Bernard Plossu

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b. 1945​

Bernard Plossu is a French photographer who has travelled the world photographing its landscapes and people. Plossu has photographed extensively in Mexico, Spain, India, Africa, and the American West. He has been called “The most American of French photographers” by Lewis Baltz.

Plossu works in both black and white and color. His color work is printed exclusively by the Atelier Fresson. Bernard wrote for Lensculture, “The Fresson process is a rare and unique way to print color: it can be called “charcoal printing” as well. The grandfather, Theodore Henri, invented the process in 1899 and his son Pierre followed up. Later Michel and now Jean François—four generations, in all—carry on the tradition. What’s special is that it produces a particular mood, with a kind of grain that gives the land and the skies a matte sensation. It makes my pictures somehow peaceful and not at all tape à l’ oeil [flashy]. There is nothing glossy here, nothing spectacular, just the opposite, which is what I am looking for.”

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“I have been working with the Fressons since 1967, with Pierre, Michel, and now Jean-François: I like the matt side of their charcoal prints, which allows me to put my black and white photos with the colors in the same atmosphere. ” – Bernard Plossu

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MattKing said:

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Although the result is quite different, the information on the Fresson process made me think of a seminar I enjoyed with Tod Gangler and his 4 colour carbon work.
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