"Okay, I'll admit my bias. I do love photography as an artistic medium. I certainly talk about it quite a bit here Particularly keen on the dreaminess that comes from wet plate glass photography like the image picture behind me and Shane Balkowicz Whom I've also spoken about on this platform He's an American wet plate photographer from Bismarck, North Dakota And he just spent two years documenting the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora pitch behind me using the medium Which is the same process that was available during President Roosevelt's lifetime Project began when library CEO Edo Key, that's him right there I believe he visited his studio for a portrait and the two decided to document the build and the people behind it Balkowicz photographed the beam ceremony and groundbreaking then invited architects executives kitchen staff and grounds crew into his studio More than 30 portraits resulted including architect Craig Dikers That's him right there. I believe and back which returned to the site three more times capturing construction and now the grand opening There's an image. There's another one I mean man, look at that that image could have been shot a hundred years ago the look is very noble and important and The immediacy of digital photography while convenient it feels less than when you're standing in front of images like this all original plates of the building and staff will go to the State Historical Society of North Dakota and the library itself is Keeping five large prints from Balkowicz's native portrait series in its permanent collection along with one original glass plate and Balkowicz says he tells each group of visitors the same thing before every sitting. He is not making these photographs for the people alive today He's making them for the ones that will come after You can find out more at MidwestAgenda.com all there I have a link to the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library as well as a link to Balkowicz's wet plate glass studio Because art in the Midwest matters and so do you have a great day. Thanks. Bye"