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How to Make a Daguerreotype

Daguerreotypes date back to 1840. They were the first method of capturing images and the earliest form of photography. They are made on polished silver, so they are reflective, much like a mirror. Because silver is subject to tarnish, daguerreotypes were sealed with paper tape behind glass plates so that they were not exposed to air and corrupted. Daguerreotypes were used between 1840 and 1855 before the invention of the ambrotype and the tintype. Making a daguerreotype is a delicate and lengthy process.

Things You'll Need

Silver-plated piece of copper
Soft cloth
Sealed box
Iodine crystals
Camera
Darkroom
Amberlith film
Light-proof tape
Hypo clearing agent
Development tray
Piece of glass
Daguerreotype holder

Instructions

- 1
  Polish the silver plate as close to a mirror finish as possible using a soft cloth.
- 2
  Sensitize the plate by placing it in a sealed box filled with iodine crystals. Allow the plate to sit until it turns a purplish hue, usually up to ten minutes. When the plate is purple, remove it using the soft cloth, taking care not to touch the plate or breathe in the iodine vapors.
- 3
  Mount the sensitized plate onto the camera's film holder, and seal the camera.
- 4
  Capture the image of a well-lit, stationary object with the camera. Exposure time usually takes between 1 and 7 minutes.
- 5
  Go to a darkroom. Remove the exposed plate and tape a sheet of Amberlith film on top of it, sealing the edges with light-proof tape. Place the covered plate in the sun for two hours.
- 6
  Mix up the hypo clearing agent in a developing tray and wash the plate by gently stirring the solution until your image shows up clear in black and white. Follow this process with a water bath to remove any silver halide particles.
- 7
  Mount the image behind a piece of glass in a daguerreotype holder.

Photography