As Breast Cancer Awareness Month begins on October 1, many families in Ann Arbor pause to remember those who they love whose courage has shaped their lives. For us at Scanthology, that reflection often starts with something simple: a box of photos on a closet shelf, a handwritten letter, a saved voicemail, a home movie … Read more
Tintypes hold a special place in the history of photography. These iron-based portraits were durable, affordable, and beloved throughout the 19th century. Yet despite their rugged reputation, tintypes today are surprisingly vulnerable. Without proper care, these one-of-a-kind images can deteriorate and be lost forever. For many families, these are the only surviving portraits of ancestors—making … Read more
In the history of photography, few formats capture the imagination quite like the tintype. From bustling Civil War camps to traveling fairs and frontier towns, tintypes were once the most accessible way for everyday people to capture their likeness. Affordable, durable, and quick to produce, tintypes democratized photography in the 19th century and left behind … Read more
