Sergeant Patrick McCaffrey 2014

Binh Danh made this haunting image, *Sergeant Patrick McCaffrey*, using a daguerreotype, one of the earliest photographic processes. Imagine Danh in his studio, carefully preparing the silver-plated copper, sensitizing it with iodine fumes, and then exposing it in the camera. It’s like alchemy, right? I can imagine him holding his breath as the image slowly emerges in the mercury vapor. The final print shimmers and feels spectral. The image shows a war memorial laden with photographs, flags, and rosary beads. Danh’s choice of process is so poignant. The daguerreotype, with its ghostly presence, speaks to memory, loss, and the enduring impact of war. It’s like he's saying that the past is always with us, shimmering just beneath the surface. This piece is a part of Danh’s larger project exploring the Vietnam War and its legacy. He's not just documenting; he's engaging with history, inviting us to reflect on the weight of the past and its continued relevance. Artists are always responding to each other, to history, and to the world around them.