Photoshop Technique to a Daguerreotype

Introduction

Since the world of Photoshop has come about there has been a market for how to get vintage looking images from a digital. Today i will be looking at making a Daguerreotype within Photoshop and comparing my result from the original photograph to see the changes and a real Daguerreotype. 

What is a true Daguerreotype?

A true Daguerreotype was made at the same time as Fox Talbots process which is more widely know today. This process was not using a negative but a sheet of metal and using heated mercury to create the reaction. Doing this resulted in the effect of a almost 3D image embossed within the metal.   

  As you can see from this image there is a very shallow depth of field this is caused by the camera but can be seen much more clearly from the metal. By having this effect on your images to capture the sitter in the in the sitter in the metal making the final image more realistic to the eye, when you compare this to a normal portrait with a low apature to still do not get this effect of duplicating the physical appearance as well as a true daguerreotype. Daguerreotypes were first used a high class type of photography as they were more expensive to make and of a higher quality image. This would be kept in the pocket of a higher class person and would normally hold a loved one inside. When looking at the images as a piece of art you can clearly see in emotion of this sitter as with his aged face a is a strong man with a tough life but now has found peace. Due to the shallow depth of field you are immediately brought to the sitters eyes as they are perfectly in focus and really shows the message from the off.     

Photoshop Daguerreotype

This image is a Daguerreotype images that has been made by someone in Photoshop from a normal digital image. As you can see that the eyes are still the main part of the image and are the catching part of the image. You can also see that the depth of field is still very shallow, doing this brings the parts that are in focus even more dominant. When looking at the artistic side you can see that this image was not meant for any artist purpose as it is a snap shot and only really hold sentimental value as our culture is very much of loving pets. 

Plan for my Photograph

For my attempt at this technique i will be using a portrait as i feel that it makes the effect is more worth while doing. As the very shallow depth of will only take true affect when  you have a subject which is with real detail like wrinkles on a face. I will also need to have an image that has a perfect Black and White as I will also be making sure the contrast will really give a high quality photograph.