The soldier's leap, Killicrankie before 1868

"The soldier's leap, Killicrankie" is a photograph by Peter Ewing, bound into a book of poetry. This image would have been made using a wet collodion process, a popular photographic technique in the mid-19th century that required meticulous preparation and handling of glass plates coated with chemicals. This time-intensive and highly skilled process involved coating a glass plate with light-sensitive emulsion, exposing it in a camera, and then developing it, all while the plate was still wet. The final print, sepia-toned, resulted from contact printing of the glass negative on salted paper, showcasing a tonal range and fine detail characteristic of this method. The very material of this print invites us to consider wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption associated with the image. It prompts us to value the craft and labor involved in its production. Only by understanding the interplay of materials, processes, and context, can we fully appreciate the historical and cultural significance of Ewing's work, challenging traditional distinctions between photography and craft.