Peter Liepke

To be the director of a photography gallery in today’s modern world is to be besieged
by hundreds of electronic portfolios [as well as postcards that direct to a website of
electronic images]. The often perfectly competent work is frequently indistinguishable
or just not very interesting. That I was immediately so taken by the electronically
transmitted work of Peter Liepke, speaks of the craft, power and beauty of his imagery.
He is a great photographer as well as a master of two terribly difficult and painstaking
processes: platinum/palladium and gum bichromate printing. If called for in a
particular image, his real tour de force is the combination of both processes in one
image! Comparatively few people still use either process, he may be one of a handful
in the world who combine the two and very recently added a third antique process,
cyanotype. Some of his latest work combines all three, surely unique in all the world!
It’s also amazing to me that the handcrafted nature of Peter’s work got through to
me even through the medium of the computer.

"Entering Metropolis" by Peter Liepke

Peter led a fairly conventional studio and commercial photographer’s life until
recently. He has taken his formidable commercial photographic skills and knowledge
honed over the last 20+ years and turned it toward creating a gorgeous body of fine
art photography of staggering resonance and beauty. He pursues his imagery solely
to uplift and inspire. His work stands out in stark opposition to our current “ADD” way
of living today. We never seem to have the time to really stop and enjoy something
of beauty for long. We get interrupted by a text message, cell phone call or e-mail
and we are cut off from the beauty before us and move in a completely new direction.
Peter takes his time, observes, waits and skillfully captures the fleeting moment with
his 100 year old Graflex [the antithesis of today’s modern electronic camera that only
requires aiming]. It’s quite startling to find out that none of Peter’s photographs are
set up in advance, since the compositions are so perfectly framed and his captured
moments so fleeting. In addition to his skill and patience in making the image we now add the time consuming nature of the gum or platinum [or both] process. And we are
still not done yet with the complete work of art that Peter presents to us for our visual
delight. Peter then crafts a completely handmade frame chosen and stained to
complement the final image.

"Promenade" by Peter Liepke

Only by seeing a complete Peter Liepke work in person
can the complementary and prodigious skill set he employs [photographer,
printmaker and woodworker] be appreciated. Peter produces images in 25 unique
expressions from each image. Platinum prints begin at $700.

More Info

Gallery Show Online - Peter Liepke: Cities and Dreams