We have a couple of guys that come out to reenactments and do original type tintypes and glass plate images. I have a couple of them. It is fascinating to watch how early photography was done. All the chemicals involved, don't smile, don't move, don't blink, etc...during the long exposure. Photography was still in its infancy during the war. But, had reached the level were a soldier could go into a studio and have his image struck to send back home. I have some original Carte de Vista's which are about the size of a business card and were pretty inexpensive back then. Original glass plate and tintypes can go for many thousands of dollars depending on subject, size, atmosphere, etc...Many thousands of CW glass plate pictures were used just after the war for greenhouses, window panes, etc...just for the glass. The subject faded away in the exposure to sun and the elements. Makes you wonder what was lost on them...
One at work this year and cool yt video of the process.
