Peter Moxhay works with salt prints made from calotype paper negatives. This is the original negative–positive photographic process, invented by Talbot in the 1840’s. It is a time-intensive process—calotype exposures can range from 30 seconds to 15 minutes, and their development in gallic acid may take an hour or more. And success in making calotypes is highly dependent on the choice of paper; Peter’s current favorite is Whatman paper, produced in 1897, whose watermark can be seen on some of the images presented here.

Peter believes that, in these days when billions of digital images are instantaneously produced and shared every day, it is important to slow down and return to the roots of photography.

He currently works with a calotype variant that is a hybrid of Pélegry’s dry process, which facilitates travel, and Townsend’s process, which allows for somewhat faster exposures.

Peter lives on Peaks Island, in the state of Maine.