Biographical Information:
Jim currently resides in Ventura, California. A California native, Jim began his photographic career 30 years ago. A self-educated photographer and camera builder, Jim’s first visions were color 35mm images of the world, people and landscapes around him. In 2000, Jim began using large format cameras and developing and printing his own black and white photographs. “I needed total control over the process to complete my vision.” Workshops, conducted in the field and the darkroom by respected photographers by Per Volquartz and Vaughn Hutchins, have inspired Jim to create some of his best work. His images are held in private collections, and Jim was one of the artists selected to show at the prestigious Yosemite Renaissance XXIV in 2008.

The tools of choice for Jim are his 1904 Seneca 8x10 camera and hand-crafted Walnut 11x14, 14x17 and 8x20 cameras.

A traditional photographer Jim specializes in Carbon Transfer contact prints. Carbon Transfer, a process from the 1860’s, is a highly labor intensive process that yields prints of the finest quality. The photographer has total control of the image tonality due to the blending of pigments and manufacturing of transfer tissue unique to the artists’ vision. Carbon prints require a minimum of 4 days of work to produce one finished print. Currently there are less than 200 actively practicing carbon printers in the world. Jim is one of less than a dozen people in the world who teach carbon transfer printing.

Artist Statement:
I am a dedicated traditional carbon transfer artist. Carbon Transfer is a printing process from the mid 1860’s yielding what many believe to be the finest and most archival prints produced today. Carbon Transfer printing is how I “see” my vision presented in its final form. My prints are unique to me because I control the entire process from building my cameras and exposing large sheets of film to developing the image and to blending special pigmented gelatin that my final vision will be printed from.

I have found that no other process has given me the quality, beauty and feeling that I can produce with my unique 3D carbon transfer prints. This is my way of expressing the passion I feel when I am in the field producing my work. My traditional darkroom negatives are contact printed one at a time yielding prints that are a special handmade one of a kind image. Be they 8x10, 11x14, 8x20 or 14x17 negatives each is a unique print unto itself. This is who I am as an artist. My heart and soul is present in the finished print and if it evokes an emotion from the viewer then I have succeeded as an artist.

My carbon work has evolved over time to include teaching this process to others and using it to both inspire myself and nurture my inherent artistic sensibilities - for it is much more than just a process. My current long term projects are evolving and my vision is changing as I develop my skill and understanding of Carbon Transfer printing. Portrait work in the traditional vein along with still life, figure studies, landscape and my long term documentation of the Black Oaks in Yosemite Valley continue to help me grow as an artist. Carbon transfer printing is a labor of love that requires dedication to the craft of fine art photography at the highest level. I strive to keep this historic process alive by being one of less than 200 artists in the world actively printing Carbon Transfer. I see no other way to express myself.

Solo Exhibitions:
July 21, 2012 Symphonies of Light, Buenaventura Gallery, Ventura, CA

Group Exhibitions:
May 5, 2012 It’s All Analog, Gallery 207. Santa Ana, CA
January 14, 2012 Open Competition, Buenaventura Gallery. Ventura, CA
September 10, 2011 CMH Just Photographs CMH Hospital, Ventura, CA
March 27, 2009 Show Up. Riverside, CA
February, 2008 Yosemite Renaissance XXIV Yosemite National Park, CA

Awards & Honors:
Jim has won numerous awards and recently was voted “Best of Show” in the It’s All Analog show held recently at Gallery 207

Collections:
Jim’s work is currently held in private collections and Gallery 56 in Riverside, Ca.

Affiliations:
Buenaventura Art Association Exhibiting Member
Pasadena Society of Artist Member

Education
Jim is a self educated Large and Ultra Large Format photographer, teacher and camera builder.