A giant camera obscura was set up in an underground space at Somerset House known as the ‘Deadhouse’.
First used in the mid-1800s, a tintype is a positive image on a metal plate.
The project – called ‘The Untouched’ – is the brainchild of artistic duo Walter Hugo and Zoniel Burton.
They said: ‘Each subject is full-length and lifesize, shot directly onto a metal sheet using a traditional photographic technique first used in the 1850s, making the portraits the largest tintypes in the world.’
Each plate measures 213.5×121.5cm.
Famous subjects have included the fashion designer Paul Smith
Walter, who has a background in physics, told Amateur Photographer that the pair plan to take the second part of their series to the Victoria & Albert Museum in July.
The tintype subjects – who have to remain still for up to 30 seconds during the shoot – have so far included the fashion designer Paul Smith (above).
Other ‘iconic Britons’ are set to follow, according to the pair who explained that the resulting tintype images are ‘more resilient than [from] many other processes, predicted to last a thousand years’.
Photo London runs at Somerset House until 22 May.
For details visit www.photolondon.org.
