I love all four! Great post Susanne. I think spirit photography is also a reflection of society’s enduring fascination with the unknown and the unseen.
Thank you, Shital! It absolutely is. It absolutely has a place in this world. You don't have to be spiritual to be fascinated by the unknown or invisible. Just be open to wonder...
Oooh I LOVE your ghostly self portraits! My sister and I used to love asking our camera-savvy uncle to take “ghost pictures” of us (long exposure but obviously magic)
Hi Susanne, I've included this in Flipboard's photography newsletter today. This isn't the actual newsletter, but it gives you an idea of what's in it. If you DM me your email, I can forward you a "hard copy" by the end of the week. https://flipboard.com/@mia/some-favorite-photography-substacks-50kq0f9araorioci Thanks for all that you do, and to the Substack community for recommending you in my Note!
Now after having time to re-read this article at a more leisurely pace, I have looked more closely and must really applaud your results with your ghostly self portraits. They seem a perfect companion for a ghostly account, or as cine-like stills. Bravo!
This is such a cool post on many levels. First, I had no idea that spirit photography existed (though I remember hearing about it somewhere vaguely), and I am grateful to learn about it. Secondly, the portrait of Mary Todd Lincoln is fantastic, and thirdly, your self portraits are amazing! I can’t believe you weren’t going to share them. I mean, yes, they certainly don’t seem like your current style but they for sure show off your abilities and creativity as a photographer! Love them!
This is so intriguing! I had no idea spirit photography existed, Susanne. Your topics are always so interesting! Of course my favorite photo is the first one :). I appreciate you sharing this.
I have some tintypes from the USA which seem (to me) to have an odd connection with the sitter. This single moment where they paid for a tintype at a fair or similar in the 1860/70’s - a little slice of their lives preserved on metal now sitting in my drawer. No messages coming through though!
I love tintypes. I think it is probably because of the long exposure time back them, that look a little „odd“ in those photos. I guess, I would be thankful if those tintype wouldn‘t try to send me any messages! 😉
Fascinating blog Suzanne. I really enjoyed learning about spirit photography as I had never heard of before. I enjoyed your images too - thanks for sharing them.
This was highly enjoyable to read, Susanne. I've never heard of the term Spirit Photography, and now, I am thoroughly impressed. The skill in creating those earlier photos is something to marvel at, especially from today's Photoshop and AI perspective. I especially enjoyed the one of the Lincolns - that is moving.
As for your self-portraits...well...I am thrilled you elected to share them. They are beautiful and creative. The one in the cemetery takes my breath away - I love the creative visual messaging...
It is a fascinating topic. It surprises me how early photographers started to explore the creative possibilities of this fairly new medium. So good to hear you enjoyed this. And thank you on your feedback on my photos. To me they feel silly, but I thought people might enjoy this glimpse I to my archive…
absolutely love the first one with you!
Thank you! I almost didn't include this one...
that would have been a mistake
I think the third is my favourite.
Interesting! I always loved the one in the graveyard the most. It was such an eerie place...
Beautiful work!
Thanks so much, Glenn!
I love all four! Great post Susanne. I think spirit photography is also a reflection of society’s enduring fascination with the unknown and the unseen.
Thank you, Shital! It absolutely is. It absolutely has a place in this world. You don't have to be spiritual to be fascinated by the unknown or invisible. Just be open to wonder...
Oooh I LOVE your ghostly self portraits! My sister and I used to love asking our camera-savvy uncle to take “ghost pictures” of us (long exposure but obviously magic)
Thank you, Anne! Yes, mine are long exposures too!) i hope you still have yours! 😃
My mom dug some of them up just now! Shared via restack :)
Hi Susanne, I've included this in Flipboard's photography newsletter today. This isn't the actual newsletter, but it gives you an idea of what's in it. If you DM me your email, I can forward you a "hard copy" by the end of the week. https://flipboard.com/@mia/some-favorite-photography-substacks-50kq0f9araorioci Thanks for all that you do, and to the Substack community for recommending you in my Note!
Thank you so much for including me in this Flipboard article. What an honor!
Super fun!!!
Thanks, Donn!
Fascinating, Susanne. And I love your self-portraits!
Thank you, Lynn!
Now after having time to re-read this article at a more leisurely pace, I have looked more closely and must really applaud your results with your ghostly self portraits. They seem a perfect companion for a ghostly account, or as cine-like stills. Bravo!
Thank you for taking the time to revisit my writing and my photos. It means a lot.
The locations these photos were made in, were just the perfect playground for these kind of images.
Very interesting
Thank, John!
Wow!
This is such a cool post on many levels. First, I had no idea that spirit photography existed (though I remember hearing about it somewhere vaguely), and I am grateful to learn about it. Secondly, the portrait of Mary Todd Lincoln is fantastic, and thirdly, your self portraits are amazing! I can’t believe you weren’t going to share them. I mean, yes, they certainly don’t seem like your current style but they for sure show off your abilities and creativity as a photographer! Love them!
Thank you, Manuela! It is a fascinating topic especially considering the time it was popular…
This is so intriguing! I had no idea spirit photography existed, Susanne. Your topics are always so interesting! Of course my favorite photo is the first one :). I appreciate you sharing this.
Thank you for your feedback, Juliette. I am thrilled to see so many didn’t know about this and enjoyed the read.
Fascinating! I had never heard of this before. And all this without Photoshop or AI… perhaps that’s next! Thank you for the info.
I think that is the most fascinating thing to - how early the photographers started to get creative with the medium.
I have some tintypes from the USA which seem (to me) to have an odd connection with the sitter. This single moment where they paid for a tintype at a fair or similar in the 1860/70’s - a little slice of their lives preserved on metal now sitting in my drawer. No messages coming through though!
I love tintypes. I think it is probably because of the long exposure time back them, that look a little „odd“ in those photos. I guess, I would be thankful if those tintype wouldn‘t try to send me any messages! 😉
Fascinating blog Suzanne. I really enjoyed learning about spirit photography as I had never heard of before. I enjoyed your images too - thanks for sharing them.
Thank you, Gill! I didn’t know such genre existed until I read about it. Glad you enjoyed it!
This was highly enjoyable to read, Susanne. I've never heard of the term Spirit Photography, and now, I am thoroughly impressed. The skill in creating those earlier photos is something to marvel at, especially from today's Photoshop and AI perspective. I especially enjoyed the one of the Lincolns - that is moving.
As for your self-portraits...well...I am thrilled you elected to share them. They are beautiful and creative. The one in the cemetery takes my breath away - I love the creative visual messaging...
It is a fascinating topic. It surprises me how early photographers started to explore the creative possibilities of this fairly new medium. So good to hear you enjoyed this. And thank you on your feedback on my photos. To me they feel silly, but I thought people might enjoy this glimpse I to my archive…
Thank you Susanne for a very interesting "wrong turn" - fascinating. I love your first gostly self-portrait - those colours are great
Thanks, James! Glad you enjoyed it!