About & Philosophy — Nicholas A. Price Archive

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For over three decades, my photographic practice has remained strictly rooted in the tangible realm of traditional analog film and silver gelatin printing. Working almost exclusively in black and white, I view the darkroom not merely as a production space, but as an essential focus of my artistic creation where light, silver, and paper chemistry collide.

My work explores the enduring interplay of form, shadow, and silence. By capturing images on physical emulsion and hand-crafting each print on archival fiber-based paper, I aim to preserve a tactile depth and permanence that digital mediums cannot replicate. Each silver gelatin print represents a singular moment frozen in time and translated through a meticulous, physical process—offering an authentic contemplation of nuance, texture, and light honed across a 30-year career.

Nicholas shot his first roll of black-and-white film as a teenager, beginning a lifelong dedication to the analog medium. While occasionally working in color for specific projects, his primary focus has remained steadfastly on classic black-and-white photography. Resisting the shift to digital, he maintains a complete, professional chemical laboratory and darkroom outfitted with precision optical enlargers and traditional processing equipment.

His practice spans 35mm, medium format (6x6 and 6x7), and 4x5 large-format cameras. He favors fully manual, mechanical camera systems and classic optics. This range of equipment allows for complete manual control over depth, contrast, and optical character at the moment of exposure.

Working in the field and studio every day, he treats the creation of a negative not as an end point, but as the foundation for hand-crafted, archival silver gelatin prints.