Artifacts of the wet plate collodion process, these plates were once used to season a new silver bath. Seasoning the bath is done only when making up a new bath and the glass is reclaimed afterward, destined to support an intentional image. But not this time. This time the silver was left unfixed to dry and oxidize instead. Scanned years apart, these plates document time and its physical effects on the precious metal delicately adhered to the surface.
Transcending their utilitarian purpose, imagined places begin to emerge. Seascapes, comprised of delicate textures and tones, are coupled with ominous, atmospheric, and heavy skies. Some evoke approaching tempestuous storms, with roiling seas and skies building with pressure. A palpable, heavy, claustrophobic, enveloping feeling contributes to a sense of low visibility in others while some summon a more serene environment, with calm waters and a fragile sense of peace.
The delicate nature of the physical plate’s surface, subject to its handling and the atmosphere in which it is stored draws parallels to our own vulnerability to the whims of nature and the effects our actions have on it.
The first scans were made on September 23rd, 2016. They were scanned again over four years later on December 30th, 2020. These ephemeral objects, part of an ongoing series, will be scanned again every few years.