In today's world, photography is an ephemeral art form. You can take countless photos and easily edit them to perfection with just a touch. But it wasn't always this way. There was a time when you might only get one photograph of yourself or your family in a lifetime.
The wet plate process (also known as tin-type photography) developed in 1850, is a prime example of this. It was a highly skilled and technical procedure that involved coating a tin plate with silver, exposing it to light, and then processing the plate to produce a unique photograph. Sitters had to remain perfectly still while the photographer worked, creating an image with a timeless, moody quality that feels like stepping back in time.
This process makes us reflect on how quickly we can now alter the history of our lives through editing and filtering images, whereas once, these photographs were all we had to document the present.
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/in-the-chair/In-the-chair.jpg)
In the chair 2024
Tin-type photograph
10 x 12.5 cm
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/in-the-chair/Bonnie-2.jpg)
Bonnie 2024
Tin-type photograph
10 x 12.5 cm
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/in-the-chair/Annabelle2.jpg)
Annabelle 2024
Tin-type photograph
10 x 12.5 cm
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/in-the-chair/Melissa-and-Jensen.jpg)
Melissa And Jenson 2024
Tin-type photograph
10 x 12.5 cm
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/in-the-chair/Melissa.jpg)
Melissa 2024
Tin-type Photograph
10 x 12.5 cm
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/in-the-chair/Jensen.jpg)
Jenson 2024
Tin-type photograph
10 x 12.5 cm
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/in-the-chair/Emily-and-Jordy.jpg)
Emily And Jordan 2024
Tin-type photograph
10 x 12.5 cm
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/in-the-chair/Justine.jpg)
Justine 2024
Tin-type photography
10 x 12.5 cm
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/in-the-chair/In-the-Chair_0004.jpg)
Leesa 2024
Tin-type photograph
10 x 12.5 cm
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/in-the-chair/Franny.jpg)
Frances and Alex 2024
Tin-type photograph
10 x 12.5 cm
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/in-the-chair/Claire-and-partner.jpg)
Claire And Partner 2024
Tin-type photograph
10 x 12.5 cm
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/in-the-chair/Minnie.jpg)
Minnie 2024
Tin-type photograph
10 x 12.5 cm
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/in-the-chair/Liz-and-Minnie.jpg)
Liz And Minnie 2024
Tin-type photograph
10 x 12.5 cm
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/in-the-chair/Bonnie.jpg)
Bonnie 2024
Tin-type photograph
10 x 12.5 cm
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/in-the-chair/Louis.jpg)
Luis 2024
Tin-type photograph
10 x 12.5 cm
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/in-the-chair/Annabelle.jpg)
Annabelle 2024
Tin-type photograph
10 x 12.5 cm
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/in-the-chair/The-Wards.jpg)
The Wards 2024
Tin-type photograph
10 x 12.5 cm
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/in-the-chair/Laura_240716_145653.jpg)
Laura 2024
Tin-type photograph
10 x 12.5 cm
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/in-the-chair/Phoebe-and-Kahlo.jpg)
Phoebe 2024
Tin-type photograph
10 x 12.5 cm
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/in-the-chair/In-the-Chair_0084.jpg)
Sadie and Lucy 2024
Tin-type photograph
10 x 12.5 cm
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/in-the-chair/Suze.jpg)
Suze 2024
Tin-type photograph
10 x 12.5 cm
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/in-the-chair/Cindy.jpg)
Cindy 2024
Tin-type photograph
10 x 12.5 cm
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/in-the-chair/Alicia.jpg)
Alicia 2024
Tin-type photograph
10 x 12.5 cm
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/in-the-chair/Amanda.jpg)
Amanda 2024
Tin-type photograph
10 x 12.5 cm
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/in-the-chair/The-Jursts.jpg)
The Jursts 2024
Tin-type photograph
10 x 12.5 cm
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/in-the-chair/Andre-and-Vanessa.jpg)
Andre And Vanessa 2024
Tin-type photograph
10 x 12.5 cm
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/in-the-chair/Kati.jpg)
The Morgans 2024
Tin-type photograph
10 x 12.5 cm
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/in-the-chair/Marcus-Bell.jpg)
Marcus Bell 2024
Tin-type photograph
10 x 12.5 cm
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/in-the-chair/In-the-Chair_0003.jpg)
Leesa 2024
Tin-type photograph
10 x 12.5 cm
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/in-the-chair/Laura.jpg)
Laura 2024
Tin-type photograph
10 x 12.5 cm
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/in-the-chair/Leesa-and-Laura.jpg)
Leesa And Laura 2024
Tin-type photograph
10 x 12.5 cm
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/in-the-chair/In-the-Chair109565.jpg)
In The Chair 2024
Tin-type photograph
10 x 12.5 cm
POA