Rangoon: View near the Lake 1855

Linnaeus Tripe made this photograph, "Rangoon: View near the Lake," using the wet collodion process, a technique that demanded meticulous preparation and immediate execution. The collodion process involved coating a glass plate with a sticky, light-sensitive chemical emulsion right before exposure in the camera. The plate had to remain wet throughout the entire photographic process, requiring Tripe to carry a portable darkroom to develop the image on the spot. What we see in this sepia-toned print is the result of Tripe’s labor, compounded by the labor of those who assisted him in the field. This view, with its distant pagoda, is not just a record of a place, but also evidence of a complex colonial encounter, mediated by technology and hard work. The photograph itself becomes a cultural artifact, embodying the intersection of artistic vision, scientific method, and imperial ambition. It’s a window into a moment, captured through a process that was as demanding as it was innovative.