After approximately six weeks of intensive testing and refining for my Pictorial Whispers large-format memorial project, I have established a comprehensive workflow. This process encompasses every critical element, including camera and lens selection, film choice, exposure settings, developer chemistry and dilution, development processes, paper choice, and platinum and palladium chemistry.
Creating a body of work like Pictorial Whispers involves managing numerous variables and intricate details that must be meticulously explored, validated, and finalized. This complexity demands a high level of dedication and precision to ensure that each component aligns perfectly with my artistic vision and technical standards.
I am pleased to share that, after weeks of dedicated focus, I have developed a fully analog workflow that fulfills both my creative aspirations and technical requirements. This accomplishment is immensely gratifying, yet it marks only the beginning of a much larger journey.
The foundation is set, and now the real work begins…
Explore how you can support my Pictorial Whispers Project and become part of a community dedicated to celebrating art and healing. By joining as a member, you will gain exclusive access to several unique benefits, including behind-the-scenes updates, early access to view new works, exclusive access to me, and much more. Your support helps sustain this deeply personal project, allowing me to continue creating meaningful art that resonates with memory, loss, and renewal themes. Join me today and become a part of the journey.
To the best of my knowledge, I am the only large format photographer with a pure analog workflow creating a serious body of work focusing on wild horses.
Large format and wild horses are about as odd a pairing as most people could conceive. Using the 100+ year-old Graflex large format cameras takes the odd factor to new levels. When I first started this project, I could have never guessed with a million chances that I would be using these old Graflex cameras and lenses. My Graflex Auto 5×7 camera was made in 1906, according to the serial number, making this camera almost 120 years old.
I had Jerry Gordon go through both cameras to revive them and get them up to a level of service I could consistently rely on and use confidently.
I wasn’t trying to set out and be unique for the sake of being different. The wild horses found me through the loss of my daughter, and it took me about three years to fully embrace and get to this point. I had numerous failed attempts in the midst of struggling with grief and anxiety.
I am on a good path now with a solid artist statement and narrative guiding and driving the work.
Finalized Workflow
I will list the various elements of my Pictorial Whispers workflow below for those interested in the details.
Camera Gear: Graflex RB Series D 4×5 SLR, Graflex Auto 5×7 SLR, Graflex Series B 4×5 SLR
Lenses: Kodak No. 33 7 1/2″ F4.5, Dallmeyer 12 inch F5.6, Ross London Teleros 17 inch F6.3
Film: Ilford FP4 rated at EI 100
Developer: Kodak HC110 Dilution B (1:31)
Fixer: TF-4
Paper: Arches Platine 310
Print Chemistry: Platinum, Palladium, Ferric Oxalate, Potassium Oxalate with Potassium Dichromate for graded developers.
Explore how you can support my Pictorial Whispers Project and become part of a community dedicated to celebrating art and healing. By joining as a member, you will gain exclusive access to several unique benefits, including behind-the-scenes updates, early access to view new works, exclusive access to me, and much more. Your support helps sustain this deeply personal project, allowing me to continue creating meaningful art that resonates with memory, loss, and renewal themes. Join me today and become a part of the journey.