Randall Roberts | “Bromoils III”
Published: March 30, 2011
Gallatin River Gallery in Big Sky is hosting its third solo exhibition of unique bromoils by Red Lodge artist Randall Roberts through April 23. Used by the early pictorialists in the early 20th century, a bromoil combines photography and painting in haunting one-of-a-kind images.
Roberts, working out of his Silverprint Studio in Red Lodge, takes the mystery a step further with images of wild horses, Yellowstone Park landscapes, and teepees. Roberts learned the basics of photography from his dad and got a job in a studio in Detroit before attending Winona School of Photography. He eventually moved to Montana and worked for two photography studios before opening his own in 1988. In 1993, he moved from studio portraits to fine-art photography.
He’s been photographing landscapes across North America and architectural work in Europe for the last 20 years, and currently shows his work throughout the West, sustaining a love of photography and the unique medium of a bromoilist.
“I love the feel and spontaneity of an original print,” he says. “I believe in craftsmanship, and the silver process affords me the opportunity to practice my craft. I hand process all my work, giving each photograph a personal touch.”
He uses “dead photographers’ techniques” to create his images, shooting landscapes with a Sinar view camera, taking his European images with a Hassleblad, and photographing wild mustangs with a Canon, fitted with a 300mm lens.
Roberts believes black and white prints “match our emotional and perceptual experiences. They relay more information about light, form and essence in a way no other process does.”
For more on the artist, go to silverprintstudio.com.
