Joe Besse

Alternative Photographic Processes

Joe Besse

Bromoil

Artist's Statement:

I first started to pursue my future avocation of photography while stationed in the Far East with the U. S. Navy. An old Japanese man first taught me the rudiments of darkroom work back in 1955. Since that time I have gone through many different facets such as, acquiring a Bachelor of Science Degree, sales work, insurance investigations and photography sales work in different states before settling down to become a full time photographer back in 1972.
I opened up my first studio at my home and started to photograph weddings, dances, graduations and anything else I could photograph. I still photograph weddings and I do portraits and school photography and some commercial photography work. Recently I have begun to specialize in fine art photography and learning to do several types of Alternative Photographic Processes, settling finally on the Bromoil Process some 3 years ago. Over the years I have studied with many different Masters of Photography in learning my craft and have traveled to many different states to study. Back in the late 1980's I was privileged to meet Jay Stock one of the world1s most noted Masters of Photography and through his help and kind words I have progressed to where I am at today. He taught me about the French Impressionists and encouraged me to study their styles, colors, composition, etc.
I believe in sharing my work with other photographers. A few years ago I became the Louisiana state chairman of the committee that helps professional photographers become certified and received the title Certified Professional Photographer that is given out through the Professional Photographers of America. I also received my Photographic Craftsman Degree from the same organization. This degree is awarded to photographers who give lectures to other photographers and help them with their craft and also do continuing education in their profession. I am mostly self-taught in this process, however I received tutoring recently from a Master Bromoilist, Gene Laughter of Richmond, Virginia who has helped me greatly and encourgaged me to continue my work. I also want to acknowledge help from Ernie Theisen, David Lewis (whose book I have studied), Norman Gryspeerdt (whose video tape opened up the Bromoil World to me), and countless other past Bromoil masters whose many books I have read and studied.
I believe that by helping other people get what they want out of photography I will get what I want, which is satisfaction and success in my chosen field. I love to photograph and work with people and I hope that it shows in some of my work and I also hope that the people who view my exhibit will enjoy it as much as I enjoyed photographing the images shown here.

The Bromoil Process
The Bromoil Process is a process whereby the silver image contained in a black and white photograph is replaced by an ink image.
The process originated from the Oil Process which was suggested in a patent dated 1855. It was in 1907 that C. Welbourne Piper worked out a formula for the Bromoil Process on a suggestion by E.J.Wall.
The process was very popular in the early part of the 20th Century but interest diminished greatly after World War II when supplies were in short supply and almost disappeared in the USA. The process has continued in the United Kingdom and in the last 4 or 5 years has begun to be practiced by a few die hard fine art photographers in the USA.
The method, briefly, is that the silver image contained in gelatine on a bromide print is bleached away and at the same time, the gelatine is hardened according to the amount of silver it contains. It is then fixed, washed and dried, after which it is re-soaked to condition the gelatine and then all surplus water is removed. A greasy ink, such as lithographic ink, is then applied by brush and is accepted where the gelatine has hardened (the shadow areas) but is rejected where the gelatine has swollen (the highlights). Thus the original image in the bromide print is built up so that the silver image is now an ink image and so, far more permanent. By judicious application of the ink, the worker has fine control over the final image. The image becomes archival due to replacing the silver image with the one of permanent lithographic ink.

About the Artist
Joe Besse has studied the Bromoil Process for many years and has studied with Masters of the process. He has also studied his fine art photography and portrait techniques with several Masters of Photography, such as Jay Stock, Monte Zucker, Ralph Romaguera along with others. He has attended the West Coast School at Brooks Institute, Ole Miss University, The Texas School of Photography and Winona School of Photography.
His Bromoil prints hang worldwide, in Japan, the USA, the United Kingdom, Norway and Denmark.
His Bromoil work was featured in a cover story in the "Shutterbug Magazine" in October 1998 and in a feature article in the October 15, 1998 Lafayette Daily Advertiser along with being on "Acadiana Downhome" on the local ABC affiliate Channel 3 in Lafayette. He also had a showing of his Bromoi work in the New London Art Gallery of New London, Connecticut.
He is the owner of Joe Besse Photography studio in Scott, Louisiana specializing in weddings, portraits, commercial and other commissioned photography work. His studio photography has hung at the International PP of A Exhibition in Las Vegas and Chicago, Regional exhibition in Houston, Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge, City Hall Gallery in Lafayette and a Prestigious one man show at the Lafayette Gallery (summer of '93) and has prints hanging at the Heymann Performing Art Center of Lafayette. He is a member of the Professional Photographers of America and holds the degree of Photographic Craftsman in this international organization.