Daguerreotype of the US Customs House - Charleston, SC
I’m very pleased to report that my little experiment worked. I have returned from Charleston, SC with a whole plate daguerreotype of the beautiful United States Custom House. This lovely if gigantic piece of federal architecture was eventually completed in 1879 after a staccato and discontinuous twenty-six year construction process that began in 1853.
The building is still in use today for its original purpose although I was not able to go inside. I believe that this is one of the most attractive buildings in the city of Charleston although it seems rather
out of place. Nestled on East Bay street at the head of the (in)famous slave market (wherein one may now only buy trinkets and fudge), the stout US Customs House will likely remain until Charleston is again the inaugural site of a bloody war.
This daguerreotype of the structure as it faces the Cooper river is the result of a three minute exposure on an October morning. I chose to push the dag to the limit and overexposed the sky so as to bring out the detail under the roof. Though overexposed, the detail is exquisite. My favorite element, shown at right, is the anachronistic mini blinds on the left-hand side of the piece (right of building).
A truly stunning frame is on order for this unique piece and I will be exhibiting it at an upcoming show. After the show I’ll be putting this puppy on eBay unless some person is kind enough to present me a fistful of currency.
