ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Fred has been making black and white and color images for over 40 years. He has studied fine art photography as an undergraduate at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. He has participated in several fine art photographic workshops in the New England area and has been recognized for photographic quality in a number of juried art fairs he participated and sold at in the Midwest from 2002 thru 2013. Fred holds a Masters of Science in Education in Instructional Technology from Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, Illinois. Fred worked as a manager of a media services department for a US Dept of Energy National Laboratory for over 20 years. There he developed his editorial photography skills and created images about the world of high-energy physics research that are still being used today. A mid-westerner most of his life, Fred now lives in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife and puppy. His two children live in New York City.

LARGE FORMAT PHOTOGRAPHY
For over two decades, Fred worked in large format photography almost exclusively, he now also uses high quality digital capture technology. His subject matter ranges from landscape to architecture to urban form and activity. The fine detail and rich tonal values achieved using large format film and his digital capture practices allow Fred to translate genuine and common objects into rhythmic two-dimensional expressions that connect with people (his goal in making fine art prints). All of Fred’s prints are printed and matted on industry standard archival and acid free materials. Prints are toned with selenium or sepia for permanence. Fred’s pigment ink prints are made on a 12-channel large format printer using acid free premium papers and vigorous color management techniques.

FOCUS ON QUALITY
Fred ensures that his photographs reflect on the highest quality by using black and white sheet film, fiber based photographic papers and zone system exposures. His digital images use current professional file management practices. He never compromises on the quality of his work as he creates images that precisely capture his vision by using field cameras and modern, high quality lenses, high-end DSLR cameras as well as master level printing techniques and premium printing software.

PYRO FILM DEVELOPMENT
Fred has many years of experience working with pyro (pyrogallol) film developer, which was used by Adams, Weston, Strand and other photographic masters. Pyro, which remains a revered art tool despite its absence from commercial use, is the oldest developer of silver photographic negatives. It provides a definite increase in both printing quality and its capacity to record subtle differences of light.

FRED'S THOUGHTS ON DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
In 1995 I purchased my first large format camera system. It was made up of four lenses and a wooden 4X5 field camera. I never looked back. It was always a goal of mine to make images using large format film and I was happy to have the opportunity. With a rekindled interest in my personal photography I began shooting, processing, and printing 4X5 black and white film almost every day producing 100 fine prints per year for over ten years.

Recognizing the evolution of digital capture and printing quality during this period I was interested but hesitant in using digital. It seemed to me what always was the efficient practices of taking pictures, using film, using the zone system to making fine prints with fiber base paper was now a unique art form and rare to find. Film use it seemed was confined to undergrad students and a few film purists. It was clear the standard technology of picture making was exclusively digital. But gelatin silver prints still hold a place of high regard in quality and have greater monetary value. However, I have found capture devices that give me the same connection with the subject matter that a piece of 4X5 film does and allows me to record the image in almost any lighting condition, I am now very busy with both my digital and film work and look forward to exploration of this big world using both.

How long I will continue to work with traditional materials and large format film remains to be seen. A lot depends on the companies that manufacture the film, paper, and chemistry. Also a lot has to do with the airline industry security techniques. For example you cannot pack any light sensitive material in checked luggage. All checked luggage is scanned and the result is imprinted lines and fogging. Recently a crowdsourcing initiative was rewarded by goal funding a proposed re-manufacturing of Type 55 Instant Polaroid film. This is a beautiful fine grain film that can make a 4X5 print and negative from the same packet. This has a lot of potential for me so please stay tuned this could be fun.

RECOMMENDED WEBSITES
http://www.johnsexton.com/sextonnewsletter.html
http://enhanced.lenswork.com/lwcollection.htm
http://www.superlarge.com

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