George L Smyth - Bromoil Photography

Artist Statement

The Extras refers to those individuals who play such roles in the movie of my life. I have no interaction with them, I do not hear their conversations, they remain in the background. However, their lack of presence would be disquieting, and I need them to help complete my story. Although they remain at a distance, each extra has their own successes and failures, worries about the future and care for loved ones, and a life as complete as my own. Just as they are extras in the movie of my life, I serve the same purpose for them.

I have decided to allow the viewer to create their own vision without interference, thus these images are offered without titles. That said, if you would like to see the titles, as well as the stories I have created for each image, this can be done by examining my book, The Extras, or downloading the free PDF.

Each print is created through the Bromoil process, a labor intensive, time consuming procedure where the silver is removed from a traditionally created darkroom print, and replaced with lithographic ink by striking its surface with a stiff, ink charged brush. Although this process is seldom used to make images of this nature, it adds an ethereal atmosphere to the scene, which allows the viewer to enter and understand the image on their own.

All images are available as unique editions, as no two Bromoil images can be created exactly the same.