A Creek in Canton 1869

John Thomson made this photograph, "A Creek in Canton," using the wet collodion process, which was cutting-edge technology in its day. This technique involved coating a glass plate with light-sensitive chemicals, exposing it in the camera while still wet, and then developing it immediately. The resulting image, printed on albumen paper, has a remarkable tonal range and clarity. Look at the texture of the tree bark, the reflections in the water, and the details of the boats. Each of these subtleties speak to the chemical processes involved. But the photograph is also a product of its time, and the advent of this new technology. Thomson documented the lives of ordinary people, particularly the laboring classes. The boats, presumably used for transportation and trade, are a testament to the everyday work that sustained the local economy. In viewing this image, we're not only witnessing a scene, but also engaging with a complex interplay of technology, labor, and social context. It shows us the intimate link between materials, making, and the world we inhabit.