in their equipment and, if we patronize them, they will remain available to take our pictures.

Michael Mescher

[roger]

who is mr. morris?

[FloridaHoosier]

who is mr. morris?Please read the posts within this thread. That was answered back in post #18