Alt processes in the attic

Beehive Woodpile by John Coffer

Tin type photographer John Coffer is profiled in Wired. His dedication to 19th century photographic processes could be described as eccentric, but he's no poseur. He lives the 1860s lifestyle, catering to Civil War reenactors. Now he's caught the eye of New York collectors and is currently showing at Kerrigan and Campbell. The Wired article includes a link to "Razor", a short, looped movie made from 15 tintype prints. Just think what a pain that was to make.

I tend to dismiss alt process work because the novelty of the material is so strongly represented in the final work that it's often hard to discern whether the subject, technique and/or photographer's eye really is the draw. In this case, Coffer is adding something new in the same way as, say, Gursky. He's making really BIG tin types.

Through June 26 at Kerrigan + Campbell
317 E 9th St (btwn 1st & 2nd Ave)
(212) 505-7196