Born in rural Northern Alberta, photographer Richard Troy Lehmann moved to Europe at the age of 19 when his love of photography and the arts began. Returning to North America in 2003, Richard now lives and works in New York City. During his first winter in Manhattan, he turned his attention to installations of statuary and architectural elements, which would later create the foundation for and main inspiration for his photographic series in the exhibition Quiet Presence.
The montage begins by first layering exposures on Forte paper and then developing them in combination with solarization: a process where shadows and light move across the face of a still, whereby new layers of dimension and color emerge from the aggressive reaction of photographic chemistry coupled with harsh lighting acceleration. The speed at which the image disappears before you, before falling into complete darkness, forces one’s hands to fervently move the Stop chemistry and save the disappearing image. At this point, the prints are stabilized. Through toning, re-development, and bleaching, the images are brought to life. The montage pieces are then transformed into their final state by drum-scanning and then converted to large format color prints. Finally, they are sealed in metal surrounds, treated with acid, and exposed to the elements until the desired patina develops. Lastly, they are sealed with wax and fire.