Charles Gilchrist is an exceptional black and white photographer and printer, an art which is being practiced by fewer and fewer people. He has a very bold and graphic style which is appreciated by many people, especially his peers. He is a black and white photographer's photographer.

Charles insists on processing all his black and white film by hand and does all his own highly controlled lab work. He uses several types of film and processes it in various chemistries, depending on the situation. In all cases, his lab techniques are designed to insure the highest quality and longevity.

This classical approach extends to his print making. All Gilchrist Silver Gelatin Prints are hand crafted by the artist and very carefully processed to insure their longevity. Gilchrist currently makes two kinds of silver prints, "RC Silver Getatin Prints" and "Fiber Based Silver Gelatin Prints" on double weight paper.

RC stands for "Resin Coated" which is the type of paper the print is made on. This print medium is about 50% plastic and 50% paper which has a thin silver emulsion applied to the very smooth surface. This type of print has certain commercial advantages and printers prefer them. They are relatively fast drying, realitively durable, and very dimensionally stable. They can also be processed completely by machine which is not the case for Gilchrist RC Silver Gelatin Prints. All Gilchrist Silver Gelatin Prints are hand crafted in open trays. All Gilchrist RC Silver Gelatin Prints are reproduction grade, that is, printed for maximum detail across the entire spectrum of values. The contrast is highly controlled and the whites are full of detail as are the shadows.

The paper is the primary difference between the two types of prints. A Fine Arts, or Fiber Based Silver Gelatin Print is basically a high quality photographic print on paper, the industry standard before the advent of the RC technology. This type of fiber based emulsified paper is much harder to get and more expensive than RC paper . . . and takes about two to three times longer to create. The photo emulsion is many times thicker on this type of print, hence the blacks and dark grays are noticeably richer. The whites on the Fiber Based Silver Gelatin Prints are potentially much brighter. At the collectible level, Fiber Based Silver Gelatin Prints are more valuable than RC Silver Gelatin Prints. They have a definite look and feel with real object quality. At this time, an expertly processed and protected Fiber Based Silver Gelatin Print could last several hundred years or more without noticeable changes. This is the museum standard.

Gilchrist usually creates his Fiber Based Silver Gelatin Prints in very small blocks (6 to 8 prints). They are meticulously hand processed and air dried with techniques designed to insure their longevity. Charles prefers Ilford and Agfa double weight papers and switches back and forth, depending on the negative. His beautiful full toned Silver Gelatin Prints are almost always signed and dated in black ink.

Charles has always taken a very definite position in regards to the pricing of his work. He believes this position is one of the things which has allowed him to continue to work as a full time fine artist. He says: "I am not an elitist. I would much prefer a large number of people to enjoy my work rather than a few well fixed collectors. As long as I'm alive I will hold my prices to the very minimum. I want my work to be affordable."

Factory Outlet Prices as of January 1, 2006

One, 8" x 10" RC Silver Gelatin Print: $29.95 plus $5.00 I/S/H.

Two, 8" x 10" RC Silver Gelatin Prints: $56.95 plus $5.00 I/S/H.

Three, 8" x 10" RC Silver Gelatin Prints: $78.95 plus $5.00 I/S/H.

Four, 8" x 10" RC Silver Gelatin Prints: $100.00 plus $5.00 I/S/H.

Additional 8" x 10" RC Silver Gelatin Prints (on web) are $25.00 each.

Special Order 8" x 10" RC Silver Gelatin Prints are $35 plus $5.00 I/S/H. For more details: E-Mail Us.

Special Prices are avalible on multiple prints from the same negative. For more details: E-Mail Us.

Factory Outlet Prices as of January 1, 2006

One, 8" x 10" Fine Arts Silver Gelatin Print: $39.95 plus $6.00 I/S/H.

One, 11" X 14" Fine Arts Silver Gelatin Print: $59.95 plus $9.00 I/S/H

One, 16" x 20" Fine Arts Silver Gelatin Print: $99.95 plus $14.00 I/S/H

Multiple Fine Arts Silver Gelatin Print orders receive a 10% discount.

Special sizes or commissions are negotiable. For more details: E-Mail Us.

These are wholesale prices. Galleries selling Gilchrist Fiber Based Silver Gelatin Prints, raise these prices from 300% to 500% and take the additional profit for matting and framing, etc.