Alexander Thompson 1843 - 1847

Alexander Thompson was captured between 1843 and 1848, by Hill and Adamson using a calotype, an early photographic process. This image wasn't just snapped; it was carefully crafted. The calotype process involved coating paper with silver iodide, exposing it in a camera, and then developing it. This wasn't point-and-shoot. It was an alchemical process that required skill, patience, and an understanding of chemistry and light. Consider the pose. The subject, Alexander Thompson, is shown in a moment of contemplation, his hand thoughtfully placed on his chin. The soft focus, a characteristic of the calotype process, adds to the image's dreamy quality, as if we're seeing Thompson through a veil of time. The calotype, with its hands-on, labor-intensive method, stands in stark contrast to today's instant photography. It reminds us that every image is the result of deliberate choices, skilled craftsmanship, and a unique set of material conditions. In short, photography is not just about seeing, but about making.