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Artist Profile - Alan Smith

Alan Smith specialises in fine art and portraiture using traditional photographic methods.

In his quest to produce timeless images, Smith uses a range of cameras and negative film sizes, from the tiny half-frame to 5 x 4 large format.

He also experiments with quirky plastic lenses and pinhole cameras, which date back to the earliest days of photography.

"I prefer working in the darkroom rather than using modern digital techniques," said Smith. "I produce a range of hand made prints from traditional silver gelatin, black & white images to toned prints and the more challenging lith print, which produces I feel a unique piece of art.

"No two lith prints are the same," he added. "As the developer ages it produces a different look and feel to the print. I also tone my prints with sepia or selenium.

"In addition I also produce salt prints, which involve coating watercolour paper with a mixture of silver nitrate and citric acid and argyrotypes, both of which give an antique feel to the finished print."

Smith's work has been exhibited locally - notably at the Domino Gallery in Liverpool in 2009 - and images from his most recent show formed part of a body of work, which was exhibited in Stuttgart, Germany.

His 'Present Past' exhibition - a social history of a northern town - was featured on BBC TV's 'North West Tonight' programme, which also received wide press coverage.

Email: a.smith801(at)btinternet.com
Website: www.alansmithphotography.co.uk

All pictures copyright Alan Smith

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