By 1871 he had devised a method of drying the wet plates, initiating the age of convenience in photography.

The wet plate was, without question, a successful photographic process, but it had its drawbacks.

Mrs. Castevet, smiling, held out a wet plate in a green rubbergloved land.

Sue lifted wet plates out of the sink and looked for some- where to put them.

He was able to take several photographs, exposing wet plates at 1/100 second.

With the faster colloidion (wet plate) process of 1851, it could take one-to-two minute indoor portraits.

He used it to experiment on the photography of the moon with wet plates and also began to study solar radiation using thermopiles.

An image could require anywhere from three to ten times more exposure on a dry plate than on a wet plate.

But beyond that he could hear something else, a sound like wet plates squeaking in dishwater.

With a slotted spoon, carefully transfer them to a large wet plate and reserve.