Morning Call

Madison at Sunset

Fire Renews Life

Casual Observer

Artist Statement:

In understanding where I wanted to go with my photography, I felt it best to understand how photography evolved with the argument throughout the ages, “Is photography art.” I chose Gum bichromate printing because of the uniqueness of the printing process. Originally developed around 1880 it stayed popular until the 1920s.

Each print is handmade from sizing the paper to the finished print, the prints took approximately 26 hours to complete. Gum printing, as it is referred to, is an intuitive process yet unforgiving if errors in judgment are made. The colors need to be applied in a certain order as each subsequent layer affects the previous ones. Each print is original and no two are alike. This process is truly a labor of love. These 4 prints are part of a series of 11.

Robert Demachy was one person who brought Gum bichromate printing to the forefront in his time. His work was a part of my inspiration for these prints and allowed me to express myself in my work as I have not done previously. I wanted to challenge myself and my technical abilities to see if I had what it took to create photographic art like those before me did around the turn of the century. As my photography professor Rudi Dietrich told me, “you put so much time into making these prints they become like one of your children.” I understand that now.

Low Tech will be showing at the Center for Fine Art Photography through the month of October.