As the photography world transitioned from film to digital, ColwoodB次元官网网址檚 Ken Miner went in the opposite direction.
Miner felt that this simplified way of taking pictures eliminated the deeper connection he used to have with his photos.
B次元官网网址淵ou lose that tactile nature of it. You donB次元官网网址檛 get to develop film. You donB次元官网网址檛 get to stand there with the chemistry B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 the hands-on thing that I missed,B次元官网网址� he said.
He found an even deeper connection with his work when he got into ambrotype photography, a multi-step, 1850s-era process.
The end result is a negative image on a glass plate which can then be viewed positively when placed on a black backing.
By staying true to the original chemistry, Miner creates vintage-looking shots that appear to have been taken a century ago. ItB次元官网网址檚 the ultimate B次元官网网址淭hrowback Thursday.B次元官网网址�
While the final product is undoubtedly cool, itB次元官网网址檚 the process that really makes Miner tick.
To get the perfect shot with his 1902 Century View camera, he must first coat a glass plate with a layer of collodion B次元官网网址� a sticky, viscous substance made up of gun cotton and dissolved in ether. From there the plate goes into a silver nitrate bath.
B次元官网网址淲hen it comes out itB次元官网网址檚 light sensitive so it goes into a holder that goes into the camera,B次元官网网址� he said.
The plate has to be wet during exposure, which can last anywhere from five seconds to a minute or two.
B次元官网网址淥nce the exposure is made itB次元官网网址檚 back to the dark room to develop it,B次元官网网址� he explained.
For Miner, his dark room happens to be in the back of his Chevy Express van.
Once developed, the image is no longer light sensitive and is then placed in a film fixer, before being placed in water.
On Sunday morning his van was parked roughly 100 metres from Fisgard Lighthouse as he took a series of shots, each resembling something youB次元官网网址檇 sooner find in a museum archive rather than a contemporary studio.
One of the four pictures will be given to Parks Canada.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a privilege to be able to maintain those locations so that they are like they were 150 years ago B次元官网网址� a project like this, itB次元官网网址檚 kind of neat to put the two together,B次元官网网址� said Sophie Lauro, Parks Canada promotions officer.
The historic lighthouse may have been the subject on this day, but MinerB次元官网网址檚 portfolio includes a range of shots, from portraits to antiques to old-time cars.
Sunday was his first attempt at capturing a historical site, and he said he was ultimately pleased with the results.
B次元官网网址淚 think it went great. I would love to do more of that. Actually, I would like to shoot as many lighthouses on the coast as I can. I think itB次元官网网址檚 really neat and fits the process really well,B次元官网网址� he said.
joel.tansey@goldstreamgazette.com
