Last night FK was pleased to host a discussion about the creative process with ReBUS, part of Ad Club St Louis. Photographer Mark Katzman and retoucher Curt von Diest presented case studies showing recent projects. The process from the initial concept all the way through to the final art work was discussed. We also looked at the role of stock photography and the pros and cons of using stock in comp layouts. A dynamic discussion followed.  We all had a great time hosting this event and really enjoyed meeting everyone that came.  ReBUS is welcome back at FK any time.

See more images from the event after the jump.

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Continue reading ReBUS Event at FK"

Photogravure.com | The Art of the Photogravure - Mark Katzman's personal labor of love -  was recently featured as the Webpick of the week on Communication Arts' homepage.  Launched in 2006, photogravure.com has become an invaluable resource for collectors of vintage photography throughout the world.  Please take a moment to browse the collections and articles on photogravure.com.

Curt von Diest - FK's digital department - recently won Grand Prize in the faculty category of the Photo Imaging Education Association's annual photography competition. Below is his winning photograph of grazing horses in southern Utah.  Curt currently teaches Digital Photography classes at Webster University in St. Louis.

Currently on display in the studio are 11 portraits from Mark Katzman's personal project "Tucker and Convention".  Made using the historical wet-plate collodion process, the portraits evoke a sense of the socio-economic foundations of the St Louis everyman.  The subjects are all passers-by photographed on the street in the vicinity of FK's former studio on North Tucker Blvd.
 

The wet-plate collodion process, commonly referred to as Ambrotype, requires the emulsion to be hand applied to a glass plate. The photograph must then be exposed and developed before the emulsion has a chance to dry. For this process to work outside of the studio Mark uses a custom portable darkroom installed in the back of his Suburban. Most subjects stayed for only one single photograph before continuing on their way.

Many more photographs from Tucker and Convention after the jump...

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Continue reading TUCKER AND CONVENTION - PERSONAL PORTRAIT PROJECT"

For the past year Mark Katzman has worked closely with the web designers at TOKY to develop a comprehensive website devoted to the art of the photogravure process. Check out this beautiful site now at http://www.photogravure.com