Photographer Uses Old Tin Cans for Tintype Photos

Photographer David Emitt Adams has taken a uniquely historical approach to photography with his “Conversations with History” series of images. He’s using an incredibly old technique (wet-plate collodion) on old objects (tin cans found in Arizon desert) as a way of commenting on the history of photography and the region.

Adams is a native to Arizona, and looked to create a dialogue about the history of photography in the area, as well as the impact of humans on the once empty desert. In his artist’s statement, he said:

Tintyping is an extremely involved process, and involves exposing directly onto a treated metal surface, which is then coated with chemicals, and the image is fixed in place. Adams’ work combines historical objects with a historical photography method to create art that’s both innovative and thought provoking.

[via Imaging Resource, Junk Culture]