Project Barbatype began with a conversation in the darkroom of Collin College in Plano, TX in the spring of 2014. Scott was an instructor who had been working with tintypes for a few years, with a growing interest in portraiture. Bryan was a photo lab tech, and former beard competitor, with an ambition to make a book. An idea was spontaneously generated- to join forces, and make it happen.
Project Barbatype is a collaborative effort of a dedicated group of individuals who have each committed their time, skills, money, and energy to get Project Barbatype started and keep it running.
Scott and Bryan at the pre-party event for Whiskermania in Louisville, KY, June 2015. A blurry "I-phone" photograph, which is a wholly and obviously inferior form of photography.
A double-pop exposure test, perhaps the best photo of Scott ever made. But that's a very, very low standard.
Scott Hilton started photographing in high school. He has a BA in Art with a concentration in Photography from the University of Nevada, Reno, and an MFA in Creative Photography from California State University, Fullerton. He currently teaches photography as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Texas at Arlington.
Scott began working with hand-made photo processes while in grad school, and started making tintypes in 2009. He reluctantly admits it was nearly three years later until he actually knew what he was doing.
Two test plates of Bryan, showing his entire range of emotional expression.
Bryan Wing retired from competitive bearding in 2011, after receiving numerous "Honorable Mention" awards for his facial hair achievements.
He earned an AA in Photography from Collin College in Plano, TX, and is currently pursuing a BA in Photography from Texas Woman's University.
Scott and Bryan met when Scott was teaching a darkroom photography class at Collin College in Plano, TX, and Bryan was the evening lab technician. Project Barbatype was born in a conversation when Scott mentioned his efforts at perfecting tintype portrait techniques, and Bryan mentioned his thought of doing a photo project on Beard and Moustache Competitors. A partnership was formed, and continues to roll on.
Support Crew
Kelly Wittenberg in a mood of quietly inspired contemplation. Or maybe she's thinking about the boy's swim team...
Kelly Wittenberg is a film-maker and Assistant Professor of Film at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. She received a BA in Art-Video from the University of Nevada, Reno, and an MFA in Film from Syracuse Univeristy. She and Scott have been friends for 25 years.
Kelly joined Project Barbatype to help document the Whiskermania! competition in Louisville, KY in July 2015, and is in production of a short film highlighting the Beard Competition events and the work of Project Barbatype.
Witney Daude, the pride of Ding Dong TX
Whitney Daude, of Ding Dong, TX received a BA in Art/ Photography from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2016. She joined the Project Barbatype team in December of 2015, as our tintype chemical jockey. We are proud to have her on board, though we do wish that she'd lay off the sauce. Just a bit. Maybe after the holidays, Whitney?