Black & White
I hand make all of the silver-based Black & White prints in my studio darkroom. I am considered an excellent printer and I take great pride and care in the making of each print. Prints are made using a Beseler 45MCRX enlarger using a cold light or condenser head depending on the negative and print size. I print on Ilford, Oriental and Forte multi-contrast papers. Prints are processed in Zone VI developer, go through a double fixer, and are washed and then selenium toned for archival permanence. All images receive some dodging, burning, bleaching and other darkroom magic. All are matted and mounted on Exeter or Westminster Gallery White, 4-ply 100% rag board from Light Impressions. B&W images are framed in a Nielsen #15 round-top, Matte Black, aluminum frame unless otherwise requested.
A few B&W images are made digitally because of excess negative scratches, etc. These negatives are scanned, processed in PhotoShop and printed by Petroscans on Entrada 190 matte paper using special B&W inks. I anticipate being able to offer more B&W images with the "digital print option" as digital B&W image making technology and my own skills improve. For me it's a matter of finding a pleasing paper surface and inks able to deliver the tonalities I prefer, and, of course, the time to devote to perfecting all of the above before offering it to you. I'll let you know if your selection is digital before I make it so you can decide whether you want to do that route.
Color
All color images are made from scanned film transparencies that I first process in Photoshop. I then select one of three outputs:
- Digital Inkjet prints no larger than 13 x 19 are currently made on an Epson 2200 using Entrada 190 matte paper.
- Digital Inkjet prints larger than 13 x 19 are made on an Epson 7600 by Petroscans using Entrada 190 matte paper.
- Any size print can be made as a Fuji Crystal Archive print (lustre or semi-matte surface) using laser technology by Photocraft Lab in Boulder, CO, under the direction of film/print guru John Botkin.
While all PhotoShop work is performed at home, high-resolution scanning and much of the printing is subcontracted to the sources mentioned above. This requires a number of days. Additionally, digital prints require 2-5 days to "off-gas" before they can be framed. Color images are matted in a light tan archival matte and framed in a Nielsen #25 round-top, Frosted Walnut, aluminum frame unless otherwise requested.
Both
My imagery is derived from 35mm, 120mm and 4x5 large format originals. The proportions of each format differ slightly which means that final print size of images from 35mm and 120mm originals will be slightly different from those listed. For instance, for a 35mm or 120mm image to conform to the sizes listed under Pricing (calculated from a 4x5 original) would mean cropping the composition. That is something I am loathe to do.
