The Daguerreotype

The Daguerreotype is an early photographic process developed in the 1830s by Louis Daguerre. It creates a highly detailed image on a polished sheet of silver-coated copper. The process involves exposing this metal plate to iodine vapors to make it sensitive to light, then exposing it in a camera. After exposure, the plate is developed using mercury vapor, which reveals the image. The result is a unique, one-of-a-kind photograph with fine detail and clarity. Although it doesn't produce negatives, the Daguerreotype was a significant breakthrough, pioneering modern photography and lasting for several decades as a popular form of portraiture.