getting started with bromoil

bonk · May 10, 2007

I was at an exehibition that had tons of bromoil prints. I am amazed by the beauty if this technique. Now I wonder what it would need to do bromoil prints myself. Is it difficult, expensive timeconsuming? What is a good ressource to get started with this? Maybe a book? Or a good website? Are the chemicals and the papers needed for this still comercially available ?

reellis67 · May 10, 2007

Unless I am mistaken, Gene Laughter is a very skilled Bromoil printer. I've seen some of his work online and based on how impressive it was I can only imagine how it would look in person. You may find some good information searching for his name and for Bromoil in the old threads.

- Randy

terri · May 10, 2007

Listen to Randy.

Check out Gene Laughter's work for additional inspiration; get his book on beginner's bromoil - and the video, if you really want extra help. You will find it extremely helpful.

Expensive? The short answer is, not especially. It requires some particular "tools of the trade", but all can be had cheaply. Once you've done a few, only YOU can say how much it's really going to *cost* you.

Travis Nunn · May 10, 2007

If you go to Bostick & Sullivan's website, they sell Gene Laughter's "Bromoil 101" book. It's a great book to get you started. It surely helped me. I haven't seen his video, but I've seen him demonstrate the process in person and he makes it look easy, but it's not (to me, anyway).

roy · May 10, 2007

I do not know if Gene has a video out but the standard one is by the late Norman Gryspeerdt, someone whose work Gene will most likely endorse.

doughowk · May 10, 2007

David Lewis' book is also very helpful. He also sells most of what you'd need to get started. His paper (thru Photo Formulary) is very easy to use for Bromoils.

Gene_Laughter · May 10, 2007

roy said:
I do not know if Gene has a video out but the standard one is by the late Norman Gryspeerdt, someone whose work Gene will most likely endorse.

I was fortunate to know Norman and visited him in the UK the year before he died. He was a master photographer and a bromoilist. Norman Gryspeerdt was soooo generous. Not only did he give me advice when I was starting out in bromoil, but he gave me many of his vintage books on the bromoil process as well as a couple of his bromoil prints. Norman's video is a must for anyone working in the bromoil process!

BTW, I put up a Portfolio of some of my bromoil prints on APUG yesterday. Click "Portfolios" above.

Cheers,

Gene

Gay Larson · May 10, 2007

Yes, Gene I looked at your portfolio yesterday and was just in awe. They are so lovely. I bought Gene's book and his video which was very helpful. I can't say that I was all that successful but I did manage to make a couple of prints that I like a lot.

Gene_Laughter · May 10, 2007

bonk said:
I was at an exehibition that had tons of bromoil prints. I am amazed by the beauty if this technique. Now I wonder what it would need to do bromoil prints myself. Is it difficult, expensive timeconsuming? What is a good ressource to get started with this? Maybe a book? Or a good website? Are the chemicals and the papers needed for this still comercially available ?

Where was the exhibition with "tons" of bromoil prints? Do you recall the names of any of the artists?

Thanks!

Gene

Chazzy · May 10, 2007

Gene_Laughter said:
Norman's video is a must for anyone working in the bromoil process!

So where can we get it? Do the usual suspects all carry it--Photographer's Formulary, Bostick & Sullivan, and so on?

Gene_Laughter · May 10, 2007

http://www.gryspeerdt.co.uk/

This is a site put up by Norman's grandson. The Gryspeerdt Bromoil video or DVD are not sold by other outlets.

The reason I ask Bonk where he saw the exhibition is that there is currently a traveling bromoil show in the UK. It's by members of the Bromoil Circle of Great Britain. In conjunction with the show they are holding Bromoil workshops and giving demonstrations. This organization, founded in 1931, has kept bromoil alive during its lean years. The president, Maija McDougal, is a dear friend and was one of my bromoil mentors. Bonk, if you're in the UK I can put you in contact with Maija re sources of supply there.

Chazzy · May 10, 2007

Gene_Laughter said:
http://www.gryspeerdt.co.uk/

This is a site put up by Norman's grandson. The Gryspeerdt Bromoil video or DVD are not sold by other outlets.

Well, the DVD is region 0, which is a plus, but I have to assume that it is PAL format. Maybe when it is sold on eBay there will also be an NTSC version.

Barry S · May 10, 2007

Hi Gene,

I'm also planning on getting into Bromoil printing soon and see that you're in Richmond. Do you have any workshops planned for spring/summer? I'd love to drive down from DC for some expert instruction. Your work is beautiful and I like your philosophy on experimentation. Thanks.

bonk · May 11, 2007

t_nunn said:
If you go to Bostick & Sullivan's website, they sell Gene Laughter's "Bromoil 101" book. It's a great book to get you started. It surely helped me. I haven't seen his video, but I've seen him demonstrate the process in person and he makes it look easy, but it's not (to me, anyway).

They charge at leat $ 34.25 for shipping to germany, which is more than the book actually costs

bonk · May 11, 2007

Gene_Laughter said:
Where was the exhibition with "tons" of bromoil prints? Do you recall the names of any of the artists?

Thanks!

Gene

The name of the Artist is Franz Fiedler (1885–1956). He was a famous (east) german photographer and bromoil (and silver gelantine) were his favorite techniques. The exhibition of his work is currently at the technical museum in Dresden, Germany ( http://www.tsd.de ). It contains about 100 pictures where about half of it is bromoil. Franz fiedler is also athor of schoolbooks on photography.

I could send you the book (wich contains large scale bromoil prints too) that came with the exhibition in exchange for a copy of "Bromoil 101"

Here are three examples of his bromoil works. (unfortunately in bad quality)

Portrait

Gret Palucca

Selfportrait

Gene_Laughter · May 11, 2007

bonk said:
They charge at leat $ 34.25 for shipping to germany, which is more than the book actually costs

Bonk - This book should be available on your side of the pond. It's excellent.

http://www.amazon.com/Bromoil-Foundation-Course-Derek-Watkins/dp/1861083335

Mike Té · May 11, 2007

Weird, man... I just opened this thread and the doorbell rang, Canada Post with my long-awaited copy of Gene's video.

Excuse me, I'm gonna go and buy a lottery ticket now.

roy · May 11, 2007

Gene_Laughter said:
I was fortunate to know Norman and visited him in the UK the year before he died. He was a master photographer and a bromoilist

Gene, although I never met Norman, I used to see him at the Eastbourne Photographic Society exhibitions. I bought his video via Colin Westgate, who helped in the production and marketing of the video and who arranges and tutors workshops in the technique.

Gene_Laughter · May 11, 2007

roy said:
Gene, although I never met Norman, I used to see him at the Eastbourne Photographic Society exhibitions. I bought his video via Colin Westgate, who helped in the production and marketing of the video and who arranges and tutors workshops in the technique.

Roy, I attended a meeting of the Eastbourne "Camera Club." with Norman once and know Colin Westgate. Our world shrinks by leaps and bounds!!!

Cheers,

Gene

getting started with bromoil

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