http://www.jackspencer.net/


Anyone familiar with these portraits? Technique? I don t think it is d*&%$#?:)

Dave, I am not sure...it may be...it would be pretty difficult to replicate some of the effects in a conventional process. Needless to say, I do like the effects...whatever the method, it clearly stands as a unique output by an artist.

Beautiful work!

From Google:

"Described as "self taught," he appears to have had a superb instructor. He shoots in medium format. The brown toned, selenium washed prints are extensively altered in the darkroom through the elaborate use of masks, soft focus and meticulous dodging and burning in specific areas. The resulting, exquisitely crafted, prints have the appearance almost of paintings that convey poetic memories of a sepia tinted time lost to our memory but present once again in our dreams."

I have to give propers here to Mark....he posted some really fine portraits today in our Apug gallery....I checked out his website and he listed some really good links resulting in my posting here. In addition to Mark's website which I will take the liberty to post here, check out the links he has listed.http://www.zwartwit.org/pages/vivienneall.html
:)

Those Jack Spencer images are amazing and haunting. You feel like you're looking at an old master portrait, but there's enough there to let you see the photographic process (traces of Polaroid Type 55 negatives, etc).

I've seen the work in person and it used to be done in the darkroom and outside of it as well. He would burn the final prints and the cover them in asphaltum and then scrap it off. The photographs in person are stunning. But I am sure he has gone digital at this point. Going from a Hasselblad and 4x5 to a Canon 1DS DIGITAL camera (Oh my god, did he just spell out digital on this shite?)

I've seen the work in person and it used to be done in the darkroom and outside of it as well. He would burn the final prints and the cover them in asphaltum and then scrap it off. The photographs in person are stunning. But I am sure he has gone digital at this point. Going from a Hasselblad and 4x5 to a Canon 1DS DIGITAL camera (Oh my god, did he just spell out digital on this shite?)


Dave what do you mean by "burn the final prints"?

thanks

Take a flame, and burn the print.

Regardless of technique, they are fine images and in my mind should be considered "fine art".

Thanks for posting, a very enjoyable series to view.

Charlie....................................