Idaho cold case of outlaw missing since 1916 solved by DNA, genetic genealogy

Fox News ^ | 01/01/20 | Robert Gearty

[21twelve]

So not a photo, but a sketch based on witnesses it sounds like? Interesting the wider eye and upturned lip on his right side. Either the artist couldn’t draw, or perhaps it was some health issue? Maybe even something related to mental illness which played a part of him killing his wife???

[Bob434]

i think so, the wetplate ones used glass i believe- but I’m not that familiar with that kind of photography- I do know they used a bunch of dangerous chemicals, and it was a long drawn out process- and so it went out of fashion for many as soon as new photography techniques came along

[nwrep]

They only did that for dead people, not for people who were alive. That photo is a composite reproduction.

[Bob434]

sorry but they didn’t ‘only do that for dead people’ - you can find all kinds of info on how rigorous getting photos done back then was- the folks had to stay as still as possible for a long time, and often they had to be propped to keep their head from moving because of the length of time it took-

[Bob434]

“Posing for a daguerreotype wasn’t trivial: because the exposure time is about 15 minutes, the subject’s head had to be held still with a clamp!”

https://www.neatorama.com/2006/08/29/the-wonderful-world-of-early-photography/

[Bob434]

 

Device to hold heads still during the long exposure time required to make a daguerreotype portrait

link

Not sure why you are suggesting they only did that for dead people- long exposure times were very common in the old days and peopel often had to have soemthing to rest their heads agaisnt to keep from moving as best as possible- you will also note that not al ot of folks were smiling in the old photos- which likely was because they couldn't hold the smile for that length of time without moving their lips or mouths- it is claiemd- which is entirely possible. Also- photographers used heavy makeup

[nwrep]

Long exposure times were, of course, for everybody. Only the dead were all made up to look like weird dolls. Living people who were photographed were not made up. They just had to sit still. That is my contention.