Gezicht op Caernarfon Castle before 1870

This photograph of Caernarfon Castle was made by Francis Bedford using the wet collodion process, a technique pivotal to the rapid expansion of photography in the 19th century. The image is created by coating a glass plate with a light-sensitive emulsion, exposing it in the camera while still wet, and then developing it immediately. The resulting glass negative could then be used to make multiple prints on paper. This process allowed for relatively detailed and reproducible images, transforming photography from a niche practice to a more accessible medium. Bedford was one of many photographers who documented architecture and landscapes, and the wet collodion process enabled them to capture the imposing presence and intricate details of the castle with impressive clarity. It is important to remember that this was still a labor-intensive process, with each plate requiring careful preparation and immediate attention to detail, highlighting the blend of technical skill and artistic vision involved in early photography.