Having been immersed in photography for over 50 years, Dan Russell is skilled in using a myriad of camera formats. From 35mm to 8×10, his skillset has taken him on many journeys through photography’s own rich history. After moving to Colorado Springs, the American West photographs of William Henry Jackson and Edward Curtis inspired Dan to research the historic processes used in the 1800s. The dry plate process of the late 19^th century which combined large-format field cameras, brass barrel lenses and printing surfaces made from albumen or, a combination of ferric ammonium citrate, tartaric acid and silver nitrate to create the Van Dyke brown print, became his process of choice. Dan’s approach to his art is a desire to mirror the historic process with the historic nature of his subject, with a reverence for time passed.  

One of print processes Dan chose to use  in his photography project of 19th Century Colorado represents the metals, iron, gold and silver, that were instrumental in the growth of Colorado. His intent was not to reproduce an existing photograph, the intent was to take a picture of the scene as he saw it, the way he might have taken in the 1890’s. This approach to shooting historic sites with historic photographical processes started several years ago when he was photographing the Victor mines and printing with Van Dyke brown process for an art exhibit in Cripple Creek. Since that time the process has expanded to include antique brass lenses and the dryplate process to shoot as authentically as possible.

Dan’s biography would not be complete without mentioning the man who propelled him into the art of photography. G. Leonard Smith of Savannah, Georgia, was a mentor and a dear friend. He loaned Dan his cameras; 35mm, 6x7and 4×5’s, and taught him how to use each and every one of them. He was the foundation of Dan’s photography.