Winged Lion Daguerreotype
The first layout of Saint Mark's Square goes back to the beginning of the 9th century A.D. In 832 A.D. the first church dedicated to the Evangelist Saint Mark, was consecrated. According to legend, the remains of the saint were stolen by two Venetian seamen from a monastery in Egypt, and brought to Venice.The symbol of the winged lion, proper attribute of the Evangelist, became the symbol of the city. St. Mark became its patron saint.
Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre invented the daguerreotype process in 1839. European and American photographers greeted the process with enthusiasm. Celebrities and political figures were invited to photographers' studios in the hopes of obtaining a likeness for display in their windows and reception areas.
A negative was not used in the daguerreotype process. The image was captured on a mirror like plate of copper, which had been coated with silver. After exposure to light, the plate was developed over hot mercury until an image appeared. The clarity of the images was stunning. The final product was the plate itself. They were called "mirrors of truth".
The process I employ in the computer darkroom does not involve heavy plates, long exposure times, nor toxic chemicals. However, as with the early pioneers, the final image is a function of light, tone and composition. Relieved of the dangers associated with the original process, I can only hope to some day master a technique that "mirrors the truth". At Time Less Image we continue to seek exquisite beauty in our images, exploring all techniques, old and new.
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