These tintypes are a part of a larger mosaic piece entitled 'eat grapes'.  Each individual tintype is 5"x7".

I had the pleasure of photographing the multi-talented San Diego musician Brian Karscig this week at my studio.  He sat for a few of my single second tintype portraits, and this one was my favorite.  You can hear his music at his band's website The Nervous Wreckords.

My husband and I taking a portrait at home.  It didn't make the holiday card that year.  If you are unfamiliar, the original cover of the Beatles record for Yesterday and Today looked like this: 

From the Guardian UK :  'When Capitol released Yesterday and Today, cobbled together from other albums including Revolver and Help! the Fab Four, reportedly outraged that their art was being "butchered", posed for this photo. Capitol released it in June 1966, but faced with rejection by distributors, they had to recall thousands of "Butcher" LPs. Panicked, they rustled up a gloomy and unflattering photo - ever since known as the Trunk Cover - and pasted them over the recalled jackets. In that process, they created one of the holy grails of record collecting.'

Us, being fans of the music and the absurdity of the original photo had to recreate. 
Shot on 35mm ultra color, with my trusty Nikon N65.

Silver gelatin photographs of a lightning storm as it hit the Vegas strip.  This was the view from our balcony, while living in Vegas for 10 months.  The desert landscape was desolate and sparse, the weather violent at times as here.  A lightning series shot to 35mm film in a 1960's Minolta.  This is a camera kept on my lap while driving, always close at hand while home.  Here dances a lightning storm just for me as I stood on my balcony this unforgiving night.  

Arms forming a tripod with the balcony ledge, holding still breath for a second, as click, click, click, click.  The sky cracked wide open, and in a moment was calm again. 

Studio tintypes of a few toys in my toy chest. 

Smiles for miles, a 5x7 tintype created in my studio. 

My husband, my love.

5x7 tintypes with timeless gents, hear them at www.transferband.com

a 5x7 tintype

Liz, and her two beautiful sons came by for a tintype.  The boys are so sweet and timeless in their suspenders.
Happy Mother's day to all the mommas!

8x10 tintypes

Remembering those special moments with photographic restoration.  The original image is a 2" x 3" faded color photograph of Paula and her parents on her graduation day from St. Francis School of Nursing, in June of 1966.  Paula was twenty and just three years out of high school when she completed the nursing program that brought her to San Francisco.  She went right from graduation to working as a nurses aide until she received her license.  Paula then worked in a medical surgical unit and later as head nurse for several different units.  Her career as a nurse lasted 38 years until she retired.  Her education cost roughly 2200 per year and included room & board, uniforms & laundry; it is quite a shift from the nursing educational requirements of today.  Paula's whole education and first brand new car (blue vw bug) cost less than ten thousand dollars.  Paula is my second mother, and always an example of the 3 p's.  Pretty, poised, and practical, she is a self made gal and I love her.  I restored this photo as an early mother's day gift, that I could frame and mail to Paula to celebrate her accomplishments as a professional woman and loving mom.

Tintypes were originally packaged in little pressed paper and leather cases with brass fittings. I made this little case with the original 1860's packaging in mind, but wanted to apply my own twist.  I used two 3"x3" pieces of wood, painted black as the outside of the case.  The small brass door lock is a replica of an antique style, and I thought a nice touch.  Inside, I lined the case with cotton batting and inserted a face I know and love. 

Keeping a delicate balance.  An 8 x 10 tintype.

A new piece added to the tintype jewelry shop!  This pendant is a one of a kind, made on blue aluminum.

Part two from last week's post, Making miniature tintypes.  I took two of the miniature tintypes I made and created wearable art in the form of a set of men's cufflinks.  Perfect for the man in your life who is a lover of three things: tintypes, french cuffs, and looking classy! 

You can purchase this one of a kind set here.  Want to create a custom set of your own using your personal images?  I can do that!  Just contact me to get started.