The Daguerreotype: Contemporary work by Jonathan Danforth

Thank you to everyone that has e-mailed with questions, comments, etc. over the past year.  I love hearing from you and answering you questions.  A few weeks ago I met with a local student who is making daguerreotypes.  She and I practiced copper polishing and shared some tips.  This is exactly the kind of interaction that I thrive on.  My friend Kaden calls it “spreading your knowledge” and encourages me to do so whenever he can.

This year has been a good one for spreading my knowledge and for learning new information.  I have had daguerreotype students, been an adviser on two college papers, and taught the finer points of destroying daguerreotypes to my own teacher.  I can’t count the number of e-mails I’ve answered regarding the daguerreotype process… I’m overjoyed that some of those people have even made their own daguerreotypes too.

The highlight of my year was returning to London to attend the opening of Mat Collishaw’s “Shooting Stars” at Haunch of Venison London.  Mat is an artist with acute talent and it has been and remains an honour (that spelling’s for you, Mat!) collaborating with him on his two projects: “Shooting Stars” and “Deliverance“.

While in London I was able also to share a few pints with Brenton West, “Dr. Dag.”  We had a great time at his gallery opening despite the torrential rain and I enjoyed benefiting from his tremendous knowledge on silversmithing and daguerreotypie alike.

Another London artist taught me some valuable lessons this year.  Tom Leighton and I worked on some daguerreotypes of his images but my poor planning really made the project fall apart.  I thank Tom for his patience and understanding.  The images that did come out looked very good and I’m honored to have worked with him.

I was very privileged to work with an artist for whom I’m not sure I’m allowed to name on some unique square-format daguerreotypes for his “Old Haunts” series.  This was a delightful process and I hope to continue the relationship in 2009!

The inimitable Dean Snyder and I collaborated on a daguerreotype for his “Almost Blue” project at the Tang Museum.  What a joy that was!

I made daguerreotypes this year for half a dozen newlyweds.  These are my favorites… keep ‘em coming, they make great gifts!

For the first time I attended the Daguerreian Society Symposium.  This event was a tremendous pleasure.  I was privileged to meet about two dozen people that I have collaborated with, taught, advised, and begged advice of over the past five years.  Washington, DC was close enough that I was able to drive and, therefore, bring my wife and son for a little vacation.  I will definitely attend next year’s symposium if only to visit with my charished daguerreian friends.

Speaking of daguerreian friends, 2008 saw the opening of several brand new resources for daguerreotypists and collectors both.  Back in June I declared 2008 to be “The Year of the Daguerreotype.”  The chatter on daguerreotypes escalated this year to a point that I doubt the subject has seen since 1840.  Alan Bekhuis created a terrific resource on artists, equipment, process, etc. and Jon Lewis created a fantastic discussion forum.

We saw the launch of a new blog by the upcoming daguerreotypist Andy Stockton.  The Daguerreotypist blog is a well-written account of one man’s determination (and suffering!) in the process of becoming a daguerreotypist.  His writing has been a tremendous boon to the online daguerreotypist culture.

The show at Through This Lens in Durham, NC was well received and I’m encouraged.

I look forward to an exciting 2009 full of new art and new challenges.

-Jonathan

My work will be on display at Through This Lens in Durham, NC starting tonight and through the end of January 2009.   My work will be showing alongside the work of the very talented Mikel Robinson and Emma Powell.  Come on out!  I will be at the gallery most of the evening and I love meeting new people.

Jonathan

There’s a Flickr group for contemporary daguerreotypes now.

I can’t figure out how to get MINE in there but hey… I keep getting the message that the image is either already inside the group, in too many groups, or is restricted. As far as I know my images aren’t in ANY groups but I’m not even sure how to see if that’s the case.

Anyway… check it out.

Jonathan

I hereby declare 2008 the “Year of the Daguerreotype.” I have been simply amazed at the increase in traffic to my site, communications with new daguerreotypists and other artists, communications with new collectors, and interest in daguerreotypes in general in the past six months.

Yesterday I announced the opening of an internet forum all about daguerreotypes and today I receive this e-mail from my dear friend Alan:

Dear Fellow Daguerreians

In an effort to promote a forum for discussions on contemporary Daguerreotypy, I have set up a website at:
http://www.contemporarydaguerreotypes.info/

It has a forums section and in the main website a galleries section where I hope to have images of interest. If you would like your own gallery webpage with the main site, showing your images and contact information, please email me the material. I hope to make an egalitarian community website that will be of interest to you. Please feel free to send me requests as to what you would like to see on the website.

Best regards,
Alan Bekhuis
CasedImage.com

How splendid!

Jonathan

Jon Lewis has created an online forum for the discussion of all things daguerreotype. The forum isn’t just for practicing daguerreotypists but is geared for the discussion of collecting, preservation, case making, etc. Go check it out!

-Jonathan