On Sunday, organised by the Mothers Who Make an Allotment group, artist-photographer Jo Gane set up her mobile darkroom at the allotment. Jo’s artistic practice uses historical photographic techniques and she was making tin-type portraits of members of the group – which will be exhibited as part of the Unlocking the Vaults project at The Exchange.

The Exchange building was originally the headquarters of the Birmingham Municipal Bank, founded at a time when tin type portraits were popular, and the Unlocking the Vaults project looks to engage people across the region in the University of Birmingham’s research, through workshops and conversations exploring historical and contemporary attitudes to money.

The weather was warm and sunny and the prints were beautiful. It was fascinating to see the process in action and to learn both about the Unlocking the Vaults project and the photographic process. Apparently the emulsion reacts differently to different colours – this is what leads blue or green eyes to look so bright and piercing in these types of photographs. A fascinating, convivial and very lovely day.