The originals of these images are glass plate ambrotypes.
The dark area at the bottom of the second ambrotype is where the collodion on the plate was drying.
California to New York
War Stories
Ohio to West Virginia
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| Larry Marple's Ambrotypes | ||||||||||||||||
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| The following images were taken by Gettysburg photographer, Rob Gibson, on the set of the film "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" on Wednesday, July 25, 2001. The originals of these images are glass plate ambrotypes. The dark area at the bottom of the second ambrotype is where the collodion on the plate was drying. |
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| Mr. Gibson uses original cameras and lenses to capture his images. His field darkroom is just like the ones used by Alexander Gardner, Timothy O'Sullivan, and Mathew Brady's assistants. The process for taking each glass plate ambrotype starts with getting the glass ready to hold the image by polishing it and making sure there is no dust or other flaws on it. One side of the plate is then coated with collodion, the mixture of substances including ether, that when placed in the silver nitrate bath will become light sensitive. This collodion is poured over one side of the plate with the excess being poured back into the bottle. The plate is then placed in a dark silver nitrate bath in the developing tent. Mr. Gibson then poses the subject and focuses the camera. When he is ready, he runs back to the developing tent, removes the now light sensitive plate from the box and places it, in the dark, in the wooden frame which will fit into the back of the camera. He then runs to the camera and places the wooden container into the back of the camera and removes a section so when the lens cover is taken off, will allow the plate to be exposed to the light. He then removes the lens cover and counts out the number of seconds he feels will give a good image. He then returns the lens cover and the wooden section to the film tray in the back and runs back to the developing tent to begin developing the plate. Wet plate photographers have to run during the process because the collodion is drying from the time it is poured. After the developing, the image is placed in a cyanide bath, then into a water bath. When the image is dried, it is coated with a varnish which contains lavender. This is dried and the image is completed. Mr. Gibson is a true artist and one of, if not THE, best wet plate photographer. | ||||||||||||||||
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| The Marple Family in the Union Army California to New York |
Marple Civil War Stories |
The Marple Family in the Union Army Ohio to West Virginia |
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| The Marple Family in the Confederate Army |
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