From daguerreotypes to digital photographs, the new Outta My Light! exhibit at the Henry Art Gallery strikes a balance between history, information and art.

The exhibit, which opened Dec. 5, uses images from the Henry’s Monsen Collection to explore the relationship between light and time throughout the history of the medium.

“Only two components tie all images together in this unique art form – light and time,” guest curator Bridget Nowlin said in introducing the exhibit.

One section of the collection displays two copies of the same picture. The first piece is an albumen print, which utilizes the albumen in egg whites to produce a soft, yellow-tinted photograph. The second uses the carbon process, and is a much darker version of the first. The drastic difference in lighting between the two pieces conveys to the viewer the significance of the process of development in the art of photography.

The collection spans the history of photography, showing examples of nearly every stage in the progress of the art form. Beginning with the earliest methods of photography, such as daguerreotypes that required a long exposure, and ending with instantaneous digital photography, Outta My Light! explores the role that time has played at various stages in the development of the medium.

The display is simultaneously a tutorial in the history of photographic techniques and an eclectic compilation of artistic photography. In addition to appreciating the works of art, viewers are invited to understand the various processes used to create them. Step-by-step explanations and diagrams of the different methods of photography make the exhibit accessible to a wide range of gallery-goers.

“The photographs in this exhibition are interesting not only for their technical virtuosity, they also convey innovative ideas,” Nowlin said, speaking to the versatility of the exhibit.

Outta My Light! is the perfect blend of information and art. Without the explanations of various photographic techniques, terms like “wet collodion” would likely alienate some viewers. Without the supporting artwork in the collection, however, visitors would find themselves walking through a tedious dictionary of photographic terms. Together, a balance is struck.

The collection emphasizes the differences between the various photographic processes by placing pictures developed using different techniques side-by-side. Additionally, the explanations of the different processes identify the characteristics of each method, and, as a result, patterns emerge.

The unique glimpse into the technical aspects of photography provided by this exhibit creates another dimension to each piece in the collection. A greater understanding of each photograph’s distinct look can be obtained, and the viewer is able to appreciate the involved process that was used to create each piece.

Outta My Light! will be on display in the North Galleries of the Henry through May 3.

Reach reporter Lexie Krell at arts@dailyuw.com.