Chapter two - Pre-Digital Photographic Technology
During the pre-digital era, technology was extremely limited. Some pre-digital technology included, Dry Plate Collodion, Photogravure, Wet Plate Collodion and more. An interesting pre-digital technology was Dry Plate Collodion. To understand the Dry Plate method, you must be knowledgeable of the Wet Plate Collodion. This technology was a dominant method in 1851. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the wet collodion method as: “An early process in which the negative is prepared by coating a glass plate with collodion containing iodide, exposing in a camera while wet, developing with pyrogallol or acidified ferrous sulfate, and fixing in a cyanide solution or hypo.” The Wet Plate Collodion Method was a very tedious and time-consuming method. As mentioned in the video The Wet Collodion Process by Getty Museum, “Producing a wet collodion image had to be done quickly and efficiently. This is because collodion the main chemical used will dry up and lose its sensitivity after about 10 minutes.” This was an undesirable aspect of this method.
The Wet Plate Collodion was later modified, and Dry Plate Collodion was implemented. According to the video Before There Were Pixels - Part 1, Professor Nordell says, “In the late 1870s George Eastman planned a vacation to Santo Domingo, and he wanted to take pictures, so what he discovered was the wet plate collodion process, so he needed the tent, he needed the trays, the big camera, the solutions and everything and he found it so inconvenient that he never did take that trip to Santo Domingo, but invented dry plate technology.” This process has many advantages, it was more efficient, faster, less cumbersome, and convenient. Britannica defines the Dry Plate Collodion as, “A glass plate coated with a gelatin emulsion of silver bromide. It can be stored until exposure, and after exposure it can be brought back to a darkroom for development at leisure.” This innovation had many benefits over the Wet Collodion process and made photography easier.
This pre-digital photographic technology affected photojournalism in many ways. The Dry Plate Collodion was more convenient for a photojournalist. As mentioned in the video, Before There Were Pixels - Part 2, Professor Nordell reads a description from a photojournalist that says, “The chemicals boiled in the intense heat, sand got into everything and occasionally a bucking mule or bolting camel would come close to destroying all the photographic equipment.” In that description he mentions the how inconvenient and unpractical the Wet Collodion Process was. On the contrary, the Dry Plate Collodion was a greater alternative to that method. Another aspect that of this innovation that affected photojournalists is how much faster dry plates captured and developed photos. This is essential for photojournalists because the faster they can take a photo and develop it, the quicker they can publish their work. Changes in technology help photojournalists share their ideas at an effective and steady rate.
Taking a photograph in a modern era is extremely easy compared to the pre-digital era. Photos are now taken almost instantaneously through cellphones. This is essential in many different types of photography such as news photography. According to the video, Weegee Tells How by Rortydog, Weegee says, “News photography teaches you to think fast, to be sure of yourself, self-confidence. When you go out on a story you don’t go back for another sitting, you have to get it.” You must capture the news story or scene quickly before the status of the subject changes. When using a cellphone camera, all you do is press a button, and the camera automatically focuses on the subject and captures the image within seconds. You do not need to use a dark room, chemicals, or heavy equipment to create or develop your photo. You can share that photo to any media platform almost immediately after you take it. Fast-acting photographic technology is essential in photojournalism to be able to capture things in action. Although photography has changed immensely throughout the years, it is still constantly changing and progressing.
The Wet Plate Collodion was later modified, and Dry Plate Collodion was implemented. According to the video Before There Were Pixels - Part 1, Professor Nordell says, “In the late 1870s George Eastman planned a vacation to Santo Domingo, and he wanted to take pictures, so what he discovered was the wet plate collodion process, so he needed the tent, he needed the trays, the big camera, the solutions and everything and he found it so inconvenient that he never did take that trip to Santo Domingo, but invented dry plate technology.” This process has many advantages, it was more efficient, faster, less cumbersome, and convenient. Britannica defines the Dry Plate Collodion as, “A glass plate coated with a gelatin emulsion of silver bromide. It can be stored until exposure, and after exposure it can be brought back to a darkroom for development at leisure.” This innovation had many benefits over the Wet Collodion process and made photography easier.
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| Photo by William Joseph Macpherson |
This pre-digital photographic technology affected photojournalism in many ways. The Dry Plate Collodion was more convenient for a photojournalist. As mentioned in the video, Before There Were Pixels - Part 2, Professor Nordell reads a description from a photojournalist that says, “The chemicals boiled in the intense heat, sand got into everything and occasionally a bucking mule or bolting camel would come close to destroying all the photographic equipment.” In that description he mentions the how inconvenient and unpractical the Wet Collodion Process was. On the contrary, the Dry Plate Collodion was a greater alternative to that method. Another aspect that of this innovation that affected photojournalists is how much faster dry plates captured and developed photos. This is essential for photojournalists because the faster they can take a photo and develop it, the quicker they can publish their work. Changes in technology help photojournalists share their ideas at an effective and steady rate.
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| Photo by Ashelly Megit |
Taking a photograph in a modern era is extremely easy compared to the pre-digital era. Photos are now taken almost instantaneously through cellphones. This is essential in many different types of photography such as news photography. According to the video, Weegee Tells How by Rortydog, Weegee says, “News photography teaches you to think fast, to be sure of yourself, self-confidence. When you go out on a story you don’t go back for another sitting, you have to get it.” You must capture the news story or scene quickly before the status of the subject changes. When using a cellphone camera, all you do is press a button, and the camera automatically focuses on the subject and captures the image within seconds. You do not need to use a dark room, chemicals, or heavy equipment to create or develop your photo. You can share that photo to any media platform almost immediately after you take it. Fast-acting photographic technology is essential in photojournalism to be able to capture things in action. Although photography has changed immensely throughout the years, it is still constantly changing and progressing.
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