Binh Danh’s solo show will be at Haines Gallery from September 6 – October 27, 2012.

Excerpt from the press release:

“SAN FRANCISCO – Known for his innovative approach to alternative photographic processes, Binh Danh presents a new series of daguerreotypes in his fourth exhibition at Haines Gallery. The works on view in Yosemite are the result of his three-year investigation into perfecting the creation of “in-camera” daguerreotypes, one-of-a-kind works that cannot be duplicated and are the earliest form of photography. While Danh experimented with variations on the daguerreotype process in earlier bodies of work, it was not until 2009 that he embarked upon the painstaking process of sensitizing, exposing and developing silver plates in the landscape, striving to achieve the quality he so admires in nineteenth century examples of this medium.

Danh’s daguerreotypes extend and reconsider the pursuit of pioneering nineteenth century landscape photographer, Carleton Watkins, best known for his series of mammoth-plate photographs made in the Yosemite Valley in the mid-to-late 1800s. He revisits many of the same sites as Watkins, including Yosemite Falls, El Capitan and Horsetail Falls, which is only viewable two to three months each year. Though investigating the same terrain as this predecessor, Danh imbues this scenery with his distinctly personal perspective – namely, an attempt to negotiate his connection as a Vietnamese American with the landscape and history of the United States. He explains, “I am interested in how we as a nation of immigrants could ‘reflect’ on these daguerreotypes and see our faces in this landscape.” The highly reflective surfaces of Danh’s daguerreotypes literally mirror their surroundings, embracing viewers within the idyllic environs of this national
landmark.”

Visit his online gallery to see the plates included in the show or purchase the available catalog on blurb.

A deadline for submissions to the Daguerreian society contemporary daguerreotypes exhibit around the time of this year’s Baltimore symposium is fast approaching – 17th September 2012. It will be held at the main gallery of Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) from October 31st to November 11, 2012. The Society is calling for contemporary daguerreotypists to submit up to two plates for the exhibit. return shipping isn’t an option so to be sure to be there or getting a society friend to pick up your images at the end of the symposium and exhibit. Collectors of contemporary daguerreotypes are also encouraged to display plates they may own, so this will make for a great tour de force of contemporary daguerreotypy. The contemporaries will have the option to speak their minds as well as display their art with 3 – 5 minute presentations, and time for a Q&A with the symposium audience. Lets all get submitting!

‘Tis the season for Daguerreotype workshops! Our friends at the Center for Alternative Photography will be hosting two new workshops in their NYC studios. The first, led by Jason Greenberg Motamedi, will focus on the Bequerel method from August 18-19. Building off of this class will be Kenneth Nelson, whose class the following weekend of August 25-26, will provide the experience of making mercury-process daguerreotypes. Details can be found on the CAP website.

New workshops have been added to the events page. Mike Robinson and Jonathan Danforth will be at Peters Valley Craft Center this summer. Mike will be leading an advanced course for experienced Daguerreotypists this June, while Jonathan will be leading a unique workshop on case making for Daguerreotypes and photographs this September.

Returning to Lacock Abbey for the second year in a row, Mike Robinson will be leading a workshop for artists with a serious interest in the evolution, aesthetics and process of daguerreotypy. The dates for this event are May 19-22.

The following month, June 25-29, Mark Osterman and France Scully Osterman will be conducting a unique workshop focusing on the processes of Louis Daguerre, William Henry Fox Talbot, Hippolyte Bayard, and Hercules Florence.  Their processes will be discussed and demonstrated in this hands-on workshop celebrating the state of photography as introduced in 1839.

Additional information can be found on the events page.

New dates have been announced for Mike Robinson‘s workshop at George Eastman House. This advanced course will take place February 21 through February 24, 2012 in Rochester, NY, USA.  For more details visit the GEH website.

Mike has also announced he will be returning to Lacock Abbey and Peters Valley for some 2012 events. Stay tuned for more information and dates to be posted on the events page.

© Rob McElroy 2011 All Rights Reserved.

The 2011 Daguerreian Society Symposium was held in St. Petersburg, Florida on October 27-29.

One highlight was an informal gathering in the hospitality suite where Christopher Mahoney, of Sotheby’s auction house, met with artists who use the process and reviewed their work. Christopher was one of the speakers at this year’s symposium and was enthusiastic about meeting new members and learning about what was going in the world of daguerreotypes. Below are some images of Christopher talking with members of the society about the current trends for contemporary photography in auctions. At the moment, contemporary daguerreotypes are not of commercial interest. However, with artists such as Adam Fuss and the collaboration of Chuck Close and Jerry Spagnoli changing the way contemporary work is being perceived, there is hope that in the future they will be of stronger interest in the collecting world.

Another noteworthy moment was a talk given by Walter Johnson,who helped revive the process in the late 1960s-early 1970s. He shared with us the story of how he got into photography and ultimately daguerreotypes. Over the years, he led many workshops and taught the process to students at Ohio State University. He talked about the many trials and errors of the process and about handling the chemicals prior to any use of a fume hood.

The symposium ended with a big announcement for the 2013 location. 2013 will mark the 25^th anniversary of the Daguerreian society, so what better way to celebrate than to hold the symposium in Daguerre’s hometown of Bry-Sur-Marne. Stay tuned for more announcements regarding this event. In case anyone is wondering, the 2012 symposium is going to take place in Baltimore, Md.

To view more photos from St. Petersburg, click here.

Ten new images have been added to my gallery of my first national exhibit in New Zealand. On at the NZ Portrait Gallery till February the images are available through my dealer gallery.
The exhibit is portraits of members of the local Maori tribe where I live and is called “Reflecting Mana”, Mana being the Maori term for pride/dignity.

As part of the FotoRio 2011 festival Francisco da Costa is offering a daguerreotype workshop in Lumiar near Rio de Janiero in July. Through google translate here is gist of the portuguese text;

“The purpose of the studio with the century daguerreotype workshop and offer an immersion in this nineteenth-century photographic technica, allowing each particante try for a weekend the whole process, from polishing the copper plate until the image on the silver. Cost: R$ 425 per participant includes two days of classes practicas, classes 15 hours (Manah is later), all materials used and the manual, in addition to food stuffs and stay in Lumiar – RJ”