Fort McKavett State Historic Site Manager Cody Mobley has found a way to comprise both the nostalgia of the 1850s fort with the modern world. Mobley taught himself the process of ambrotype wet plate photography. He takes photos of modern-day subjects and creates historic-looking photographs.
As Fort McKavett’s site manager since 2015, Mobley began researching period type photography. After purchasing a lens from eBay, he read some original manuals and taught himself the process of ambrotype wet plate photography.
Ambrotype photography was invented in the 1850s, replacing daguerreotype. Ambrotype is a photograph on glass made by a variant of wet plate and a chemical called collodion and viewed by a reflected light.
Mobley has mastered the exacting art of ambrotype and enjoys showcasing this long-forgotten type of photography. Look for Cody Mobley and his ambrotype photography at living history events locally at Ft. McKavett.
Recently Mobley was featured in “Authentic Texan” magazine, where more photos and information on the ambrotype process can be found. Tammie Virden is the author and photographer, and the piece can be found on the magazine’s website: www.authentictexas. com/putting-wordsto- photographs.
Other than personally visiting Cody at the Fort, you can keep up with his photography via his instagram page: instagram.com/ mobleyambrotypes, and his Facebook page: facebook. com/rubyambrotypes.