Preparatory work continues apace – the last couple of weeks have been spent cleaning out a playhouse I built for my children quite a few years ago. My son is now in college, and my daughter is a senior in high school. The playhouse wasn’t getting much use – storage and the occasional mouse house. I decided a while back that regardless of any safety precautions taken, I don’t want bromine or mercury inside my house. Ergo – the rebirth of the playhouse into “Castle Daguerre“. Yesterday I built a couple of workbenches. Today was spent getting components at Home Depot and beginning to wire it for electricity. It is really quite amazing the number of trades and processes that you get to dip into on the way to becoming a daguerreotypist. So far I have been researcher, optical repaiman, camera repairman, carpenter and electrician. I do have to remind myself from time to time why I am doing all this work, but I keep three antique daguerrotypes on my bedside table so I don’t forget. Once I get the studio built I am going to get back to figuring out that whole plate production thing. I am still completely stumped about what polishing method to use. Too many choices.

There is a nice article on the Globe and Mail website about Mike Robinson today. He is quoted as saying

“I want to be known 500 years from now as one who did competent work, who made the finest daguerreotypes of any century,” …

Even having only seen the digital reproductions of his work, I would say he will meet his goal. I would love to see his work in person someday.

Although I am not a computer game player, I noticed today that CapCom the creators of Street Fighter IV are inviting the submission of daguerreotypes  Read more »

This Saturday I received additional evidence Read more »

I received a supportive email today from Christopher Brenton West, a daguerreotypist in England. Read more »