Ambrotype

Ambrotype - Ambrotype print - Collodion positive

An ambrotype is an early photographic process that was popular in the mid-19th century, especially during the 1850s and 1860s. It involves creating a direct positive image on a glass plate coated with a light-sensitive collodion solution. The plate is exposed to light while inside the camera, and then developed and fixed immediately after exposure to create a unique, one-of-a-kind photograph.

Ambrotypes are known for their distinctive appearance. The glass plate, when viewed against a dark background, creates a positive image with rich, dark tones and reversed left-to-right orientation. To enhance the visibility of the image, the back of the glass plate was often painted or covered with a dark material.