Gezicht op de waterval van Salers 1899

This photograph, "Gezicht op de waterval van Salers," was created by Delizy using the wet collodion process, a popular technique in the 19th century that yielded incredibly sharp images on glass plates. The process itself is fascinating. A glass plate was coated with a chemical solution, exposed in the camera while still wet, and then developed immediately. It was a labor-intensive, technically demanding process, far removed from today’s point-and-shoot photography. Here, the process allows us to appreciate the contrasts of the landscape, from the rocky face of the waterfall to the man-made bridge looming in the background. The bridge’s arches are rendered with striking clarity. The tonal range achieved with collodion beautifully captures the textures of stone and vegetation. Looking at this image, we see the intersection of human industry and the natural world, memorialized through a meticulous photographic process. It prompts us to reflect on how technology mediates our perception and presentation of landscape.