HOUSTON, TX.- The John Cleary Gallery opened the exhibition Dan Burkholder: A Gold Standard. The exhibition will run through Saturday, May 26, 2012.

Dan Burkholder was one of the first photographic artists to embrace digital technology, having originated the digital-negative process in the early 1990’s. Melding his unique vision with mastery of both the wet and digital darkrooms, Burkholder went on to pioneer the use of platinum/palladium prints on vellum over 24k gold leaf by brushing a hand-coated platinum/palladium sensitizer onto a thin vellum paper treated for maximum translucency. The 24k gold leaf is applied to the back side of the print, allowing for gold highlights to shine through the membrane-like vellum. Dan's newest work expands his exploration of precious metal printing as he applies layers of mixed 24K gold and palladium leaf along with selectively hand-painted gesso. In both cases, the final prints exhibit a depth and beauty unlike anything else in the photographic medium.

As an innovator in the field, Burkholder went on to write Making Digital Negatives for Contact Printing, an award-winning book that is regarded as one of the most authoritative works in the cannon. Always one to stay on the forefront of the expanding world of digital photography, Burkholder recently released iPhone Artistry, a step-by-step instruction guide to capturing, processing, sharing and everything else you need to know about making beautifully artistic images with your iPhone.

In addition to his photographic and prosaic work on the subject, Burkholder continuously teaches classes and workshops around the country on the craft of digital photography. He is currently serving on the Advisory Board for the Texas Photographic Society and can count the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, the International Center of Photography in New York and the Museum of Photographic Arts in San Diego among the many institutions with which he has collaborated.