Gustave Le Gray began experimenting with glass negatives in the late 1840s, and he quickly saw the benefits of this new technique. Glass negatives, with their ability to capture detail during short exposures, were ideal for the sea views Le Gray began in 1856, a prime example of which is The Brig (Brick au Clare de Lune). The rippled surface of the water and the crisp detail in the ships’ sails and rigging could not have been captured with a paper negative. As always, Le Gray’s thorough understanding of chemistry and craft allowed him to create what at the time was an unprecedented photographic view.
