Committing to 19^th century photography techniques, California based photographer Eric Mertens, creates one of a kind daguerreotype portraits that embrace the analog in a digital age. Often constructing his own darkroom equipment by hand, Mertens insists on the most labor-intensive of processes as a means to a beautiful end. His daguerreotypes feature stunning detail and quality, suggesting reality in the most subtle ways – a sharp contrast to the often hyper-real, mainstream digital photography of today. Mertens’s series of Occupational Portraits recall notions of the 19^th Century working class and early photography. By photographing subjects whose occupations and dress waver between the 20^th and 21^st centuries, each daguerreotype is infused with a sense of both the contemporary and the past, creating images that seem to exist in a time of their own. From teacher to showgirl, and musician to tattoo artist, Mertens’ portraits capture the true spirit of photography by using the daguerreotype to achieve the effect of “living” image, while playing homage to those before him as well as those amongst him.

Eric Mertens
Oakland CA

Proud member of The Daguerreian Society.