Points of View

3D without the glasses

Enjoyed Channel 4's 3D week, though perhaps it would have been more fun if I'd picked up my free pair of amber and blue spectacles from Sainsbury's. It was interesting to guess what the pictures might have looked like...

Brian May popped up again in The Queen in 3D showing his world-class collection of Victorian stereoscopic pictures. A reminder that the Points of View exhibition includes lots of pictures like this, together with stereo viewers so you can try them out.

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Video 2: Wet Collodion Photographic Process

In 1851 Frederick Scott Archer introduced the wet collodion process.

• Bromide, iodide or chloride salts are dissolved in collodion (a solution of pyroxylin in alcohol and ether).
• This mixture is poured onto a glass plate and allowed to sit for a few seconds.
• The plate is then placed into a solution of silver nitrate and water, which converts the iodide, bromide or chloride salts to silver iodide, bromide or chloride.
• The plate is removed from the silver nitrate solution and exposed in the camera while still wet.
• It is then developed with a solution of iron sulphate, acetic acid and alcohol in water.

Demonstration by Michael Gray (YouTube video. No sound track).

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Video 1: Calotype Paper Photographic Process

William Henry Fox Talbot invented the calotype, the first practical negative-positive photographic process. It was patented by him in 1841.

The concept of negative-positive photography, allowing the production of an unlimited number of prints from a single negative, has formed the basis of photographic practice up until the last few years.

• A sheet of paper is treated with light-sensitive silver compounds before exposure in the camera.
• The image is then developed in gallo-nitrate of silver and fixed.

Demonstration by Michael Gray (YouTube video. No sound track).

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Book this one now

Some really interesting events coming up over the next few months.

One I shall certainly be going to is 'A Village Lost And Found: into an extraordinary stereoscopic world' on Wed 11 Nov. A few people have asked me if the speaker is 'that' Brian May. The answer is 'yes'. He's the world-famous... astro-physicist.

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Victorian photographs and how they were made

We're all working away on the exhibition and associated website. In the next few days we'll be offering you a preview of the physical exhibition in our Online Gallery.

To whet your appetite, here are nearly 1,500 Victorian photographs to look at now.

You can register for the Online Gallery and log in - to mark favourites, comment on individual items, and even create your own personal galleries to share with others.

We also have a feature by curator John Falconer on early photographic processes. Know your wet collodion from your calotype and collotype and impress your friends.

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