Railway Sheds and Workshops, Balaklava 1855

Roger Fenton made this photograph of Railway Sheds and Workshops, Balaklava using the wet collodion process. This was cutting-edge technology at the time, though the process was labor intensive. Notice how the inherent qualities of the wet collodion influence the photograph's appearance, its tonal range, and soft focus. The process demanded meticulous preparation: a glass plate was coated with light-sensitive chemicals, exposed in the camera while still wet, and then developed immediately. Its technical demands turned photography into a craft. Fenton documented the Crimean War, providing a glimpse into the social and political context of conflict and British colonial power. The image captures a scene of bustling activity, with railway sheds, workshops, and ships in the harbor, all essential for military logistics. Fenton's choice of subject matter elevates industry and labor, aligning it with the concerns of painting. By focusing on the means of production, Fenton's photograph challenges our traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.