Business Details
31 Years
experience
Bruce Burgin: Master of Traditional Gelatin Silver Photography
I am Bruce Burgin, a dedicated fine art photographer based in Beckley, West Virginia, with over five decades of experience capturing the essence of landscapes, architecture, and abstract subjects through traditional black and white film. My work is rooted in the meticulous gelatin silver printing process, a method I've mastered since my early days in the US Navy Photography School in 1968. Each photograph is handcrafted in my darkroom, where I personally develop negatives, selenium tone prints, and mount them using acid-free materials to ensure archival longevity exceeding 200 years.My commitment to analog techniques, including large-format cameras and manual exposure calculations, distinguishes my artistry in an era dominated by digital technology. As a lifelong outdoor enthusiastrock climber, mountain biker, and fly fishermanI channel my deep connection to nature into every composition, creating collectible works that resonate with timeless beauty and technical precision.
Services
Gelatin Silver Photographs
Fine Art Photography
Archival Printing
Landscape Photography
Abstract Photography
Architectural Photography
Darkroom Processing
Selenium Toning
Custom Matting
Black & White Film
Details
- Year established: 1995
Highlights and features
- We offer over 50 years of experience in traditional black and white film photography.
- Our gelatin silver prints are archival-quality, lasting over 200 years with proper care.
- Each photograph is hand-printed and selenium-toned in-house for maximum preservation.
- We specialize in large-format, non-digital techniques that capture unparalleled detail.
- Our work reflects a lifelong dedication to outdoor exploration and artistic authenticity.
Services
Gelatin Silver Photographs
Handcrafted black and white photographs using traditional gelatin silver processes ensure archival quality and longevity. Each print is developed manually in a darkroom, selenium-toned, and mounted on acid-free materials. This method preserves intricate details and tonal ranges, making them collectible investments for art enthusiasts.
Landscape Photography
Capturing the raw beauty of natural landscapes through large-format film cameras. Subjects include mountain ranges, rivers, forests, and stormscapes, emphasizing the interplay of light and shadow. Each composition reflects decades of outdoor exploration and technical mastery in challenging environments.
Abstract Photography
Focusing on textures, patterns, and unconventional subjects like weathered doors, industrial structures, and natural forms. These images transform mundane objects into striking visual studies through precise exposure control and darkroom techniques, offering unique perspectives on everyday scenes.
Architectural Photography
Documenting historical and modern structures with an emphasis on form, symmetry, and decay. Techniques include long exposures for dynamic lighting effects and large-format cameras to capture fine architectural details, preserving the character of buildings through timeless monochrome imagery.
Darkroom Processing
Full in-house processing of black and white film negatives and prints. Services include manual chemical development, selenium toning for enhanced durability, and custom matting. This hands-on approach ensures complete artistic control from exposure to final presentation, maintaining the integrity of traditional photographic methods.
People
Bruce Burgin
Photographer
Bruce Burgin is a West Virginia-based fine art photographer with over 50 years of experience in traditional black and white film techniques. A former US Navy photographer, he specializes in gelatin silver prints and darkroom processing, creating archival-quality landscapes and abstract works.
Questions
What type of photography does Bruce Burgin specialize in?
Bruce Burgin specializes in traditional black and white gelatin silver photography, focusing on landscapes, abstract subjects, and architectural scenes using large-format film cameras and manual darkroom techniques.
Are the photographs digital prints?
No, all photographs are hand-printed in a darkroom using gelatin silver processes on fiber-based paper, ensuring archival quality and distinct from digital machine prints.
How are the photographs preserved?
Each print undergoes selenium toning and acid-free mounting to ensure longevity exceeding 200 years, using archival materials for matting and protective packaging to prevent damage during shipping.
What sizes are available for purchase?
Available sizes include 8x10, 11x14, 16x20, and 20x24 inches, each matted to standard framing dimensions with corresponding pricing and shipping fees listed on the website.
What payment methods are accepted?
Payments are accepted via personal check or money order only; credit cards and digital payment platforms are not supported for transactions.