> ATTENTION! This is not a flame.
Neither is this. (Although I may be heading down a track that is of interest
to nobody but myself.) I'm not trying to attack the way you make pictures,
but I would like to understand it a little more.
> I'm really suprised that someone (and in an art department!) on this
> mailing list would ask this question. I will, however, give a few of
> my own personal reasons:
I don't think it's a dumb question. I've never tried wet plate, but it seems
obvious that it's a big hassle. I assume that you feel the end results
justify the hassle. (Otherwise, you probably wouldn't do it.) I think there
are two legitimate questions that can be asked. (1) What are the unique
technical characteristics of wet plate. In other words, you obviously like
the image. Can you put into words what you like about it? (I realize there
are some major problems associated with discussing the artistic side of
photography in a medium dominated by text.) (2) What are the artistic
motivations that lead you to use wet plate as opposed to some other medium?
(1) and (2) are in some ways closely related questions, but they are
different. (1) is a technician type question. (2) is an artist question.
You said:
> (1) Because I can.
>
> (2) A different visual syntax.
>
> (3) It's a challenge.
>
> (4) I don't mind answering the question, "Are you taking a picture?".
>
> (5) Knowing my roots.
>
> (6) The history lesson.
>
> (7) Preparing for the day when digital photography will force me to make my
own materials.
Reasons (1) (3) (4) (5) (6) and (7) are reasons that, for me, would quickly
lose their potency. The history lesson, for example, seems like a really good
reason for doing this once or twice, but not a reason to select it as a
primary artistic medium. However, reason (2) seems to me quite compelling.
However, it obviously begs the question "What appeals to you as an artist
about this particular visual syntax?" Maybe that's what Mr Wang means by:
>> what is to be gained from wet plate, other than a historical lesson?
If so, that seems like a really good question to ask about any photographic
or artistic process.
One final question: This area of inquiry is a little outside the more techy
stuff that tends to dominate this list. Are there others interested in these
kinds of questions? If the answer is no, I promise to shut up and stop
hassling you, gentle reader.
Geoff Snowman