Daguerreotype Essay

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DAGUERREOTYPE

Daguerre made photography practical. A well exposed Daguerreotype was possibly the most beautiful photograph. A daguerreotype showed brilliance (sliver surface) and detail. (Burchfield) The definition of daguerreotype is” the spontaneous reproduction of images received in the camera obscura; a chemical and physical process which allowed natures to reproduce herself.” (Clarke)
The Daguerreotype process was actually born from the process developed by a lithographic enthusiast Frenchman Joseph Nicephore Niepce. Niepce worked with pewter plates in the camera obscura. His sun writing produced fuzzy images. Niepce partnered with Daguerre but died before their collaboration could be completed. Daguerre took the process and disguised or removed any elements of Niepce and remade into what we know as Daguerreotype. Using Daguerre’s method required the photographed to remain still ten to twenty minutes. Daguerreotypes could not be duplicated because the plate was …show more content…

Talbert was interested in photos being made inside the camera. Although his interest were varied and Talbert procrastinated in proving his process, he did reveal is process to the world before Daguerre. Ambrotype became available in the 1850’s and was a faster cheaper photographic process. (http://inventors.about.com/od/dstartinventions/a/Daguerreotype_3.htm)
Unfortunately from the start the process of daguerreotype faced its ending. The process had a significant twenty-year reign, but it was a catalyst for numerous competitors. The other drawback is while the process was revolutionary, it created one of a kind images. Redaguerrotyping could produce copies, which were also produced by engraving and lithography. Duplication was possible using daguerreotype but not ideal. The process includes the following five steps:
The process of daguerreotype includes: (The Daguerreotype

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