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Figure #7 from The Venus Series by Lindsey Beal
Ruby Ambrotype, Quarter Plate (4¼“ x 3¼“) |
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Figure #17 from The Venus Series by Lindsey Beal
Alumitype Photogram, 4¼“ x 7¼“ |
I first met Lindsey nearly two years ago in
Anne Marie Kennedy’s summer papermaking class at the
University of Iowa Center for the Book. Since Lindsey is an
MFA photography student, and my background is in photography, specifically historic photographic processes, we had some common interests to talk about in addition to papermaking. (We also had a copperplate photogravure class later that summer where our newfound friendship continued to develop.)
We continued to talk on a regular basis and Lindsey expressed an earnest interest in learning wet-plate collodion and other historic photo processes. Since these are not offered at the University of Iowa, she found a way to learn it on her own, which led her to work with me beginning in the summer of 2010.
As it turns out, some of the work she did in that auspicious papermaking class – hand-made paper torsos - has proved to be the foundation for her thesis project. Lindsey’s dedicated and focused work in The Venus Series has been wonderful to behold. The wet-plate process can be difficult and frustrating to learn and yet Lindsey persevered with great enthusiasm, her positive attitude never wavering. She did not give up, as some students do, when those initial exposure times weren’t yielding the desired results, or her plates had “holes” where the developer didn’t flow properly. She kept working at it until she had excellent exposures and beautifully developed plates. I see her apply the same work ethic to all her projects - indeed this dedication is evident in all her work.
If you are in the area, I highly recommend you go check out Lindsey’s
Venus Series - and if you are not, check out her work
here.
Respectfully,
hf
