Tintype 1862 — hold still, or become a ghost

The wet-plate portrait camera. Frame yourself on the ground glass, take the cap off the brass lens, hold still through the count — and the camera really drinks the light for 3, 6 or 10 seconds. Whatever stays still comes out sharp; whatever moves turns to mist. Then the plate develops in front of you: the milky negative, the fix, the varnish, on black iron with poured edges or behind a brass mat. Blue-sensitive like the real thing — red lips go dark, skies go white — with the old portrait lens swirling at the edges. Mirrored like a plate, saved to Photos. Try moving halfway through.