A curated monthly dose of lifestyle, culture, and rhythm from San Miguel de Allende.
How one San Miguel artist revived the oldest form of photography, using chemistry and steel plates to create portraits that will outlast us all.
In an era dominated by filters, algorithms, and AI-generated imagery, one artist in San Miguel de Allende has chosen a radically different path. Sky Richards, the mind behind La Plata Negra, has resurrected one of photography’s earliest processes: the tintype.
In his La Guadalupe studio, Sky works with a recipe from 1855, tracking down rare and sometimes hazardous ingredients from across the globe, and a 100-year-old camera he bid for on eBay. The result is not just a photograph but a physical artifact. Instead of pixels, each likeness is etched onto steel plates, creating singular heirlooms designed to last for centuries
“It’s the perfect mix of science, art, and something almost otherworldly. Each piece reveals a unique detail you could never plan for, and to me, that captures the essence of the person I’m photographing.”
For Sky, tintype photography is more than nostalgia. It is an act of resistance against the encroachment of digital trickery and the flattening of human expression. Every plate involves chemistry, timing, and chance, giving each portrait an unrepeatable aura that no digital tool can imitate.
The studio itself feels like stepping into a time capsule. Natural light spills across antique equipment, bottles of hand-mixed chemistry, and the darkroom where magic takes place. Yet, despite its old-world soul, the studio feels alive with the energy of San Miguel today. Sky has photographed artists, families, musicians, and everyday locals, capturing not only their faces, but something of their spirit.
This Saturday, September 6th, Sky is opening the doors of La Plata Negra for a special Open Studio day. From 11:00 am to 5:00 pm at #3 Colegio Militar, visitors can experience the tintype process firsthand, explore the studio, and take home their own portrait.
As part of the event, pocket-size tintype portraits will be available at half price, making it the perfect opportunity to be immortalized in this timeless medium.
Full event details here.
Outside of special events, La Plata Negra is open Tuesdays and Saturdays, from 10am to 5pm. Sessions are priced by size, beginning at 400 pesos, and each appointment results in a tangible piece of art made entirely by hand.
Want to sit for your own portrait? Book a free appointment here: Calendly.
Follow Sky’s work at @laplatanegra and discover a practice that connects San Miguel’s creative present with photography’s storied past.
We're Savant, San Miguel de Allende’s new online lifestyle and culture magazine. Created for curious travelers, locals, and design and food lovers alike, Savant offers curated stories and an authentic look into the people, places, and passions that shape this iconic town. More than a publication, it’s a cultural community, and your invitation to experience San Miguel like never before.
A curated monthly dose of lifestyle, culture, and rhythm from San Miguel.
