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

[drpsilver]

07 Mar 2020

A great loss to Photrio. I learned a lot of photo chemistry, film structure, and photographic principles from his posts. It was Ron who inspired me to understand the chemical principles (vs. physics and engineering) of photography. He will be miss greatly.

My sympathy and condolences to his family.

Regards,
Darwin

 

[TerryM]

Ron's death is a very sad loss for me personally, and this is an irreplaceable tragic loss for this Film Forum. There aren't many retired Kodak Engineers around participating on these Forums, and none of them dedicate themselves to these Forums as Ron selflessly did. APUG / PHOTRIO was largely Ron's life, and I wonder whether anyone else devoted quite as much time to this Forum. He will be forever sorely missed.

I knew when he didn't respond to my E-Mail the other day that something was wrong. Adieu dear man.

 

[M Carter]

Oh man. What a profound loss. Meeting PE was on my bucket list - his knowledge, patience, and generosity made a huge impact on many of us. I'm doing stuff I never expected in the darkroom, and his guidance was a huge part of my success. At least he (and his know-how) are immortalized on these pages, though that's of little consolation to his friends and family - they're in my thoughts today (just heard the news this morning).

 

[JWMster]

Yes, yes and more yes. Listened to a podcast the other day where reference was made at a "development party" to something the PE had written often about (can't remember off hand), but the fellow was aware, and so incredibly dismissive "as if", that I almost ran off the road. Tried to find an email address to correct the record... but couldn't. So that podcast is pretty much crossed off my list.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

Which podcast is this?

 

[JWMster]

It was "ALLTHROUGHALENS" podcast. No email address for the yackers.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

It was "ALLTHROUGHALENS" podcast. No email address for the yackers.

Thanks for the warning.

 

[JWMster]

Tom: Nice website-in-process! Love the DeVere shot among others. Yes, I'm pretty sure the podcast are millenials... all cool, all hip, and "all knowing". Yipes! To be young again? MMmmm. Definitely a more mixed bag than it might seem some days.

 

[Lachlan Young]

Tom: Nice website-in-process! Love the DeVere shot among others. Yes, I'm pretty sure the podcast are millenials... all cool, all hip, and "all knowing". Yipes! To be young again? MMmmm. Definitely a more mixed bag than it might seem some days.

Neg carrier's upside down in the De Vere (says this millennial who's spent the last couple of weeks working on assembling a severely customised bench mounted 5108 with pin register & a LED head)...


The worst offenders in terms of off-hand dismissal of analogue imaging science in favour of loudly held opinions that I've encountered were overwhelmingly middle aged men - make of that what you will...

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

The dude talking in the podcast's voice was annoying... I can't handle people who end their sentences like they are a question?

 

[Helge]

It was "ALLTHROUGHALENS" podcast. No email address for the yackers.

Absolutely horrible people and podcast. Virtue signaling, woke, and strenuously polemical given the slightest chance.
They are absolutely desperate to sound laid back and bohemian at the same time.

I can’t believe “Conspiracy of Cartographers” as one of the idiots call themselves (is it supposed to be deep or funny?), or Eric as I believe his name is, has been able to insert himself into polite, otherwise good circles like the Sunny 16 and I think also the FPP.
Like most other people like that, he has learned a facade of normalcy, of turning “it” down to exist in everyday interaction. Then at seemingly random moments he inserts some of his “stuff”, to supposedly make himself interesting.

He is of course a vegan, weaving the subject into any conversation he can, in ways he thinks are subtle.
He once tried to shame public photography of people (aka “street”), obviously without knowing the slightest bit about the subject.
He also reacts out of any kind of proportion negatively, when anyone as much as suggests improvements to his process.
Apparently he views himself as some kind of natural authentic artist, that mortals should not tamper with.

But, I can feel PEs ghost saying: “It's off topic!” though. ;-)

 

[Helge]

The worst offenders in terms of off-hand dismissal of analogue imaging science in favour of loudly held opinions that I've encountered were overwhelmingly middle aged men - make of that what you will...

No “old” dudes who’s “tried it all” and “done their own experiments” are the worst. They often have a thinly veiled butt hurt, sour grapes attitude towards film photography too. Whether they practice it or not.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

Tom: Nice website-in-process! Love the DeVere shot among others. Yes, I'm pretty sure the podcast are millenials... all cool, all hip, and "all knowing". Yipes! To be young again? MMmmm. Definitely a more mixed bag than it might seem some days.

Thanks. I have some plans to update parts of my site. There are always comprises with these things, a straightforward 'portfolio' site might look neater but I like the 'catalogue' approach to a certain extent. Wish I could filter out all the trendy stuff, it will date so quickly...

 

[Lachlan Young]

It was "ALLTHROUGHALENS" podcast. No email address for the yackers.

allthroughalens.podcast@gmail.com

 

[Colin Corneau]

Absolutely horrible people and podcast. Virtue signaling, woke, and strenuously polemical given the slightest chance.
They are absolutely desperate to sound laid back and bohemian at the same time.

I can’t believe “Conspiracy of Cartographers” as one of the idiots call themselves (is it supposed to be deep or funny?), or Eric as I believe his name is, has been able to insert himself into polite, otherwise good circles like the Sunny 16 and I think also the FPP.
Like most other people like that, he has learned a facade of normalcy, of turning “it” down to exist in everyday interaction. Then at seemingly random moments he inserts some of his “stuff”, to supposedly make himself interesting.

He is of course a vegan, weaving the subject into any conversation he can, in ways he thinks are subtle.
He once tried to shame public photography of people (aka “street”), obviously without knowing the slightest bit about the subject.
He also reacts out of any kind of proportion negatively, when anyone as much as suggests improvements to his process.
Apparently he views himself as some kind of natural authentic artist, that mortals should not tamper with.

But, I can feel PEs ghost saying: “It's off topic!” though. ;-)

Old (by now) joke: how can you tell if someone is a vegan? Don't worry, THEY'LL TELL YOU.

I'm all for a new generation looking into film and choosing to use it and, hopefully, master it. Cringeworthy though some of the stuff may be, it's all part of joining the road and making your way down it...I know I certainly was there myself, so I can't cast too many stones. By coincidence, I follow/am followed by Conspiracy of Cartographers on Instagram.

 

[RauschenOderKorn]

Yes, yes and more yes. Listened to a podcast the other day where reference was made at a "development party" to something the PE had written often about (can't remember off hand), but the fellow was aware, and so incredibly dismissive "as if", that I almost ran off the road. Tried to find an email address to correct the record... but couldn't. So that podcast is pretty much crossed off my list.

I guess you refer to the "Dev. Party 6", the question about blix vs. separate bleach & fix. Apart from not knowing photrio.com, not researching the reference / question, the author is arrogant, demeaning and openly insulting. Just because he did not and cannot do the science, he assumes nobody else did.

 

[Helge]

Old (by now) joke: how can you tell if someone is a vegan? Don't worry, THEY'LL TELL YOU.

I'm all for a new generation looking into film and choosing to use it and, hopefully, master it. Cringeworthy though some of the stuff may be, it's all part of joining the road and making your way down it...I know I certainly was there myself, so I can't cast too many stones.

No.
Anyone who feel it is necessary to put on that kind of mannerism and “tude”, might “ grow out of it” but will forever carry that lower intelligence and mindset that made them enter into the theatricals in the first place.
Not people I’d ever care to develop a relationship with.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

Not people I’d ever care to develop a relationship with.

Not that I wish to listen to the podcast but a policy of non-engagement seems like a good option.

 

[MattKing]

Ron is probably wondering what happened to his In Memoriam thread!
I wonder what he would have had to say about Kodak Alaris' problem with their new supply of Dektol?

 

[Lachlan Young]

Old (by now) joke: how can you tell if someone is a vegan? Don't worry, THEY'LL TELL YOU.

I'm all for a new generation looking into film and choosing to use it and, hopefully, master it. Cringeworthy though some of the stuff may be, it's all part of joining the road and making your way down it...I know I certainly was there myself, so I can't cast too many stones. By coincidence, I follow/am followed by Conspiracy of Cartographers on Instagram.

Don't know how much of 'a new generation' you could call him - I heard him make some reference to being in high school in 1990...

 

[Helge]

Ron is probably wondering what happened to his In Memoriam thread!
I wonder what he would have had to say about Kodak Alaris' problem with their new supply of Dektol?

Well, we are defending his honor.
And honoring his pledge to spread correct knowledge.
But yeah, enough about someone who is far too old to act like an attention hungry seventeen year old.

Not that I wish to listen to the podcast but a policy of non-engagement seems like a good option.

You should pick your battles.
But complete apathy will let echo chamber cells develop. Those can randomly grow in size and influence.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I guess you refer to the "Dev. Party 6", the question about blix vs. separate bleach & fix. Apart from not knowing photrio.com, not researching the reference / question, the author is arrogant, demeaning and openly insulting. Just because he did not and cannot do the science, he assumes nobody else did.

precisely my take, too.

 

[mohmad khatab]

precisely my take, too.

Hi ,,
What is it, colleagues?
What is the problem ,?
Can any of you please kindly give me an overview of the content of the problem?
The article was a plot to mourn the great man who left us and left safely to the next world.
There is another discussion going on, and I almost don't understand the truth of the story.
Please, I want a brief summary, God bless you all.
Greetings to all .

 

[Murray Kelly]

I just found out the terrible news. Terrible for his family and all the rest of us. A lot of the Kodak knowledge is going, going, gone.

I will miss his postings very much.

 

[removed account4]

Ron is probably wondering what happened to his In Memoriam thread!
I wonder what he would have had to say about Kodak Alaris' problem with their new supply of Dektol?

PE would have known exactly what happened, if it was the packaging or contamination, would have known people who were involved with fixing ( pardon the pun ) it, if it was bad for film or prints, and would have probably not mentioned D72 and its formula or liquidol to tide people over if they had a problem with dark dektol cause he wasn't the kind of person to toot his own horn like that...
I didn't listen to the podcast, but there's a lot of people who know stuff, and a lot of people who don't know stuff and a lot of people in the middle.