Having Your Likeness Made

Clarence Newcomb was my great grandfather
and he was a photographer!
He was born just after the Civil War so
he started photography in the later 1800's.

Unfortunately, my great grand father
died early of Typhoid Fever in 1899.
Thus his photographic career was cut short also.

Knowing this part of my family history 

has made me keenly interested in the 

Victorian era photographic process.

I was recently able to watch the process 

at a local Civil War Re enactment.

Here is the photographer. 

He is from Gettysburg, PA.

And here is his camera.

Notice the lens cover on the front.

He uncovers then recovers the lens 

to control the exposure 

which he times on his watch.

Both he, 

and the photographers of the time

had portable dark rooms.

I was asking his son other questions
at this time and didn't ask exactly what was going on now.

The soldier was standing here for a while 

during which time the photographer 

was getting things in order.

He and his predecessors 

used stands to help the subject hold still 

during the exposure time.

Here is an angled shot where you can see the stand.

I spoke to this re enactor for a while.
He is Bob from the
PA 69th Irish Volunteer Infantry re enactors.
I have posted about them before
since they are local to where I live
and have seen them at several of their events.

Here is the same photo with a vintage effect
and the head brace removed.



That was easy...
but if I had taken this during the war
 it would not have been so easy.

I would have had to take the wet plate
into my dark room.
After which it would soak in a solution creating
a negative image.



Next it would soak again in a new solution,
this time creating a positive image.



Finally it would go into a dryer
and then be lacquered.

I would LOVE to learn how to do this process!

My great, great grandfather James M. Welch
served in the Civil War and I have transcribed
the letters he wrote home.
In one letter he mentioned having had his 'likeness' made.
He had his photo taken!