Ruïne van het dwarsschip van de Abdij van Furness 1855 - 1862

This photograph of the Furness Abbey was taken by Roger Fenton using the collodion process, a painstaking procedure involving coating a glass plate with chemicals, exposing it in the camera while still wet, and then developing it immediately. The tonal range is soft, almost velvety, thanks to the light-sensitive silver particles suspended in the collodion emulsion. What appears to be a straightforward record of architecture becomes something more complex when you consider this process. Think about Fenton in his darkroom tent, carefully preparing each plate. The amount of physical labor and technical skill is remarkable; it’s as much a feat of craft as it is a work of art. Photography in the 19th century wasn't about merely pointing and shooting. It demanded an engagement with chemistry, light, and time. This highlights how even seemingly straightforward images are deeply embedded in the materiality of their making.