Def’n: A tintype, also known as a melainotype or ferrotype, is a photograph made by creating a direct positive on a thin sheet of metal coated with a dark lacquer or enamel and used as the support for the photographic emulsion.
A friend of mine had a tintype portrait done years ago and I remember being taken by the dramatic effect of this 19th century technique. Tintypes have become popular again recently in fine art and there are even filters that can be applied to mimic the classic tintype look and feel.
Tintype portraits tend not only to highlight but intensify every line, crease and blemish they come across and the effect can be quite intense. In this era of image and instagram, most strive for the “perfect pic” so tintypes are perhaps not an obvious choice. That’s exactly why I chose to have my own portrait done by tintype superstar photographer Kari Orvik. The response from friends has been entertaining. Many have described the photo as “beautiful” but some have said I’m unrecognizable, asking why I would want to “do this to myself.” To me, the honesty of the picture is the point.
Working in communications, I’m very comfortable in front of the camera but over the last 10 months since I got braces (again), I’ve been self conscious. I was concerned about the process emphasizing the metal in my mouth and while that is an accurate reflection of who I am in this moment, I didn’t want it to define or distract.
Kari to the rescue. She taught me how to smile again…or perhaps she taught me how to smile with braces. We literally talked through the physiology of the smile, opening my mouth as wide as I could, relaxing and then “POP” (the flash was so bright it nearly knocked me off the stool). We did three portraits in all and I’m brave enough to share each of them with you for after all, to make a tintype portrait is to lay oneself bare for all the world to see.
Adventures of a Bald Canadian 