\u00c1m ha valaki a huszonegyedik sz\u00e1zadban, a digitaliz\u00e1ci\u00f3 vadkapitalizmus\u00e1ban, szabad akarat\u00e1b\u00f3l, mindenf\u00e9le k\u00e9nyszert\u0151l mentesen \u00fagy d\u00f6nt, hogy m\u00e1rpedig \u0151 a hetente, havonta felbukkan\u00f3 \u00faj csodag\u00e9pek, mindentud\u00f3 szoftverek \u00e9s hardverek ringlispilj\u00e9b\u0151l kivonja mag\u00e1t, \u00e9s a tizenkilencedik sz\u00e1zad elj\u00e1r\u00e1saival hozza l\u00e9tre f\u00e9ny-k\u00e9peit, akkor az illet\u0151t b\u00e1r sokfajta sz\u00e1nd\u00e9k vez\u00e9relheti, de azt val\u00f3sz\u00edn\u0171leg eld\u00f6nt\u00f6tte, hogy \u0151 nem sokak akar lenni, hanem, ha lehet, ink\u00e1bb egyek. Felsorol\u00e1s k\u00f6vetkezik a mi\u00e9rtek lehets\u00e9ges fajt\u00e1ir\u00f3l:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Nem tudja, nem akarja a technikai fejleszt\u00e9seket naprak\u00e9szen lek\u00f6vetni<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- T\u00f6bbre becs\u00fcli a saj\u00e1t k\u00e9tkezi munk\u00e1j\u00e1t, mint a t\u00f6megtermel\u00e9st<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Azt gondolja, hogy v\u00e9tek elfelejteni mindazt, amit el\u0151deink tudtak<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Habitusa, szem\u00e9lyis\u00e9ge miatt ink\u00e1bb az elm\u00e9ly\u00fclt, mag\u00e1nyos munk\u00e1lkod\u00e1st szereti<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Azt gondolja, hogy minden t\u00e9m\u00e1hoz, k\u00e9pi elk\u00e9pzel\u00e9shez megfelel\u0151 technik\u00e1t kell v\u00e1lasztani, ez\u00e9rt megtanulja a digit\u00e1lis mellett az archaikust is<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- \u00c9s \u00edgy tov\u00e1bb, lehet ikszelgetni, vagy \u00faj mez\u0151ket nyitni.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Varga Tam\u00e1s ind\u00edt\u00e9kai csak r\u00e9szben ismertek el\u0151ttem, de ebb\u00e9li munk\u00e1lkod\u00e1s\u00e1nak eredm\u00e9nyeit j\u00f3r\u00e9szt l\u00e1ttam. L\u00e1ttam p\u00e1lyakezd\u00e9s\u00e9t, els\u0151 nyilv\u00e1noss\u00e1gra hozott pr\u00f3b\u00e1lkoz\u00e1sait, \u00e9s figyeltem, mik\u00e9nt lesz az \u00e9vek alatt v\u00e1lasztott technik\u00e1j\u00e1nak igazi mestere. Sok archaista f\u00e9nyk\u00e9p\u00e9sszel ellent\u00e9tben \u0151 nem m\u00faltba r\u00e9ved\u0151 retro k\u00e9peket gy\u00e1rt k\u00fcl\u00f6nleges elj\u00e1r\u00e1sokkal, hanem huszonegyedik sz\u00e1zadi fejjel, szemmel, l\u00e1t\u00e1sm\u00f3ddal haszn\u00e1lja a tizenkilencedik sz\u00e1zadi technik\u00e1kat. \u00c9s ez j\u00f3. Mi\u00f3ta csak Flesch B\u00e1linttal elind\u00edtottuk a g\u00f6d\u00f6ll\u0151i technikat\u00f6rt\u00e9neti kurzusokat, folyton mondjuk, hogy nem el\u00e9g a vegyszerek pontos kever\u00e9si ar\u00e1nyait elsaj\u00e1t\u00edtani, nem el\u00e9g r\u00e9gi eszk\u00f6z\u00f6ket, g\u00e9peket, m\u00e1sol\u00f3kereteket beszerezni, nem el\u00e9g az am\u00fagy mag\u00e1t meglehet\u0151sen nehezen megad\u00f3, sokadszorra is meglepet\u00e9sek garmad\u00e1j\u00e1t okoz\u00f3 technol\u00f3gi\u00e1kat begyakorolni, mert a v\u00e9geredm\u00e9ny a K\u00e9p. K\u00e9sz\u00fclj\u00f6n az b\u00e1rhogy, egyszer\u0171en vagy baromi komplik\u00e1ltan, ha a k\u00e9p \u00e9rdektelen, \u00fcres, gondolatn\u00e9lk\u00fcli, akkor k\u00e1r volt az ez\u00fcstnitr\u00e1t\u00e9rt, k\u00e1r volt a r\u00e1ford\u00edtott rengeteg id\u0151\u00e9rt. Folyton mondjuk, imm\u00e1ron harminc \u00e9ve mondjuk, de nem gondoljuk, hogy mindenki f\u00fcl\u00e9ig eljutott volna. Szerencs\u00e9re VT-nak j\u00f3 f\u00fcle van. Meg j\u00f3 szeme. Meg k\u00e9z\u00fcgyess\u00e9ge. Meg elsz\u00e1nts\u00e1ga. Hogy mije van m\u00e9g, nem tudhatom, de ebben a kontextusban tal\u00e1n nem is \u00e9rdekes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sz\u00e1momra a ma archaikus technik\u00e1kkal dolgoz\u00f3 fot\u00f3sainak szem\u00e9lyis\u00e9ge semmiben sem k\u00fcl\u00f6nb\u00f6zik azok\u00e9t\u00f3l a pion\u00edrokt\u00f3l, akik annak idej\u00e9n, m\u00e9g a koll\u00f3diumos nedves elj\u00e1r\u00e1s felfedez\u00e9se el\u0151tt, \u00e1thaj\u00f3ztak az \u00f3ce\u00e1non, majd kord\u00e9ikon nekiv\u00e1gtak a felfedezetlen Amerika pr\u00e9rijeinek, megk\u00fczdve sz\u00e1mos ismert \u00e9s sokkal t\u00f6bb v\u00e1ratlan neh\u00e9zs\u00e9ggel. Ezek \u00e9s azok is nekiindultak az ismeretlennek, csak az ir\u00e1nyz\u00e9k volt ford\u00edtva felszerelve, emezek el\u0151re mentek a kisz\u00e1m\u00edthatatlanba, a r\u00e9gi f\u00e9nyk\u00e9pk\u00e9sz\u00edt\u00e9st m\u00edvel\u0151k meg h\u00e1trafel\u00e9 ugyanabba. A pion\u00edrok az \u00e9n szememben a v\u00e1llalkoz\u00f3 kedv\u0171, semmit\u0151l meg nem retten\u0151, innovat\u00edv, a j\u00f3 \u00e9rtelemben vett egy \u00fcgy\u0171 emberek csoportj\u00e1ba tartoztak, s b\u00e1r sokf\u00e9le borzalmat elk\u00f6vettek, ezek\u00e9rt a tulajdons\u00e1gaik\u00e9rt valahogy m\u00e9gis becs\u00fcl\u00f6m \u0151ket. Az archaikus fot\u00f3sok sz\u00e1ml\u00e1j\u00e1n szerencs\u00e9re kevesebb a borzalmas tett, sehol nem irtott\u00e1k ki az \u0151slakosokat \u00e9s a b\u00f6l\u00e9nycsord\u00e1kat, de legal\u00e1bb annyira v\u00e1llalkoz\u00f3 kedv\u0171ek, semmit\u0151l meg nem retten\u0151k, innovat\u00edvak \u00e9s egy \u00fcgy\u0171ek. \u00c9s ezek a tulajdons\u00e1gok egy m\u0171v\u00e9szeti \u00e1g m\u0171vel\u0151i k\u00f6r\u00e9ben \u2013 h\u00e1t bizony nem \u00e9ppen k\u00e1rosak. Tud\u00e1s \u00e9s szakmai, eszt\u00e9tikai \u00e9s egy\u00e9b ismeretek n\u00e9lk\u00fcl lehet ugyan nyomkodni az automat\u00e1ra \u00e1ll\u00edtott legbonyolultabb Nikonokat is, de a v\u00e9geredm\u00e9ny m\u00e9gsem ugyanaz lesz, mint egy minden r\u00e9szlet\u00e9ben t\u0151l\u00fcnk f\u00fcgg\u0151, a kez\u00fcnk, munk\u00e1nk, tud\u00e1sunk nyom\u00e1n l\u00e9trej\u00f6v\u0151 anal\u00f3g fot\u00f3 eset\u00e9ben. A vil\u00e1g nagyobbik r\u00e9sze elrohant mellett\u00fcnk. Ne b\u00e1njuk, sehov\u00e1 sem vezet az \u00fatjuk. Ha Varga Tam\u00e1s \u00e9let\u00fatj\u00e1t n\u00e9zz\u00fck, akkor ez sokszorosan igaznak bizonyul. El\u0151bb orvos lett, majd f\u00e9nyk\u00e9p\u00e9sz, f\u00e9nyk\u00e9p\u00e9szb\u0151l archaikus fot\u00f3s\u2026 \u00e9s m\u00e9g ki tudja, merre megy tov\u00e1bb, de semmir\u0151l nem k\u00e9sett le, s\u0151t, ink\u00e1bb kiny\u00edlt sz\u00e1m\u00e1ra a vil\u00e1g, m\u00e1sk\u00e9nt, m\u00e9lyebben, analiz\u00e1l\u00f3bb m\u00f3don, mint kor\u00e1bban.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Akik ezt a k\u00f6nyvet kez\u00fckbe fogj\u00e1k, azokr\u00f3l t\u00e9telezz\u00fck fel, hogy t\u00f6bbnyire tudj\u00e1k, mik\u00e9nt is megy az ilyenfajta k\u00e9palkot\u00e1s, de a kisebbs\u00e9get is megilleti a tud\u00e1s joga, elmondom h\u00e1t di\u00f3h\u00e9jban, hogyan k\u00e9sz\u00fcltek fent nevezett szem\u00e9ly k\u00e9pei, megism\u00e9telve, hogy nem a c\u00e9l fel\u00e9 vezet\u0151 \u00fat, hanem a v\u00e9g\u00e1llom\u00e1son felmutatott K\u00e9p az igaz\u00e1n l\u00e9nyeges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kezdj\u00fck az elej\u00e9n! Rengeteg szakk\u00f6nyvet, internetes port\u00e1lt elolvasott, sokfajta m\u00f3don k\u00e9pezte mag\u00e1t, mert az archaikus technik\u00e1kra, h\u00e1la Istennek, m\u00e9g nincsen t\u00e1vol-keleti szoftver. Mert, nincs igazi m\u0171v\u00e9szeti praxis a megfelel\u0151 elm\u00e9leti tud\u00e1s megalapozotts\u00e1ga n\u00e9lk\u00fcl, mondom ezt m\u00e9g akkor is, ha nem vagyok ezzel a kijelent\u00e9semmel sokak szem\u00e9ben el\u00e9g trendi. Ut\u00e1na megpr\u00f3b\u00e1lta a So\u00f3sn\u00e1l, bizom\u00e1nyikban, \u00f3cskapiacokon megv\u00e1s\u00e1rolni az egykor haszn\u00e1latos eszk\u00f6z\u00f6ket. Nem keveset, nem kev\u00e9s\u00e9rt. Amikor mindez megvolt, elindult bev\u00e1s\u00e1rolni. Elment az \u00fcvegeshez, m\u00e9retre v\u00e1gatott egy halom megfelel\u0151 vastags\u00e1g\u00fa, hib\u00e1tlan hengerel\u00e9s\u0171 \u00fcveglapot. Innen tov\u00e1bb a vegyszerboltba. Megvette dr\u00e1ga p\u00e9nzen az ez\u00fcst-nitr\u00e1tot \u00e9s m\u00e9g \u2013 ha j\u00f3l eml\u00e9kszem \u2013 h\u00e9t m\u00e1s k\u00e9miai szert. Hazament. Berendezte a m\u0171hely\u00e9t, laborat\u00f3rium\u00e1t a napf\u00e9nyelj\u00e1r\u00e1sokhoz sz\u00fcks\u00e9ges kell\u00e9kekkel, lehet\u0151s\u00e9g szerint makul\u00e1tlan tisztas\u00e1got teremtve. \u00dcveget tiszt\u00edt, zs\u00edrtalan\u00edt. Alkoholt, \u00e9tert vegy\u00edt, f\u00e9l s\u00f6t\u00e9tben koll\u00f3diumot \u00f6nt, ez\u00fcst-nitr\u00e1ttal \u00e9rz\u00e9keny\u00edt. K\u00f6zben modell ut\u00e1n n\u00e9z, t\u00fcrelmes szavakkal v\u00e1ratja, nyugtatgatja, hogy a megfelel\u0151 lemez\u00e1llapotban k\u00e9zn\u00e9l legyen annak feje. A m\u00e9g nedves lemezt bekazett\u00e1zza. Megy a g\u00e9phez, be\u00e1ll\u00edtja, elrendezi a modellt, expoz\u00edci\u00f3s id\u0151t sz\u00e1mol, kompon\u00e1l, kinyitja a z\u00e1rat. Egy id\u0151 m\u00falva becsukja. Modellnek gyors p\u00e1, de maradjon m\u00e9g a k\u00f6zelben, mert ki tudja, nem kell-e ism\u00e9telni, azt\u00e1n s\u00f6t\u00e9tkamra, el\u0151h\u00edv\u00e1s, megk\u00f6nnyebb\u00fclt s\u00f3haj, vagy elmormolt szitoksz\u00f3. Lemez sz\u00e1rad, modell mehet. Ut\u00f3munk\u00e1k. Innen \u00fajra m\u0171helly\u00e9 alakul a t\u00e9r, \u00e9s ipaross\u00e1 a m\u0171v\u00e9sz, mert a nagym\u00e9ret\u0171 \u00fcvegnegat\u00edvb\u00f3l pozit\u00edvot, abb\u00f3l ki\u00e1ll\u00edthat\u00f3 m\u0171t\u00e1rgyat kell csin\u00e1lni.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Varga Tam\u00e1snak ezek a f\u00e9ny \u00e1ltal megterm\u00e9keny\u00edtett f\u00e9ny\u00e9rz\u00e9keny anyagokon sz\u00fcletett k\u00e9pei n\u00e9h\u00e1ny dologban nagyon elt\u00e9rnek a megszokott f\u00e9nyk\u00e9pfelv\u00e9telekt\u0151l. Egyr\u00e9szr\u0151l jellemz\u0151j\u00fck az a hihetetlen gazdag, de m\u00e9gis sz\u0171k\u00edtett t\u00f3nussk\u00e1la, mely n\u00e9lk\u00fcl\u00f6zi a vak\u00edt\u00f3 feh\u00e9ret \u00e9s \u00e1ltal\u00e1ban n\u00e9lk\u00fcl\u00f6zi a m\u00e9lyfeket\u00e9t, de cser\u00e9be a kett\u0151 k\u00f6z\u00f6tt az \u00e1rnyalatoknak olyan terjedelm\u00e9t produk\u00e1lja, amit egyetlen m\u00e1sik fot\u00f3elj\u00e1r\u00e1s sem. M\u00e1sr\u00e9szr\u0151l, miut\u00e1n kiiktattunk egy optikai l\u00e9pcs\u0151t, amikor a k\u00e9sz negat\u00edvokat ism\u00e9t pozit\u00edv k\u00e9pp\u00e9 vil\u00e1g\u00edtjuk, fantasztikus vonal\u00e9less\u00e9get tudunk l\u00e9trehozni. Nem v\u00e9letlen, hogy az itt bemutatott nagym\u00e9ret\u0171 portr\u00e9k pillant\u00e1sa szinte felny\u00e1rsal benn\u00fcnket, nem tudunk nem a szem\u00fckbe n\u00e9zni. Az ilyenfajta k\u00e9peknek tov\u00e1bbi vonz\u00f3 tulajdons\u00e1ga, hogy anyagb\u00f3l vannak, l\u00e1that\u00f3, \u00e9rz\u00e9kelhet\u0151 (\u00e1mde nem tapinthat\u00f3, mert az tilos!) mat\u00e9ria ker\u00fclt a hordoz\u00f3 \u00fcvegre, vaslemezre, alum\u00edniumlemezre. Mindegyik egyed\u00fcli p\u00e9ld\u00e1ny, hagyom\u00e1nyos m\u00f3don nem sokszoros\u00edthat\u00f3, ez\u00e9rt soha sem lesz a t\u00f6megtermel\u00e9s c\u00e9lja, eszk\u00f6ze. Mindegyik mag\u00e1n viseli alkot\u00f3ja jellegzetes keze nyom\u00e1t. H\u00e1t, ha valamit, akkor ezt azt\u00e1n nagyon b\u00edrom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A k\u00f6nyvbe v\u00e1logatott k\u00e9pek m\u0171faji soksz\u00edn\u0171s\u00e9ge felt\u0171n\u0151. Van benne \u00f6narck\u00e9p, portr\u00e9, t\u00e1j- \u00e9s v\u00e1rosk\u00e9p, zs\u00e1ner. Van benn\u00fck gesztusfot\u00f3, kompozit- \u00e9s konceptk\u00e9p, makrofot\u00f3, szekvencia, csend\u00e9let\u2026 Mintha csak lelt\u00e1rozni szerette volna a szerz\u0151, mi mindenre lehet haszn\u00e1lni az \u00e1ltala uralt technik\u00e1kat, s hogy az \u0151 fej\u00e9ben micsoda dolgok forognak, keringenek folyton folyv\u00e1st. Kicsit sem egyszer\u0171 sem a megfejt\u00e9s, sem az \u00e9rt\u00e9k\u00edt\u00e9let, sokkal \u00f6sszetettebb ez az eg\u00e9sz ann\u00e1l, mintsem meggondolatlanul ezt vagy azt mondjunk, \u00edrjunk r\u00f3la. Maradjunk annyiban, ez a k\u00f6nyv k\u00e9t szempontb\u00f3l figyelemre m\u00e9lt\u00f3. L\u00e1tjuk, hov\u00e1 fejl\u0151d\u00f6tt egy archaikus technika, ha \u00e9rt\u0151 kezek, gondolkod\u00f3 fej \u00e9s m\u0171v\u00e9szi v\u00e9na haszn\u00e1lja. \u00c9s a m\u00e1sik szem\u00e9lyes. Itt van egy alkot\u00f3, aki most, ezzel a k\u00f6nyvvel bekopogtat a Parnasszus kapuj\u00e1n.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00c9s hogy kicsit privatiz\u00e1ljak is itt a v\u00e9g\u00e9n, hadd mondjam el a szem\u00e9lyes benyom\u00e1somat. Ha \u00e9n orvos lenn\u00e9k, mindig ambrot\u00edpi\u00e1kat – koll\u00f3diumos pozit\u00edvokat csin\u00e1ln\u00e9k\u2026 Ha \u00e9n beteg lenn\u00e9k, csak ilyen orvost szeretn\u00e9k magamnak, aki velem is olyan elm\u00e9ly\u00fclten, ig\u00e9nyesen \u00e9s \u00e9rt\u0151 m\u00f3don foglalkozik, mint dr. Varga Tam\u00e1s a k\u00e9peivel. \u00c9s akkor a k\u00f6r bez\u00e1rult. Doktorvarga csin\u00e1lja tov\u00e1bb a jobbn\u00e1l jobb f\u00e9nyk\u00e9peit, \u00e9n meg ne legyek beteg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/tamasvarga.hu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/kg-740x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSince time immemorial, since we\u2019ve had what we call art, there\u2019s always been the ones who don\u2019t conform to the mainstream, whatever their reason. The ones<\/strong> whose lives and art were different from that of the many<\/strong>. This is by no means a value judgement \u2013 there are plenty of talented mainstream artists and just as many botchers who go against the grain, wanting to be seen different, full of hustle, rustle and bustle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ever wondered what makes one living in the twenty-first century, in the wild west of the digital age, shun the merry-go-round of the latest digital gadgets, ignore the weekly upgrades of cutting edge apps and to-die-for hardware, in favour of laboriously crafting images with antiquated methods of a bygone era? All that purely of one\u2019s own accord and not by any constraint. There may be scores of personal reasons, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- One is not willing or incapable to adapt to the advances in technology<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- One values manual craft over mass production<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- One strives to keep alive and pass on the knowledge that our forebears handed down to us<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- One is inclined to work meticulously and alone<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- One believes that each subject and visual concept deserves its own technique so they study and employ historical processes along with digital imagery<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- And the list goes on, add your own theory.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Any which way, the person in question has certainly made a choice not to be part of the many<\/strong> but be one of the few ones<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I can only have an educated guess at why Tam\u00e1s Varga made the hard choice, although I had the chance to follow his path, from when he first tried his hand at alternative processes, all through the years until he truly mastered the process of his choice. Unlike many photographers who are content with historicising and going for a retro feel that these peculiar techniques easily lend themselves to, he uses a 19th century photographic process to construct genuinely contemporary images, deeply rooted in how we see, think and live in the 21st century. And I like it, to be honest. Ever since we started a course on historical processes with B\u00e1lint Flesch in G\u00f6d\u00f6ll\u0151, we\u2019ve been trying to make it a point that it is not enough to learn the exact chemical recipes; not enough to acquire the paraphernalia of vintage cameras, contact frames and what not; not enough to practice and drill the complicated steps of these arcane processes that always hold surprises, because the end result is, after all, an Image. It doesn\u2019t matter how simple or convoluted the technique, if it fails to intrigue or convey an idea, then it was a waste of time and silver nitrate. We\u2019ve been sermonising about it for thirty years but seemingly our advice has largely fallen on deaf ears. Not so with Tam\u00e1s Varga, who proved to be a good listener. More than that, he not only pricks up his ears but keeps his eyes peeled. Not to mention his exceptional dexterity and tenacity. What other skills he possesses I cannot fathom but these alone go a long way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To me, today\u2019s photographers who work in alternative processes show the very same prowess and spirit of adventure as their predecessors, even before the invention of wet plate collodion: those pioneers that crossed the Atlantic and set out in rattly wagons to explore the uncharted expanse of the prairie out West, braving the dreaded perils and unexpected horrors. They are equally attracted to the great unknown, except that they are heading in the opposite direction: the pioneers were marching ahead into the uncertain future, while alt pro photographers are going back into the uncertainty of the distant past. Although they got hot and cold in history books for their questionable deeds and apparent brutality, I value the pioneers for being entrepreneurial, undaunted, innovative and somewhat naive. Alt pro photographers who wreak havoc, killing indigenous people and exterminating the buffalo are luckily few and far between. All the same, they show the same entrepreneurial spirit, they tend to be just as undaunted, innovative and naive. Correct me if I\u2019m wrong but these traits are arguably useful for an artist. You don\u2019t need much technical or aesthetic knowledge to get a decent picture out of the latest DSLR, just make sure it\u2019s set to everything-auto and keep your finger trigger-happy. Having said that, there is something more to an analogue image that needs tremendous technical expertise and manual labour to come about, and bears the mark of your hand and intention in every little detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The rest of the world is driving in the fast lane, overtaking the slow ones. Never mind. That road leads to nowhere. Tam\u00e1s Varga\u2019s career is living proof. He started out as a qualified doctor, then he became a photographer, then he turned toward alternative processes\u2026 and who knows where he is heading but he is definitely not missing out on anything. Quite the opposite: his horizons have visibly broadened, his vision is more profound, more analytical than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you picked up this book you are probably familiar with the complex process of wet plate collodion photography, but still, let me explain the basics for curious novices. Let me add though, that the process, however intriguing, plays second fiddle to the final Image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s see how it all started. The curious wannabe photographer spent countless days, weeks and months poring over books, browsing obscure websites, soaking up knowledge from all possible sources because fortunately there is no sure-fire end-user software just yet for alternative processes. Making genuine art starts with a strong theoretical knowledge \u2013 it may not be a trendy maxim but I swear by it. So then, having acquired enough knowledge, the artist needed the right gear: he was hunting for old cameras and equipment on flea markets, in pawn shops and emporiums. He bought a lot, he spent a lot. Then he researched the raw materials: perfectly manufactured sheet glass cut to exact size, and half a dozen expensive chemicals. Then he started building a lab and a studio, making it as neat and tidy as possible. The glass must be spotlessly clean and degreased. Spirits, ether and collodion must be mixed and sensitised with silver nitrate in dimmed light. Then he had to look for the right models of course, who were willing to commit to the long wait while the plates are prepared, poured and sensitised, just wet enough to be loaded into the holder and exposed a.s.a.p. A few moments left to make the model at ease, set the camera, compose under the black cloth, take a light reading, calculate the exposure before the dark slide is pulled and the shutter opened. Then the motionless tension, while the image is taken. Then the shutter closes. A quick thank you to the model, but please stay nearby in case an encore is needed, one never knows. Then a dash into the darkroom, developer poured over the plate to conjure up the latent image. The moment of truth, provoking a sigh of relief or muffled cursing. While the plate is drying, the model is released. Then comes the post production. The studio turns into a proper workshop, the artist becomes an artisan, turning the large glass negative into a positive image, ready to be displayed and exhibited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The pictures that Tam\u00e1s Varga creates in this way, cajoling light unto the sensitive surface, are very different from the usual photographic images. On the one hand, we are confronted with a narrow albeit incredibly rich and subtle tonal scale, relinquishing bright whites and pitch black for a lush variety of in-between greys, something that other photographic processes are not capable of. On the other hand, by eliminating the extra step of optical enlargement, which normally turns an original negative into a positive image, these pictures show unparalleled sharpness and acutance. That explains the piercing, mesmerising stare of these larger than life portraits. Another positive aspect of these images is the material presence of the hand-poured emulsion on the glass or aluminium plate, and how palpable they are as objects of art \u2013 although forbidden to touch! Each is a unique piece of art, impossible to copy with traditional photographic processes, never meant for mass production. Each and every plate literally bears the hand-marks of the maker. If anything, this level of craftsmanship truly appeals to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The wide variety of genres that make up this selection is astounding. There are self portraits, portraits, landscapes and cityscapes. Montages, composite images, conceptual and macro images share the page with sequences and still life. As if the artist was making an inventory, cataloguing the infinite possibilities that lie in his preferred photographic method, as well as giving an insight into his innermost thoughts. It is not easy to unravel and assess his rich oeuvre. Its complexity stops any critique in its tracks. Suffice it to say that this album is important from two distinct aspects. First off, it demonstrates the far-reaching creative potential of a historical photographic process in the hands of an intellectually and technically competent artist. The other aspect is more of a personal nature. I finally see an artist who is courting eternity with his work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And to finish on an even more personal note, I must admit: if I were a doctor I would definitely want to make wet collodion plates. If I were a patient I would look no further to find a doctor who cares and pays attention so painstakingly as Dr. Varga handles his images. Now it comes full circle. I wish Dr. Varga keeps making stunning images and I wish not to be a patient at all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ami\u00f3ta Ember az ember, M\u0171v\u00e9szet a m\u0171v\u00e9szet, az\u00f3ta mindig akadtak \u00e9s akadnak olyanok, akik ilyen-olyan okb\u00f3l nem \u00e1lltak bele a f\u0151sodorba. Nem \u00fagy \u00e9ltek, nem \u00fagy alkottak, mint a sokak. Ez \u00f6nmag\u00e1ban term\u00e9szetesen nem \u00e9rt\u00e9k\u00edt\u00e9let, a sokak k\u00f6z\u00f6tt is volt-van sz\u00e9psz\u00e1mmal tehets\u00e9ges, \u00e9s az egyek k\u00f6z\u00f6tt is akad-akadt h\u00f3tt tehets\u00e9gtelen, csak felt\u0171nni v\u00e1gy\u00f3, nyomul\u00f3s, nagyj\u00e1b\u00f3l […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":285,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-448","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-egyeb"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tamasvarga.hu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/448","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tamasvarga.hu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tamasvarga.hu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tamasvarga.hu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tamasvarga.hu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=448"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/tamasvarga.hu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/448\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":454,"href":"https:\/\/tamasvarga.hu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/448\/revisions\/454"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tamasvarga.hu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/285"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tamasvarga.hu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=448"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tamasvarga.hu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=448"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tamasvarga.hu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=448"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}