HereAfter is a collection of photographs reminiscent of photography styles of the past by Heather Allison and Eric Retterbush. Heather Allison captures dramatic, still life botanicals with a nod to vanitas from the Renaissance era; while Eric Retterbush brings the work of tintype into the modern era with his timeless portraits. Together this collection examines life, death and who we are as humans here and after.

Eric’s series of original tintype portraits is an exploration into the flesh, the life, the Here. With each image he examines the story behind the image, the life of that person. Each photograph tied together with the mandalic halos present in the background, each one different but translating an important piece of the story. Eric plays with light as wet plate | tintype photography has a unique way of capturing this illumination.

This exquisite photographic exhibition is on display at The HeArt Box from November 6th - 28th. We were able to ask Eric a few questions about his work and the collection on display, here is his response.

(HeArt Box) How did you get into wet plate/tintype photography?

(Eric) I have always enjoyed creating things with my hands. Illustrations, paintings and carvings have been the majority of these explorations until four years ago when I stumbled upon a single tintype a friend had had taken. The opportunity of creating a photograph with only my hands was too good to pass up. After much research and investment I began my wet plate collodion process journey with zeal. This new form of creating has given me more joy and satisfaction than any other creative process I have ever attempted. A perfect blend of the predictability of photography and the imperfection of hand made arts. Where as my hand falls short in portraying realism in a painting, I can capture a perfect reflection of reality on a metal plate with the proper chemicals. Where as my process is not perfect, it seems to only add to the serendipity of the image not unlike the randomness of brush strokes on a painting.

(HeArt Box) Where do you get your inspiration for your work?

(Eric) This series entitled "HereAfter" was derived from an examination into our life and ultimately our departure from it. I wish not to portray a sense of doom but rather an appreciation for the fragility and beauty of us as living creatures. My portraits each deal with a thoughtful rumination about life and are a genuine reflection of someone living in that reality.

(HeArt Box) Do you have a process for when you put together a collection like this? Do you see it in entirety before starting or does it develop as you go?

(Eric) The inspiration for this series and much of my photography is found rather than created. Simply being aware of a dream, a feeling or something that struck me during a conversation is the root of the idea. When I introduce another individual into creating this work of photographic art, I am not only representing myself but they as well. This would seem to be tricky but I invite the collaboration. As I am working with living flesh, so must my concepts be living as well and the final pieces are just as just as much a pleasant surprise to me as they are to the first time viewer.

(HeArt Box) With the HereAfter collection you captured many different perspectives, stages of life, was there anything you learned or observed from creating these pieces for the show?

(Eric) In making this series I am not only challenging the viewer but perhaps even more so myself to deal with the topics of our immortality. For many, this is a topic to avoid as the initial guttural reaction is one of fear. But where most people find distress I seem to find a feeling of gratefulness. That is what I intend to show in this series. My portraits manifest a holiness to this topic, a graceful embrace of inevitability and the benefits of living out our hopes and dreams before that inevitability.

(HeArt Box) Anything else you would like to share about these specific pieces and the work getting this all put together?

(Eric) I would like to thank all of the models involved in this show. It is not easy sitting for a tintype session. Hours of work from both the sitter and photographer were needed to create each of these. Everybody had input into the final look and the collaboration of this slow ancient form of photography is like no other. Everyone received a nice original tintype as a thanks for their time and effort. It is the very least I can do for their trust in this rare and peculiar artform.

View the Entire HereAfter Collection

The Here with Eric Retterbush

The Heart Box Gallery + Studio