RECREATING 19th CENTURY DEATH & MOURNING PHOTOGRAPHS
Caitlin Doughty・2 minutes read
An Instagram influencer re-brands as a 19th-century postmortem tintype influencer, collaborating with a tintype expert to create authentic Victorian mourning photo shoots using traditional techniques. The influencer's video showcases the tintype process, highlighting the historical context and significance while promoting small donations for funeral industry reform efforts.
Insights
- The process of creating tintypes involves intricate steps like hand-pouring chemistry on metal sheets, using authentic Victorian mourning garb, and posing with a corpse, highlighting the meticulous artistry and historical accuracy required.
- Victorian postmortem photography, as explored in the video, delves into societal attitudes towards death, capturing the deceased realistically with potential trauma or decay, showcasing a blend of morbid curiosity and societal fears, adding depth to the influencer's creative journey.
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Recent questions
What is the process of creating a tintype?
The process of creating a tintype involves hand-pouring chemistry onto a metal sheet, using authentic equipment and mourning garb. The plate is composed, coated, sensitized, exposed, developed, and fixed. After washing and drying, a varnish made of gum sandarac dissolved in grain alcohol with lavender oil is applied for protection against tarnishing.
How are tintype cameras different from modern cameras?
Tintype cameras are orthochromatic, affecting color representation. They are large-format cameras that result in images appearing upside down and backwards, a common optical effect corrected through mirrors, prisms, and viewfinders.
What is the historical significance of tintypes?
Tintypes are considered heirlooms, lasting from the 1800s. They were popular during the Victorian era and were used to capture realistic images of individuals, including postmortem photography, reflecting societal fears and desires for recognition.
What is the purpose of Victorian postmortem photography?
Victorian postmortem photography aimed to capture the deceased realistically, sometimes showcasing trauma or decay. This practice reflected societal fears and desires for recognition, providing a way to remember and honor the deceased.
How does the influencer incorporate tintypes into their social media presence?
The influencer re-brands as a 19th-century postmortem tintype influencer, creating a Victorian mourning and postmortem tintype photo shoot. They use tintypes to engage their audience and promote a Victorian spirit photography shoot, contingent on reaching a certain number of likes to support funeral industry reform efforts.
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Summary
00:00
"Instagram Influencer Goes Victorian for Likes"
- Over 500 million daily users on Instagram
- Influencer struggling to gain likes despite posting avocado toast and whimsical poses
- Decision to re-brand as a 19th-century postmortem tintype influencer
- Recreating a Victorian mourning and postmortem tintype photo shoot
- Joined by tintype expert Jolene Lupo from the Penumbra Foundation
- Tintype process involves hand-poured chemistry on a metal sheet
- Authentic equipment, mourning garb, and corpse used in the shoot
- Tintype cameras are orthochromatic, affecting color representation
- Process of composing, coating, sensitizing, exposing, developing, and fixing the plate
- Tintypes considered heirlooms, lasting from the 1800s
12:19
Creating tintypes: Victorian photography process and challenges.
- The final steps in creating a tintype involve washing, drying, and applying varnish made of gum sandarac dissolved in grain alcohol with lavender oil for protection against tarnishing.
- The process of creating tintypes involves climbing into a period casket, with the individual fitting into the coffin, experiencing the challenge of remaining still.
- The use of large-format cameras results in images appearing upside down and backwards, a common optical effect corrected through mirrors, prisms, and viewfinders.
- The exposure process for tintypes involves timing, with specific ISO settings and countdowns before starting and ending the exposure.
- Victorian postmortem photography aimed to capture the deceased realistically, sometimes showcasing trauma or decay, reflecting societal fears and desires for recognition.
- Plans for a Victorian spirit photography shoot are contingent on reaching 75 thousand likes, while a new pin of the influencer's face is offered to support funeral industry reform efforts.
- The video emphasizes the importance of small donations for the movement's funding, promoting resources for progressive funeral practices and individual choice.
- The influencer humorously navigates through the video's content, including bloopers and challenges in delivering scripted lines.
