Jackson photographer’s prints attract collectors nationwide; NMWA kicks off JH Winter Carnival

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

By Kate Balog

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-Since 2001, David Brookover’s expanding gallery just off the town square has displayed his crystal-clear landscapes of Utah, Wyoming, Japan, and New Mexico. It has also attracted a loyal client base. The latest additions are black and white platinum and palladium prints of unprecedented size. Platinum is unmatched in terms of its permanence and depth and produces incredible detail and warm midtones in photography, mimicking pencil or charcoal drawings.

Platinum printing dates back to the 1870s, but Brookover collaborated with two labs to invent an expensive and laborious process to build the negative, develop it, and print it on a contemporary, enormous scale. Traditional platinum palladium prints are 5x7, but his are 20x25.

The combination of Japanese fine art paper and the printing process produces prints with an archival range of 1500-2000 years. Brookover selected only seven prints for this process and each has only seven editions, making each one very rare and coveted by the collectors who travel across the country to purchase them. Unfortunately, the collectors and his wealthiest clients are the only ones who can afford these limited editions, as the Italian custom-framed platinum prints go for $8000. Still, Brookover sold three in the two days after Christmas. The first edition of “64 Years Later” was sold to a Pennsylvania collector straight from the proofs.

Brookover’s color landscapes are his more affordable option. In order to achieve such detail on such a large scale, Brookover usually uses a 35 lb., large format Linhof view camera to produce 8x10 negatives. Occasionally, he has to take three different shots, like he did for “Future Pull,” and then stitch the three negatives together. The transparencies are then scanned to extremely high resolutions (each file is around 1.8 gigabytes) and printed using a state-of-the-art laser printer. Brookover’s artistic process is methodical. He often waits for days - and sometimes years - for the right shot. The lighting, clouds and weather have to be perfect.

Brookover discovered photography after he moved to Japan in 1986 to pursue a career in acupuncture therapy. He couldn’t transfer his license, but fell in love with Japan’s culture and beauty and decided to stay anyway. He taught himself photography by attending art shows and studying photography books, mostly written in Japanese. After years of selling stock photography and building a portfolio, he landed a job with Fuji film as a film consultant, and then started his own gallery in Jackson in 2001. 
Brookover promises something new and exciting this fall and we’ll keep you posted as it develops. In the meantime, regard his current work at Brookover Gallery at 125 N Cache. Call 732-3988.

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To kick off the Jackson Hole Winter Carnival, the National Museum of Wildlife will host their 3rd annual Winter Quick Draw. Artists have an hour from 6 to 7 pm complete their artwork. Afterwards, each piece will be auctioned off to benefit the education programs of the Museum. Artists Tom Bradshaw, Julie Chapman, Tammy Collins, Fred Kingwill, Matt Montagne, Dee Parker, Bill Sawczuk, Kathy Turner and Kathy Wipfler will compete in the Quick Draw, along with Jackson Hole High School students Jesse Cole, Nikki Kaliebe, Lea Kindt, and Gracey Lewis. The doors open at 5:30 pm and food and drink will be served. For more information on this event, call 732-5418.

Courtesy David Brookover
“64 Years Later,” by David Brookover.

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Jackson photographer’s prints attract collectors nationwide; NMWA kicks off JH Winter Carnival | Planet JH News Article: Arts Beat

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