Brug der Zuchten te Venetië, Italië 1852 - 1893

This photograph of the Bridge of Sighs in Venice, Italy was taken by Carlo Ponti in the late 19th century using the collodion process. This method, popular in the mid-1800s, involved coating a glass plate with a light-sensitive chemical emulsion. The plate was then exposed in a camera, creating a negative image. The resulting print, like this one, shows incredible detail, capturing the texture of the stone, the play of light on the water, and the imposing architecture of the city. What interests me most is the labor embedded in this image. Think about the workers who quarried and carved the stone, the architects who designed the bridge, and now Ponti, carefully crafting the image. This photograph is not just a record of a place, but also a testament to human ingenuity and the enduring power of skilled labor. It reminds us that behind every beautiful image, there is a story of making and of human effort.