Jerry Spagnoli Demonstrates Making a Daguerreotype

Jerry Spagnoli is an acknowledged expert in the field of Daguerreotype photography. This six minute video gives a hint of how Jerry goes about making one of his images.
Using the Becquerel method, Jerry teaches aficionados how to make their own Daguerreotype plates using non-lethal ingredients and modern instruments.
Watch the video and see why you should take one of Jerry's workshops, like this one given at the Photographers' Formulary in Condon, Montana!

[@johnmcmahon8513]

Can you imagine how many times the inventor failed before he finally got it right?? (Years ?)

[@nikolaoslazaris7719]

Daguerre? 12 whole years...

[@goognamgoognw6637]

blows my mind how Louis Daguerre invented this without power tool to polish the plate , electricity for darkroom red light, gas, and many other things.

[@Chiaroscuro1991]

When I teach the process I don’t let the students use power tools. Just tufts of cotton for cleaning with rottenstone and a hand buff for polishing with lamp black.

[@estebanasecas]

such a work!

[@Chiaroscuro1991]

Great demo … and what rocks they have there!

[@derekdjay]

1:00 the way the wheels appear to spin when he's polishing the plate is crazy

[@AnthonyMournian]

The wheel was spinning at high speed, in a clockwise direction. I polished a plate myself and it was simple.

[@WooSungChoi]

Loved the video!

[@jcjensenllc]

I thought mercury was used but no mention of it here.

[@TheStockwell]

He's using the "Becquerel" variation of the process which uses iodide beads 2:20 and red light. It's safer, of course. ☺

[@reviewgodusa9613]

@@TheStockwell how's it safer

[@TheStockwell]

@@reviewgodusa9613 It's done without mercury. The George Eastman Museum has an overview of how to do it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJ-xhptpr7iYhMk

[@reviewgodusa9613]

@@TheStockwell what's wrong with mercury

[@ianbakke]

@@reviewgodusa9613 Are you dumb? Mercury is poisonous, especially it’s vapor which is what’s used to develop a daguerreotype.