I decided to Tweet Sam and ask if it was okay if Alice and I popped in Friday afternoon to sit for a portrait. He replied soon after and was more than happy to have us! Once we arrived he began explaining the initial stages and walking us through how he applies the liquid to the tin plate and works some magic in the dark room. After being shown how to prepare the tin slide, Sam had me sitting on a stool in front of the huge camera with 18 bulbs pointed straight at me. I hadn't posed for a photograph like this since High School but in this case I felt a lot more excited to see the outcome!
Sam explained how light and exposure time would effect the tin plate and I was fascinated. The lead up and eventual efforts put into just one small piece of work did gradually sink in and made me appreciate the whole process a lot more.
Finally he plunged the tin plate into a clear solution and we witnessed my 'likeness' - as Sam referred to it - appear on the plate in front of us! It was a great thing to watch happen.
Alice was next and I loved going through the process again and seeing the different stages and how each one was so important in contributing to the final piece.
Afterwards Alice and I stayed and chatted with Sam for about half an hour, we talked about our forthcoming courses and discussed some artists we had mutual affection for. It was great to talk to someone so passionate and with a legitimate drive to want to expose the population of Hawick to contemporary art.
As we left we expressed our excitement regarding the Borders Photo Marathon he with the Taxi Office is hosting this coming weekend.
