Audrey Hall - "Handsome Jack"

"Handsome Jack" is a 24x36 hand-toned silver gelatin print, captured on location in Montana. The gelatin-silver process, introduced in 1885 and made famous by photographers such as Ansel Adams and Edward Weston, remains one of the most revered techniques in black-and-white photography. Known for its archival quality and rich tonal depth, this process allows for a luminous range from deep blacks to bright highlights, with every subtle tone in between.

Silver gelatin prints are made by exposing fiber-based paper, coated with light-sensitive silver halide particles, to an image projected from a negative. Through chemical development, the exposed silver transforms into a full spectrum of grey tones, creating the depth and texture that define traditional black-and-white photography. Hand-toning further enhances these qualities, lending the final print a distinct character.

"Handsome Jack" reflects the timeless elegance and strength of the Frisian, its presence amplified by the depth and nuance only a silver gelatin print can achieve.