Sixth Plate

ONE OF THOSE DAYS. The questions must be asked, was this the very best the daguerreotypist could produce (if so, how many weeks did he manage to stay active) or did the fellow simply have an off day? His young subjects had their serious faces in place for the retaped sixth plate! They were told to sit straight, cross their hands and don’t move. Not bad lads! The kid on the left had a wonky eye and his companion has a stain on his face and two specks of tarnish near his nose. You can see the tiny brown dots and the patina. Their shirts were both solarized. The intact leather case is fine.