The 30-step process to produce one photo, tintype photography, is regaining popularity. Despite us being able to snap about 300 photos in 15 minutes on a smartphone, the vintage photo making art is an interesting way to time travel.
Have a tintype photo of yourself developed and it’ll feel like you traveled to 1853, when the type of photography was first introduced. Now, a local studio serving Boston, is making it more accessible.
What is tintype photography?
Tintype, also called ferrotype, is a “positive photograph produced by applying a collodion-nitrocellulose solution to a thin, black-enameled metal plate immediately before exposure,” according to Britannica. Popularized in the mid-19th century, they’re the photographs you might have witnessed in history books or at museums.
The tintype photography process was introduced as an alternative to ambrotype, images produced on glass. Adolphe Alexandre Martin introduced the tintype in 1853 Paris and it was widely used through 1930.
Better than describing it, is showing a few examples of tintype photography. All of the photos below look about 200+ years old but were actually produced in 2023 at Evoke Tintype’s Boston studio.
About Evoke Tintype
Evoke Tintype is popularizing this vintage photo development method once again. You can book a session and your photo will be taken and developed on the spot!
Visitors can either stop back at the studio after development, which takes a few hours due to washing, drying, and varnishing, or your photos can be mailed to you. Your presence is integral to the creative process at Evoke Tintype.
The process
Photos can be taken indoors or outdoors. Sessions with Evoke Tintype are $150 for 90-minutes and one tintype photo. About three photos are captured, and then you pick your favorite one!
Collodion is poured onto a plate of metal and they patiently await exposure during development! Then you’ll have a photo of unmatched beauty and unique coloring.
Tintype photographs have a very different look when compared to traditional black and white photographs. Because collodion is predominantly sensitive to UV light, it sees colors in a very unique way. Meaning, colors like violets and blues are seen as white, while reds and yellows are seen as black. The clarity and beauty of a tintype image is unmatched to this day!
The finished image is incredibly magical and designed to be cherished for a lifetime! Owners Maureen Feeley and Dave Caramello, wany you to be involved, so they also host various tintype workshops throughout the year!
Find Evoke Tintype at 171 Suffolk Ave, Revere, Massachusetts