Few art methods have changed as dramatically as photography. Shaped by innovation and technology, the process of making photographs has undergone technological revolution since its invention 125 years ago. A devoted band of film fans to adhere to the traditional method of gelatin silver printing. But the rapid rise of digital photography makes many wonder, what’s the difference?

Fine art black and white silver gelatin printing is a fading art. It requires a highly skilled and experienced darkroom technician. For each individual print, the fragile negative is used and manipulated in the darkroom which exposes the delicate negative to wear, limiting the number of prints that can be produced. It’s not uncommon for the most experienced photographer to produce several prints before creating the one that meets the highest standard. The fragile nature of the process and high quality of the fine art prints make silver gelatin prints more expensive than their contemporary counterparts. Digital printing is less labor intensive and less expensive to produce an endless number of identical images.

Even after 125 years the process created by R.L. Maddox in 1871 remains the preferred process for fine art photography. For many purists the subtle gray tones and contrasts achieved through the gelatin silver method are superior to modern digital photography. Even with improvements in technology, silver gelatin prints can still produce a print with a broader range of tones than digital prints. More detail can be seen in a silver gelatin print, although you might need to use a magnifying glass to see it. And silver gelatin prints have a classical “look” that fine art collectors still prefer.

“Each photograph is unique due to how it is printed and the paper it is printed on. The complexity and spontaneity that occurs in the printing of my photographs ensures its originality to the collector.”
– Charlie Carter

Still clinging to the traditional means of the gelatin silver process, photographers like Charlie Carter continue the practice through the use of film and silver coated papers. His beautiful photographs are still created in the old fashion way…in the darkroom. His exhibit, The Path Chosen opens Friday October 4 and continues through early November at the Gallery at Finer Frames.