Passing... Rowland "Ron" Mowrey aka PE, Photo Engineer, Feb. 15, 2020

[georg16nik]

Ron was a true silver halide alchemist.
Rest in peace, PE.

 

[foc]

My condolences to Ron's family and friends.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.

 

[vivizen]

What a sad loss to the community!

Ron's erudition live on here and on the episodes of the IAP podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv5k6EgZvl6ZKhCVcodof1g
Is there any other archive of him appearing on podcasts, or sharing his wisdom? Collecting that is probably the best way to keep his memory alive.

 

[Photo Chemist]

I haven't been around much, or for very long. But it so saddens me to hear this news. The times I had been on here, his posts were always so insightful. What a loss. All that knowledge...gone.

Rest In Peace.

 

[laser]

Sean, Thanks for moving to Memoriam. I didn't realize the category existed. I thought "Photographers" was a good place for Ron. He was an USAF photographer working with NASA before he became a chemist.

 

[1kgcoffee]

(please delete the above post made in error)
Ron helped me very much with my first steps into RA-4 printing, and understanding photo chemistry. The depth of his knowledge, his patience with what must have been very basic questions to him, his humility and kindness were the traits of a very excellent human being. We have lost a great treasure.

I would often go through his posts and find the answers to very detailed questions. The man understood photochemistry better than anyone on this forum but never that over anyone's head. He sought to teach and share his passion.

He was also involved in the creation of my favourite emulsion, Kodak Gold.

I have little time to be posting on photrio, but I want his family to know how sorely he will be missed by this community, what an impact he had here, and how high a regard we held him in. I know I am not alone in my feelings, and I will carry his legacy by trying to help newcomers with the same patience. Rest in peace RM.

 

[mohmad khatab]

(please delete the above post made in error)
Ron helped me very much with my first steps into RA-4 printing, and understanding photo chemistry. The depth of his knowledge, his patience with what must have been very basic questions to him, his humility and kindness were the traits of a very excellent human being. We have lost a great treasure.

I would often go through his posts and find the answers to very detailed questions. The man understood photochemistry better than anyone on this forum but never that over anyone's head. He sought to teach and share his passion.

He was also involved in the creation of my favourite emulsion, Kodak Gold.

I have little time to be posting on photrio, but I want his family to know how sorely he will be missed by this community, what an impact he had here, and how high a regard we held him in. I know I am not alone in my feelings, and I will carry his legacy by trying to help newcomers with the same patience. Rest in peace RM.

God bless you

 

[138S]

 

[Trask]

Speaking for myself, my explorations within photography are often seat-of-the-pants efforts, and the resulting “knowledge” I’ve gained is of variable quality. Ron didn’t speculate about photographic processes, he had the expertise down cold — and he shared this gift with us for years, for which I am very grateful. My condolences to his family and loved ones for their loss. I will not forget him.

 

[iandvaag]

This hits really hard. I can't say much more than has already been said.

It's no exaggeration to say that Ron's postings here on APUG have changed the course of my life. As my interest in analog photography grew, his posts inspired me to switch majors and study chemistry. I finished my undergraduate degree in chemistry last year and have begun a Master's program in chemistry. I have Ron's book and have put together a basic pumped emulsion setup which I plan to continue to improve. He was always so generous and helpful. I had been saving my money to visit Rochester and take the emulsion making course and perhaps even study with him for a longer period (years ago, he indicated a desire to have an intern help him with darkroom work). I'm so sad that I won't get the chance. Even more so, I wish I would have told him how much of an impact he made on me.

Thanks, Ron.

 

[Merg Ross]

So sorry to hear the news. I never met Ron, but felt his passion, and learned from his wealth of knowledge. Condolences to his family and friends. He will be missed.

 

[Dinesh]

Sad news indeed.

Fond memories of the old days in the chat room.

 

[Hatchetman]

I renewed my Photrio subscription in memory of Ron....we need to do what we can to keep analogue photography knowledge from disappearing.

 

[Karl K]

Ron was so generous in sharing his knowledge on APUG.
He set a high bar of excellence in all his posts.
Whenever I saw a post by Photo Engineer, that was my first click.
This is a terrible loss to his family, friends and the entire APUG/Photrio community.

 

[bvy]

Without words...

 

[nbagno]

It just seems a little weird, logging in here and knowing in the back of your mind that Mr. Photo Engineer is not here, waiting to chime in with words of wisdom to help you correct whatever developing issue you may have. Our training wheels are off and we need to go out on our own, into that big scary world of film chemistry without our "dad" there to catch us. I'm grateful for the advice he gave me that cured a specific issue I was having, and I continue to use that advice everyday in my workflow. Thanks for that Ron. RIP

 

[Hexavalent]

From Mark Osterman at Eastman House:

There has been a Darkroom sign that lights up outside that darkroom when you turn off the lights within. We took the bulb out of it years ago because the white light went under the door. We decided today to replace the glass with red and print a dedication to Ron. So he will light up every time the darkroom is in use.

 

[Helios 1984]

I renewed my Photrio subscription in memory of Ron....we need to do what we can to keep analogue photography knowledge from disappearing.

I haven't renewed my Photrio subs but I purchased a bottle of Kodak Stop Bath which I never do. It was a few hours before learning the sad news but, at the moment of the purchase, I thought Ron would approve.

 

[Truzi]

My condolences to all who were part of his life. Even though I only knew him through this forum, I am saddened. His kind words and advice were invaluable, and he helped many of us without even realizing it.

It wasn't his accomplishments so much as his willingness to share them that made him such a valued and respected man.

 

[Oxleyroad]

From Mark Osterman at Eastman House:

There has been a Darkroom sign that lights up outside that darkroom when you turn off the lights within. We took the bulb out of it years ago because the white light went under the door. We decided today to replace the glass with red and print a dedication to Ron. So he will light up every time the darkroom is in use.

What a better way to honor such a great man Hexavalent. Now like Truzi I only knew Ron through this forum but I had great respect for his calm, rational yet decisive clarity with which he was able to settle incorrect differences to the true chemical/photographic direction. He will be sorely missed by my self here on Photrio.

Wow. What a loss.

 

[Robert Stone]

From Mark Osterman at Eastman House:

There has been a Darkroom sign that lights up outside that darkroom when you turn off the lights within. We took the bulb out of it years ago because the white light went under the door. We decided today to replace the glass with red and print a dedication to Ron. So he will light up every time the darkroom is in use.

I’ll be there next week, I’ll have to check out the new sign.

I went this evening to his viewing and paid my respects. Ron looked at peace. I told him that all of APUG were thinking of him and missing him.

 

[MultiFormat Shooter]

There's nothing I can say that hasn't already been said. I only "knew" Photo Engineer, from his posts here, but I always read them and learned a great deal.

Godspeed, Ron.

 

[dmr]

Great loss! Condolences to friends and family.

I personally enjoyed reading his posts, although many were way over my head.

 

[Lee Rust]

Several of us were able to attend Ron's funeral service this morning. In addition to the scripture, poetry and family memories, three messages from overseas photographers that had been posted to the funeral home tribute page were read aloud. The George Eastman Museum's Mark Osterman was there with wife France, and Nick Brandreth offered his personal reflections. There was lots of love in the room and and a very moving Air Force color guard ceremony with three-volley salute and flag presentation to Ron's widow, Mary.

We will all miss him, but the Photo Engineer has left us with a generous legacy of photographic knowledge and the example of a life well lived.

 

[Jason Fox]

Even though I never met Ron in person, he was a wonderful mentor and online friend. He taught me so much and was always patient with all my questions and experiments. He will be very missed. All my respects to his family.