July at Arts on Douglas June 17 2025
THE PRECIOUS PRINT
Byron Capo
On Exhibit: July 5 - August 16, 2-25
Opening Reception: Saturday, July 5, 4-7 PM
Artist Talk: Friday: July 18, 11 AM
About the Exhibition
For this alt_space exhibition, Byron Capo presents The Precious Print – black and white landscapes created using the palladium printing process. This title stems from Capo’s use of precious metals to create his prints while also referencing the importance of preserving historic photographic processes and creating tangible prints in a time where images are predominantly shot digitally and viewed online.
Capo grew up in St. Augustine and spent his youth exploring the surrounding woods and waterways. After college, he picked up a film camera, which became the impetus for an in-depth exploration into the world of analog photography. He later delved into infrared photography, alternative photographic processes, and a range of historic printing techniques, including palladium printing.
Capo’s palladium prints are created in the darkroom by brushing a light-sensitive emulsion made of palladium salts and other precious metals, such as lithium, cesium, gold, and tungsten, onto cotton rag paper. The resulting images have rich, warm tonal values and exceptional stability, with the potential to last thousands of years. Capo further manipulates the chemical formulas and environmental factors (temperature, humidity, etc.) to fine tune the results, transforming each image into a unique photographic print. Some of the images in this exhibition were shot using infrared film, which creates a luminous, ethereal quality that is further heightened by this printing process.
From vistas that capture the lush vegetation of the Florida woodlands, to the graphic lines of a ship’s mast, Capo’s images cover a range of subjects captured while exploring the wilds of North Florida and beyond. He explains, “Finding compositions in the natural world is satisfying. Time alone in nature helps me slow down, clear my mind, and focus on my vision. The older I get, the more I appreciate 'the moment’ and the importance of making it last. Studying a scene, unfolding the camera, calculating exposures, clicking the shutter, and developing the image are all key moments in my process. When all is said and done, there is nothing more gratifying than seeing my vision come to life with each precious print.”
About the Artist
Byron Capo is a professional architectural and landscape photographer. He recently presented an exhibition titled Inner Spectrum that was displayed at the Oldest House Museum Complex and the St. Johns Cultural Council, both in St. Augustine. This exhibition showcased images of the Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine and La Mola, fortress of Isabel II, in Mahon, Menorca, illustrating Capo’s connection to his Menorcan heritage and the meaning of the forts to his ancestors.
Capo has also won numerous awards for his work, including the Jeanne Trommel “Best In Show” award in the St. Augustine Art Association and the St. Johns County 200th anniversary photography contest. His work has been published in a variety of local and regional magazines and has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions at several galleries in Florida.
