John Chiara and Matthew Brandt are two innovative contemporary artists whose work both experiments with and expands upon traditional photographic processes. Their unique photographs echo some of the earliest 19th century techniques from a 21st century vantage point. Like other contemporaries such as Thomas Ruff (lot 216) and Richard Mosse (lot 209) who are pushing the boundaries of photography, both Chiara and Brandt reach beyond the traditional analogue and digital processes to create various bodies of unique work.

Chiara’s practice involves the production of his own large format cameras, some of which measure as large as 50 by 80 inches. He places a sheet of color photographic paper into the custom camera, controlling the exposure, dodging and burning with his hands – then developing the works in a spinning drum. The process results in each print carrying its own distinctive characteristics.

Brandt is a chameleon of pairing process with conceptual aims. In his Waterfalls series, he digitally splices his photographs and prints them as separate duraclear transparencies: cyan, magenta and yellow. He then places each in the water source that is the subject of the project – here, the Potem Falls – for varying lengths of time to alter the chemistry of the prints. Lastly, Brandt assembles and illuminates the transparencies within a lightbox, creating self-referential and visually dynamic works that fundamentally expand the concept of what a photograph can be.