norman e. riley photography collection: part ii...

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NORMAN E. RILEY PHOTOGRAPHY COLLECTION: PART II INVENTORY, DESCRIPTION, AND DISCUSSION OF

35MM COLOR NEGATIVES, 120 FORMAT BLACK AND WHITE NEGATIVES,

AND CORRESPONDING PRINTS DONATED TO

THE DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, UC DAVIS

August 13, 2012

____________________________________________________________________

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHY COLLECTION

The “Norman E. Riley Photography Collection” is divided into six parts. Part I is made up entirely of black and white 35mm

negatives and selected prints from those negatives.1 Part II comprises 35mm color negatives and representative prints, and “120

format” black and white negatives and corresponding prints.2 Part III is made up of black and white 4x5 negatives and related prints.

Part IV contains both black and white 8x10 negatives and prints from those negatives. Part V is a collection of 35mm, 4x5, and

8x10 negatives and corresponding prints that represent what Riley considered his best artistic work. Part VI contains negatives made

before or after the organization of the preceding parts that were not included in Part V. Part VI also contains prints associated with

those negatives and the photographer’s notebooks, diaries, letters, and publications related to photography.

INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEGATIVES IN PART II

Only a fraction of the 35mm color negatives made by Norman Riley between 1981 and 2004 survive. Conversely, nearly all of the

120 format negatives he exposed before August 2012 have been preserved. There are consequently 735 color 35mm negatives and

167 black and white 120 format negatives presented in Part II of the “Norman E. Riley Photography Collection.” The negatives are

contained in polyethylene sheets obtained from “Print File” in Apopka, Florida, and in most cases are organized so that those grouped

together in a single sheet originate from the same roll of film. Riley used only commercially-available 35mm films in cartridges for his

color work. At the time these negatives were made, the 35mm color films Riley used were sold in lengths of 24 and 36 exposures, and

1 Part I was delivered to the Department of Special Collections on May 1, 2012.

2 Part II was delivered to the Department of Special Collections on August 13, 2012.

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the negatives are numbered 1 through 24 or 1 through 36 accordingly. The negatives are arranged in numerical order in each sheet.3

Occasionally, the viewer will see reference to negative numbers “0,” “25,” and “37” in Table II. This simply means that in such cases

the photographer was able to get an additional exposure or two on the roll because less of the film leader was wound onto the take-up

spool. Where a negative number is missing from a sequence either: (1) the negative was withheld because it was still being actively

printed at the time Part II was assembled;4 (2) the negative was intentionally or accidentally not exposed; or (3) the negative was

inadvertently lost or intentionally discarded. Riley did not keep detailed notes of his color exposures (nearly all of the color film he

used was for “snapshots,” he explained, not for work that warranted recordkeeping). Color film types are identified from edge

markings on the negatives themselves. Riley stated that he exposed all his color films at “box speed” (i.e., the rating assigned by the

manufacturer) and that all were commercially developed using “C-41” processing. The identification of subjects depicted in color

negatives was based on the photographer’s recognition of the subjects. The dates assigned to most color negatives were taken from the

backs of the corresponding original, machined RC paper prints ordered at the time the negatives were processed.

Figure II-1. Date stamp on the back of a commercially-produced RC paper print.

3 Exceptions to this rule occur in a few cases where negatives from different rolls have been grouped together in a single sheet. In such instances, the negatives

are arranged in the sheet in the same order as described in Table II below, and may or may not be related by subject. For example, see NR35-252 (in which the

subjects are related) and NR35-256 (in which the subjects are not related). 4 Negatives initially withheld from Part II are included in Part V or Part VI of the collection.

3

The 120 format films favored by Riley, i.e., films made by Ilford, were sold in lengths that permitted 10 frames per roll in the Pentax

6x7 camera he used, and were edge-numbered 1 through 19 to accommodate the use of different medium-format cameras (e.g.,

whereas 10 frames are possible with the 6x7 camera, up to 16 frames are possible on a 120 format roll using a “645” camera) and

permit the identification of negatives regardless of what camera was used or how much of the film leader was taken up prior to

making working exposures. (These factors explain why most 120 format negatives in this inventory are sequentially numbered “1, 3,

5, 7, etc.” or “2, 4, 6, 8, etc.” vs. “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.,” why negatives are sometimes assigned odd numbers rather than even numbers,

and why frames from a single roll sometimes have both even and odd numbers assigned to them.) Riley kept general notes of the

subjects he exposed using his medium format camera, but was not strict about keeping records related to the technical aspects of his

medium format work mainly because the 6x7 camera supplanted his 35mm camera for snapshot work and therefore, in his mind, did

not warrant the same treatment as images secured on the large format films he used most of his life. Medium format film types in Part

II of the collection are, in the majority of cases, identifiable from the edge markings on the negatives. Riley stated that the ratings he

assigned to the 120 films he used were typically one-third to one-half stop less than those recommended by the manufacturer, and that

all negatives were developed in PMK. Subjects were identified and dates were assigned based on information contained in the

aforementioned notes or otherwise known to the photographer.

INFORMATION REGARDING THE PRINTS IN PART II

The eighteen (18) photographic prints presented in Part II are from negatives in Part II of the collection. There are ten (10) color

prints from 35mm negatives and eight (8) prints from black and white 120 format negatives. The color prints were commercially

processed by “Quicksilver Photo Lab” located at 1130 Cornwall Avenue in Bellingham, Washington, using an Epson 3880 printer,

Ilford Galerie Gold Fibre Silk paper, and Epson UltraChrome K3 inks. The black and white photographs were made by projection

printing on silver-gelatin papers developed in Ansco 103.5 All black and white prints were toned in a selenium bath. In cases where

spotting was required, “Spotone” fluid manufactured by Retouch Methods Co., Inc. in Chatham, New Jersey was used. All of the

prints in Part II are dry-mounted on 100% acid and lignin-free, calcium carbonate-buffered, white cotton rag boards of 4-ply thickness.

All of the boards were obtained from “Archival Methods” in Henrietta, New York. The dry mount tissue used in every case is

Bienfang MT-5 tissue. Each mount is stamped on the back with black Sanford ink. The title of the image, the identification number

corresponding to the negative from which the print was made, and the dates of the negative and print are written in pencil inside the

stamped area. The finished photographs are signed, individually stored in polyethylene sleeves, and contained together in a grey, 3-

inch drop front archival box from Archival Methods.

5 Riley used an Omega D-IIV enlarger outfitted with an Aristo cold light and 135mm Fujinon EX lens.

4

Abbreviations, acronyms, and technical terms appearing above and in the table below are defined immediately after the table. For

more information regarding particular products named in the table, consult “Photographic Lab Handbook, 5th

Edition” John S. Carroll,

American Photographic Book Publishing Co., Inc. (AMPHOTO), Garden City, New York, 1979, or equivalent authoritative

references.

5

TABLE II

NEGATIVE SHEET OR

PRINT IDENTIFICATION

NUMBER AND DATE

NEGATIVE(S) OR PRINT

WAS/WERE MADE

DESCRIPTION/IDENTIFICATION OF NEGATIVE(S)

OR TITLE OF PRINT

TECHNICAL

NOTES6

NUMBER OF

NEGATIVES

OR PRINTS

NR35-237

December, 1982

Negatives 0-23 were made during the Christmas holiday at the

Riley family home located at 14634 Scarlet Oak Place, Salinas,

CA. Carmen Riley, the photographer’s mother, appears in

negative 2. Joseph N. Riley (third and youngest brother)

appears in negatives 3, 4, and 12-18. Robert Riley (first

younger brother) appears in negative 5. The remaining

negatives are close-up shots of the family Christmas tree, and a

Christmas display assembled in the German tradition by

Carmen Riley.

Kodacolor II

(5075)

24

NR35-238

July, 1999

Negatives 14–24, Medric Anson Riley (photographer’s son).

(Negatives 16-24 were made during a fishing trip to Rancho

Seco Lake.)

Kodak Gold 200 11

NR35-239

July, 1999

Negatives 2-12:“Fireflies” T-Ball team, Davis, CA.

Negative 13: Medric Riley.

Kodak Gold 200 12

NR35-240

February, 1997

Negatives 3-9: Medric A. Riley at “Funderland,” Sacramento,

CA.

Negatives 10, 11, 14, and 18: Medric Riley.

Negatives 12 and 13: accidental exposures.

Negatives 15: Medric with his mother, Anne Bressler.

Kodak Gold 100 23

6 Parenthetical numbers are emulsion numbers assigned by the manufacturer. Numbers not in parentheses are the ASA ratings assigned by the manufacturer.

6

Negatives 16 and 17: Medric with his father, Norman Riley.

Negatives 18-22: Medric Riley.

Negatives 23-25: Medric Riley in bathtub at 601 “D” Street,

Davis, CA.

NR35-241

February, 1997

Negatives 2-7: Medric A. Riley at “Funderland,” Sacramento,

CA.

Negative 8: Medric Riley at home, 601 “D” Street.

Negatives 9-11 and 20: Marilee Hanson.

Negatives 12-17: Medric Riley at home, 601 “D” Street.

Negatives 18 and 19: Medric Riley with bow and arrow at

“Funderland,” Sacramento, CA.

Negative 20: Marilee Hanson.

Negatives 21-24: Medric Riley in bathtub.

Kodak Gold 200 23

NR35-242

c.1994

Negative 2: Accidental exposure.

Negatives 3 and 4: Norman Riley with Medric Riley.

Negative 5: Medric on playground slide in Central Park,

Davis, CA.

Negatives 6 and 7: Norman Riley with Medric Riley.

Negative 8: Medric Riley with his aunt, Elsa Bressler.


Negatives 18-22: Norman Riley (left) and Eugene Riley

(grandfather) holding Medric Riley in backyard of 601 “D”

Street, Davis, CA.


Kodak Gold 100 16

NR35-243

c.1983

Negatives 7-29: Norman Riley and youngest brother (Joseph

N. Riley) at beach near Marina, CA.

Negatives 30-34: Norman Riley and Joseph N. Riley at Point

Lobos (Carmel, CA).

(NOTE: These photographs were taken by Anne Bressler.)

ASA 400 film of

unknown make

(possibly a Fuji

film)

28

NR35-244 Negatives 4 and 5: Rhonda Riley. Kodak Gold 200 20

7

May, 2001 Negatives 6 and 7: Norman Riley (photos taken by Rhonda

Riley).

Negative 8: La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain.

Negatives 9 and 10: Norman Riley at La Sagrada Familia

(photos taken by Rhonda Riley).

Negatives 11–13: Details of La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona,

Spain.

Negatives 14 and 15: La Rambla street, Barcelona, Spain.

Negatives 17-21: Brussels, Belgium.

Negative 18: Manneken Pis, Brussels, Belgium.

Negative 19: Rhonda Riley before Manneken Pis, Brussels,

Belgium.

Negative 20: Manneken Pis, Brussels, Belgium.

NR35-245

July, 2004

Negative 1: Accidental exposure of canvas bag.

Negative 2: Medric Riley at Doc and Al’s campground,

Bridgeport, CA.

Negative 3: Rhonda Riley.

Negatives 4-26: Bodie, CA. (These negatives are upside down

because the roll was loaded upside down. No other plausible

explanation can be imagined. Negatives 12, 13, and 18-20 are

severely underexposed.)

Kodak Gold 200 26

NR35-246

c. 2004

Negatives 27-37: Bodie, CA (continuation of NR35-254). Kodak Gold 200 11

NR35-247

May, 2001

Negative 2: Hohenschwangau castle, Bavaria, Germany.

Negatives 3-19: View of Neuschwanstein castle and

surrounding countryside, Bavaria, Germany. Norman Riley

appears in negatives 4, 9, and 16 (4, 9, and 16 were shot by

Rhonda Riley). Rhonda Riley appears in negative 10.

Negatives 20-23 are of scenes in Nurnberg, Germany. Rhonda

Riley appears in negatives 21 and 22.

Kodak Gold 200 22

NR35-248 Negatives 2-8: Views of Brussels, Belgium. Kodak Gold 200 23

8

May, 2001 Negative 9: Rhonda Riley in Brussels, Belgium.

Negative 10: Unknown. Possibly interior of train station at

Antwerp or Brussels, Belgium.

Negative 11: Norman Riley with laundry, Barcelona, Spain

(photo by Rhonda Riley).

Negative 12: View of Barcelona, Spain.

Negative 13: Rhonda Riley walking in Barcelona, Spain.

Negative 14: Submarine art - Barcelona, Spain.

Negatives 15-17: Rhonda Riley in Barcelona, Spain.

Negatives 18 and 19: Downtown Barcelona, Spain.

Negative 20: Rhonda Riley walking in downtown Barcelona,

Spain.

Negative 21: Downtown Barcelona, Spain.

Negative 22: Rhonda Riley photographing Norman Riley.

Negative 23: Modern sculpture - Barcelona, Spain.

Negative 24: Rhonda Riley walking to Mediterranean Sea –

Barcelona, Spain.

NR35-249

May, 2001

Negatives 2-18: Various scenes in Barcelona, Spain (Norman

Riley appears in negatives 7 and 8 which were taken by

Rhonda Riley).

Negatives19 and 20: Train station in Salzburg, Austria.

Negatives 22-24: Scenes of Salzburg, Austria.

Kodak Gold 200 22

NR35-250

December 1980

Negatives 4-7, 12-27, and 32-35: Anne Bressler in Norman

Riley’s apartment at 512 9th

Street, Davis, CA.

Kodacolor II film

(5075)

24

NR35-251

c. 1982

Negatives 2-24: Anne Bressler in swimming pool. Fujicolor F-II

(647)

23

NR35-252

November 22, 1986

Marriage of Anne Bressler and Norman Riley, Carmel, CA.

Negative 2: Eugene & Carmen Riley (left) and David Bressler

(right).

Negative 3: Norman Riley and Anne Bressler.

Negative 4: Anne Bressler.

Kodak Gold

Super 200 (5096)

16

9

November 22, 1986

Negatives 5-9: Norman Riley and Anne Bressler (these

negatives were taken by Gordon Hutchings).

Negative 10: Anne Bressler, Chris Sweeting and possibly

James Colgrove walking toward Carmel Mission.


Negatives 22 and 23: Kendra Chapman (first daughter of

Norman’s sister, Juanita) at wedding reception, held in Pacific

Grove, CA.

Negative 24: Joseph N. Riley (Norman’s third and youngest

brother) at wedding reception.

Negative 25: Umbrella structure.


Negative 3: Carmen Riley (Norman’s mother) and Kendra

Chapman.

Negatives 4 and 5: Norman Riley and his friend, Steve Soliz at

wedding reception (photographer unknown).

Negatives 6 and 7: Norman, Anne, and Steve at wedding

reception (photographer unknown).

Negative 8: Anne Bressler on island of Hawaii (taken a few

days after the wedding).

Negative 9: Norman Riley on island of Hawaii (photo by Anne

Bressler).

Kodak Gold Plus

100

8

NR35-252-P8

Printed July, 2012

Anne – Hawaii, 1986 Ilford Galerie

Gold Fibre Silk

paper with Epson

UltraChrome K3

inks.

1

NR35-253

April, 1999

Negative 3: Medric Riley with his camera on Southwest

Airlines flight from Sacramento to Los Angeles.

Negatives 4 and 5: Medric Riley and Anne Bressler at

Kodak Gold 200 20

10

Disneyland, Anaheim, CA.

Negatives 6-22: Medric Riley at Disneyland, Anaheim, CA.

NR35-254

August, 1995


Negative 2: Out-of-focus exposure of Medric Riley on slide at

California State Fair, Sacramento, CA.

Negatives 3-15: Medric Riley at California State Fair,

Sacramento, CA.

Negatives 16-24: Medric Riley at home, 601 “D” Street, Davis,

CA.

Kodak Gold 200 24

NR35-255

July, 1995


CA.


Negatives 17 and 18: Anne and Medric.

Negatives 19 and 21-24: Medric at home, 601 “D” Street,

Davis, CA (negative 21 is present but was not exposed).

Kodak Gold 200 24

NR35-256

June 18, 1983

October, 1997

Negatives 7-10 and 15-82: College Graduation Party for Anne

Bressler at Bressler family home, 651 “A” Street, Davis, CA.

(Anne graduated from UCD with a BA degree in Latin.)

Negative 7: David Bressler at barbeque.

Negative 8: Burton Crowell at table.

Negatives 9 and 16: Paper lantern.

Negatives 10 and 15: Bob Bressler (brother of David Bressler).

Negatives 17 and 18: Dana Newland.

Negative 19: Peter Smith.

Negative 20: Wendy Herlocker.

Negative21: Bill Herlocker.

Negative 22: Pat Bressler (wife of Bob Bressler).

Negatives 12 and 13: Pumpkins in wheelbarrow.

Negatives 14-15 and 17-19: Unidentified Kindergarten children

from North Davis Elementary School, Davis, CA) gathering

Kodacolor II 100

(5035)

Kodak Gold 200

12

8

11

pumpkins.

Negative 16: Lambs.

NR35-257

July, 2004

Negatives 3-5: Medric Riley holding trout he caught in

Robinson Creek (Doc and Al’s campground, Bridgeport, CA).

Negatives 6 and 7: Medric Riley and Cydney Miner (daughter

of Rhonda Riley by a previous marriage) at Twin Lakes outside

Bridgeport, CA.

Negatives 8 and 9: Medric at Twin Lakes.

Negative 10: Rhonda, Medric, and Cydney at Twin Lakes.

Negative 11: Rhonda Riley at Twin Lakes.

Negatives 12, 16, and 17: Medric and Cydney at Bodie, CA.

Negatives 13, 19, and 20: Buildings at Bodie, CA.

Negative 14: Rhonda at Bodie, CA.

Negatives 21 and 22: Cydney Miner at Bodie, CA.

Negatives 23 and 24: Medric reading at Doc and Al’s

Campground, Bridgeport, CA.

Kodak Gold 400

(GC 400-8)

22

NR35-258

March, 1995

March, 1995

Negatives 4-10 and 17-20: Medric Riley at home, 601 “D”

Street, Davis, CA.

Negatives 20-24: Medric Riley in high chair at home, 601 “D”

Street, Davis, CA.

Kodak Gold 200

Kodak Gold 200

12

5

NR35-259

March, 1995

November, 1998

Negative 9: Medric Riley at home, 601 “D” Street, Davis, CA).

Negative 10: Medric Riley with his godfather, Norman “Scott”

Brown.

Negative 11: Medric Riley and Sandra Brown (wife of Scott

Brown).

Negative 12: Medric sleeping.

Negatives 2-7: Medric Riley with roller blades at 601 “D”

Street, Davis, CA.

Kodak Gold 200

Kodak Gold 200

4

6

NR35-260 Negative 2: Rhonda Riley at train station in Munich. Kodak Gold 200 23

12

May, 2001 Negatives 3-5: Rhonda on German ICE7 train.

Negative 6: Rhonda Riley in bed.

Negative 7: Unidentified church interior, possibly Salzburg,

Austria.

Negative 8 and 9: Rhonda Riley.

Negative 10: Mannequins in store window, possibly Salzburg,

Austria.

Negative 11: Rhonda Riley.

Negative 12: Possibly Salzburg, Austria.

Negative 13: Puppet seller, possibly Salzburg, Austria.

Negatives 14-16: Neuschwanstein castle, Bavaria, Germany

(Rhonda appears in negative 15).

Negative 17: Forest below Neuschwanstein castle.

Negative 18: Rhonda with wood-carved statue (possibly

Füssen, Germany).

Negative 19-22: Rhonda in Nurnberg, Germany.

Negative 23: Street artist (painter), Nurnberg, Germany.

Negative 24: Street artist (impersonator), Nurnberg, Germany.

NR35-260-P6

Printed July, 2012

Rhonda Riley - Germany, 2001 Ilford Galerie

Gold Fibre Silk

paper with Epson

UltraChrome K3

inks.

1

NR35-261

August, 1999

Negatives 4-6: Medric Riley with catfish he caught near

Sacramento, CA.


Negatives 9, 14 and 15: Medric seated at side door of 601 “D”

Street, Davis, CA.

Negative 16: Medric with toy gun, leaning on backyard fence

Kodak Gold 200

10

7 The “Intercity Express” (ICE) is a high speed rail system.

13

October 30, 1998

of 601 “D” Street, Davis, CA.

Negative 17: Medric dancing.

Negatives20-25: Medric Riley at Bressler family home, 401

11th

Street, Davis, CA. (In negatives 24 and 25, he is dressed

as a vampire.)

Kodak Gold 200

6

NR35-262

October 30, 1997

Negative 5: Double exposure.

Negative 6: Medric blowing out candle on birthday cake.

Negatives 7 and 8: Birthday presents.

Negative 9: Birthday party discussion.

Negatives 10-15: Medric opening presents.

Negative 16: Party attendees lining up for rocket launch (Anne

Bressler manages rocket launcher and wears appropriate hat).

Negative 17: Children at Medric’s 4th

birthday party held at

Bressler family home, 401 11th

Street, Davis, CA.

Negative 18: Piñata at Medric’s birthday party.

Negative 19: Accidental exposure of patio brickwork at

Bressler family home, 401 11th

Street, Davis, CA.

Negatives 20-22: Medric with toy rocket launcher in backyard

of 401 11th

Street, Davis, CA.

Kodak Royal

Gold 200 RB

18

NR35-263

c.1994

March, 1994

c.1994

Negative 2: Medric Riley with blocks at home, 601 “D” Street,

Davis, CA.

Negatives 5-7: Medric Riley at front window of 601 “D”

Street, Davis, CA.

Negative 8: Norman Riley with son Medric Riley.

Negatives 7-10 and 17-20: Medric Riley at home, 601 “D”

Street, Davis, CA.

Negatives 13-16: Medric at Community Pool, Davis, CA

(Norman Riley appears in negatives 13 and 14: camera

Kodak Gold 200

Kodak Gold 200

Kodak Gold 200

5

8

4

14

operated by Anne Bressler in those instances).

NR35-264

April, 1996

Negatives 3-10: Medric on Easter Sunday (April 7) at 601 “D”

Street, Davis, CA.

Negatives 20-24: Medric Riley at Funderland, Sacramento,

CA.

Kodak Gold 100 13

NR35-265

May, 1998

c. March, 1994

c. 1994

Negatives 9 and 10: Iwo Jima Memorial, Washington, D.C.

Negative 11: Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia.

Negatives 12 and 13: Medric at kitchen table, 601 “D” Street,

Davis, CA.

Negatives 14-20: Medric dressed in suit.

Negatives 33-36: Medric sleeping.

Negative 12: Medric on couch at 601 “D” Street, Davis, CA.

Kodak Gold 100

Kodak Gold 100

Unknown film

type (based on

edge markings

and stripe pattern,

possibly Fuji

Super HG 1600)

12

4

1

NR35-265-P12

Printed July, 2012

Medric A. Riley, 1998 Ilford Galerie

Gold Fibre Silk

paper with Epson

UltraChrome K3

inks.

1

NR35-266

July, 1994

July, 1994

Negative 2: Medric with rattle and teething ring.

Negatives 3 and 4: Medric in crib.

Negatives 5 and 6: Medric with his uncle Christian Riley

(Norman’s second younger brother).

Negatives 7 and 8: Medric and mother sleeping.

Kodak Gold 200

Kodak Gold 200

Kodak Gold 200

3

4

15

15

July, 1994

Negative 9: Medric by tent.

Negatives10-12: Medric eating chocolate cookie for the first

time.

Negatives 17-19: Medric with rattle at front window of 601

“D” Street, Davis, CA.

Negative 25: Medric and Norman watching Criterium race in

Davis, CA (photo by Anne Bressler).

Negative 26: Medric crawling on grass.

Negatives 27, 28, and 33: Medric in crib at Bressler family

home, 401 11th

Street, Davis, CA.

Negative 34: Norman tossing Medric in the air (photo by Anne

Bressler).

Negatives 35 and 36: Medric in diaper at front window of 601

“D” Street, Davis, CA.

NR35-266-P11

Printed July, 2012

Medric A. Riley - First Chocolate, 1994 Ilford Galerie

Gold Fibre Silk

paper with Epson

UltraChrome K3

inks.

1

NR35-267

c.1981

c.1981

Negative 14: Interior of UCD Bookstore.

Negatives 15 and 16: Anne Bressler working as cashier at UCD

Bookstore.

Negative 33: Joseph N. Riley (Norman’s third and youngest

brother) at Riley family home, 14634 Scarlet Oak Place,

Salinas, CA.

Negative 34: Med-Fly quarantine sign at Monterey/San Benito

County Line.

Negative 35: View through trees from balcony - unknown

location (probably Davis, CA).

Negatives 25-27: Bressler family cat “Pitchie.”

Kodacolor II 100

(5035)

Unknown film -

7

8

16

Negative 28: Anne Bressler and Bressler family dog (St.

Bernard “Hera”) in back yard of home at 651 “A” Street,

Davis, CA.

Negatives 33 and 34: Close up view of clover.

Negative 35: Close up view of unidentified plant.

Negative 36: Anne Bressler watering yard at 651 “A” Street,

Davis, CA.

most likely a Fuji

or Agfa emulsion

NR35-268

c.1982

c.1982

c.1982

c.1982

c.1982

Negatives 1-4: Boats at Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey, CA.

Negatives 13-16: Asilomar Beach, Pacific Grove, CA (a

squirrel is seen in negatives 13 and 15; a seagull is seen in

negative 14).

Negatives 2, 4, and 5: unknown.

Negative 3: Still life with glass objects. (One of the first still

life images made by Riley. The arrangement was assembled on

the kitchen table of his apartment at 512 9th

Street, Davis, CA.)

Negatives 5-8: Still life of grapes in colander. (Also an early

still life image. The grapes were taken from vines growing at

512 9th

Street, Davis, CA.)

Negative 17: unknown.

Negative 18: Still life with eggs, apple, and cup of salt on

mirror. (Riley considered this to be a significant achievement in

his development as a photographer. At the time, he regarded

the original image as both aesthetically pleasing and

technically successful. A print of this image, less saturated

than the original, is included in Part II for that reason. The

negative was made at the foot of the steps leading to his

second-floor apartment at 512 9th

Street, Davis, CA).

Negatives 19 and 20: Still life images of eggs on mirror.

Kodacolor II 100

(5035)

Kodacolor II 100

(5035)

Kodacolor II 100

(5035)

Kodacolor II 100

(5035)

Kodacolor II 100

8

4

4

4

4

17

c.1982

Negatives 29-32: Anne Bressler sun tanning.

Negatives 13-16: Anne Bressler.

(5035)

Fujicolor F-II

(641)

4

NR35-268-P18

Printed July, 2012

Eggs, Apple, and Salt Ilford Galerie

Gold Fibre Silk

paper with Epson

UltraChrome K3

inks.

1

NR35-269

c. 2000

Negatives 1 and 2: Blank.

Negatives 3 and 4: Medric Riley, Cydney Miner, and Rhonda

Miner entering Rhonda’s car parked on 6th

Street next to 601

“D” Street.

Negative 5: Double exposure.

Negative 6: Medric showing lost tooth.

Negative 7. Medric standing outside 601 “D” Street, Davis, CA

Negatives 8-14: Medric seated on step of side door to 601 “D”

Street, Davis, CA.

Negatives 15 and 16: Rhonda Minder driving.

Kodak Gold 200 16

NR35-269-P13

Printed July, 2012

Medric A. Riley c. 2000 Ilford Galerie

Gold Fibre Silk

paper with Epson

UltraChrome K3

inks.

1

NR35-270

December, 1995

Negative 1: Blank.

Negative 2: Medric Riley with camera.

Negative 3: Medric in overalls.

Negative 4: Medric on kitchen floor of 601 “D” Street, Davis,

CA.

Negatives 5 and 6: Medric with Q-Tips.

Negatives 7 and 8: Medric wearing Dad’s shoes.

Kodak Royal

Gold 200 RB

20

18

Negative 9: Antique clock on fireplace mantle.

Negatives 10 and 11: Medric eating in high chair.

Negatives 12-15: Medric in pajamas and wearing Dad’s shoes.

Negative 16: Medric.

Negatives 17-19: Medric standing on cedar hope chest.

Negative 20: Medric seated on small couch.

NR35-270-P19

Printed July, 2012

Medric A. Riley, December 1995 Ilford Galerie

Gold Fibre Silk

paper with Epson

UltraChrome K3

inks.

1

NR35-271

April, 1994

March, 1995

Negatives11-22: Medric Riley seated on carpet, 601 “D”

Street, Davis, CA.


Kodak Gold 200

Kodak Gold 200

12

3

NR35-272

May, 1998

Negatives 21 and 22: Medric seated on kitchen floor with toy

airplanes.

Negative 23: Blank.

Negatives 24-32: Medric standing by side door to 601 “D”

Street, Davis, CA.

Kodak Gold 100 12

NR35-272-P26

Printed July, 2012

Medric A. Riley, May 1998 Ilford Galerie

Gold Fibre Silk

paper with Epson

UltraChrome K3

inks.

1

NR35-273

March, 1995

March, 1995

Negatives 2, 3, 5-8, 12-15, and 17-19: Medric Riley at home,

601 “D” Street, Davis, CA.


CA. (The object he holds in his hands in negative16 is an

oatmeal-raisin cookie from the Davis Food Co-op.)

Kodak Gold 200

Kodak Gold 200

14

4

19

NR35-273-P14

Printed July, 2012

Medric A. Riley, March 1995 Ilford Galerie

Gold Fibre Silk

paper with Epson

UltraChrome K3

inks.

1

NR35-273-P16

Printed July, 2012

Medric A. Riley, March 1995

Ilford Galerie

Gold Fibre Silk

paper with Epson

UltraChrome K3

inks.

1

NR35-274

April, 1994

c.1994


Negative 9: Medric seated on couch and holding balloon.

Negatives 10-14: Medric in day carrier.

Negative 15: Medric sleeping.

Kodak Gold 200

Kodak Gold 100

9

7

120 F O R M A T N E G A T I V E S

NR120-001

August, 2006

Negative 3: “Leap of Faith” (Arabian horse) in a stall at the

“Ranchotel [sic] Horse Center” -Vacaville, CA.

Negative 9: Rhonda Riley and her horse, “Leap of Faith”(ibid).

Ilford Delta 400

in PMK

2

NR120-001-P3

Printed June 25, 2012

Leap of Faith Ilfobrom Galerie

FB (Grade 2) in

Ansco 103 with

Se toning.

1

20

NR120-002

May 6, 2006

May 7, 2006

Negatives 3, 5, and 7: Dry Lagoon Beach near Orick, CA.

Negatives 9 and 11: Birch Trees near Klamath, CA.

Negative 13: Old wood pilings beneath bridge in Florence, OR.

Ilford HP5 in

PMK

6

NR120-003

May 8, 2006

May 9, 2006

May 10, 2006

May 11, 2006

Negative 2: Old pilings at Tillamook, OR.

Negative 4: Astoria Column, Astoria, OR.

Negative 6: Chinese Village Restaurant sign, Longview, WA.

Negatives, 8, 10, and 12: Opossum, Spanaway, WA.

Negative 14: Pike Place Fish Market, Seattle, WA.

Negatives 17 and 19: View from Space Needle – Seattle, WA.

Ilford HP5 in

PMK

9

NR120-004

May 11, 2012

Negatives are unnumbered. Depicted are Rhonda Riley at the

Space Needle in Seattle, WA, and views of Seattle from the

Space Needle.

Unknown

emulsion

(possibly BRF-

200) in PMK

6

NR120-005

May 11, 2006

May 12, 2006

Negative 2: EMP (“Experience Music Project”) Building -

Seattle, WA.

Negative 4: View of Seattle, WA from observation deck of

HAL ms Oosterdam.

Negative 6: Rhonda Riley on observation deck of HAL ms

Oosterdam.

Negative 8, 10, 12, and 14: Departing Seattle on HAL ms

Oosterdam.

Negatives 16 and 18: Rhonda Riley on HAL ms Oosterdam.

Negative 19: Figure on observation deck of HAL ms

Oosterdam.

Ilford HP5 in

PMK

10

21

NR120-005-P4

Printed July 7, 2012

Seattle, WA May 12, 2006 Ilford MGIV in

Ansco 103 with

Se toning.

1

NR120-006

May 14, 2006

Negative 4: Barber shop window with Pepsi sign, Juneau, AK.

Negatives 6, 10, and 12: Downtown Juneau, AK.

Negative 8: Rhonda Riley in Juneau, AK.

Negatives 13, 15, 17, and 19: Mendenhall Glacier - Juneau,

AK.

Ilford HP5 in

PMK

9

NR120-007

May 14, 2006

Negatives 2, 4, 6, 10, 12, 14, and 16: Mendenhall Glacier,

Juneau, AK.

Negatives 17 and 19: HAL ms Oosterdam docked at Juneau,

AK.

Ilford HP5 in

PMK

9

NR120-007-P12


Mendenhall Glacier- Juneau, AK Ilford MGIV in

Ansco 103 with

Se toning.

1

NR120-008

May 14, 2006

All Negatives: Mendenhall Glacier – Juneau, AK. Ilford HP5 in

PMK

10

NR120-009

May 15, 2006

Negatives 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18: Hubbard Glacier,

Disenchantment Bay – Yakutat City, AK.

Ilford HP5 in

PMK.

9

NR120-009-P10


Disenchantment Bay – Yakutat City, AK Ilfobrom Galerie

FB (Grade 2) in

Ansco 103 with

Se toning.

1

NR120-010

May 15, 2006

Negatives are unnumbered. Depicted are views of

Disenchantment Bay, including, in some cases, Hubbard

Glacier.

Unknown

emulsion

(possibly BRF-

200) in PMK.

10

NR120-011

May 15, 2006

Negatives are unnumbered and from no less than two different

rolls. Depicted are views of Disenchantment Bay, including, in

some cases, Hubbard Glacier, and Yakutat Bay.

Unknown

emulsion

(possibly BRF-

12

22

200) in PMK.

NR120-012

May 15, 2006

Negatives are unnumbered and from different rolls. Depicted

are views of Disenchantment Bay, including, in some cases,

Hubbard Glacier, and Yakutat Bay.

Unknown

emulsion

(possibly BRF-

200) in PMK

9

NR120-013

May 16, 2006

Negative 1: View of St. Michael’s Cathedral in downtown

Sitka, AK.

Negatives 3 and 5: Replica of Russian Blockhouse #1 – Sitka,

AK.

Negative 7: View of Crescent Bay from Sitka, AK.

Negatives 9 and 11: Boats docked in Crescent Harbor - Sitka,

AK.

Negative 13: Buoy – Sitka, AK.

Ilford HP5 in

PMK.

7

NR120-014

May 16, 2006

Negatives 4 and 10: HAL ms Oosterdam in Crescent Bay –

Sitka, AK.

Negatives 6 and 12: Buoy – Sitka, AK.

Ilford HP5 in

PMK

4

NR120-015

May 16, 2006

Negatives 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, and 18: Leaving Sitka, AK. Ilford HP5 in

PMK6

6

NR120-016

May 17, 2006

May 17, 2006

Negatives 3 and 5: unknown location south of Ketchikan, AK.

Negatives 7: Ketchikan, AK.

Negative 14: Horse team - Ketchikan, AK.

Negatives 16 and 18: unidentified workshop window –

Ketchikan, AK.

Ilford HP5 in

PMK.

6

NR120-017

May 17, 2006

Negatives 2 and 4: Cruise ship in Ketchikan, AK.

Negatives 6, 8, 10, and 12: Views of Ketchikan, AK.

Negative 13: HAL ms Zuiderdam in Ketchikan, AK.

Negatives 15 and 17: Leaving Ketchikan.

Ilford HP5 in

PMK

9

NR120-018

May 19, 2006

Negatives 7, 9, 11: Views of Seattle, WA.

Negative 13: Container vessel – Seattle, WA.

Ilford HP5 in

PMK

7

23

Negative 15: Jimi Hendrix grave stone – Renton, WA.

Negatives 17 and 19: Jimi Hendrix Memorial – Renton, WA.

NR120-019

May 19, 2006

Negatives 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13: Tonkin Building - Portland,

OR.

Negatives 15, 17, and 19: Kiosk – Ashland, OR.

Ilford HP5 in

PMK

10

NR120-020

June 10, 2006

June, 2006

July 4, 2006

Negative2: All American Grill (Western States Horse Expo,

CalExpo Fairgrounds, Sacramento, CA)

Negative 4: Lemonade (ibid).

Negative 6: Tent top (ibid).

Negatives 8, 10, 12, 14, and 15: Medric Riley wearing suit at

poolside in backyard of 2726 Rockwell Drive, Davis, CA.

Negatives 17 and 19: Eugene Riley (father), Carmen Riley

(mother), and Christian Riley (2nd

younger brother) at Riley

family reunion in backyard of 2726 Rockwell Drive, Davis

CA.

Ilford HP5 in

PMK

10

NR120-020-P2


All American Grill – Sacramento, CA Ilfobrom Galerie

FB (Grade 2) in

Ansco 103 with

Se toning.

1

NR120-020-P4


Lemonade – Sacramento, CA Ilfobrom Galerie

FB (Grade 2) in

Ansco 103 with

Se toning.

1

NR120-020-P12


Medric A. Riley – Davis, CA Ilford MGIV in

Ansco 103 with

Se toning.

1

24

NR120-021

July 4, 2006

c. July, 2006

Negative 7: Lydia Riley (niece of Norman Riley and daughter

of Robert Riley, Norman’s first younger brother).

Negatives 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, and 11: Medric Riley and his friend

Jordan Tapia at front door of 2726 Rockwell Drive, Davis, CA.

1

6

NR120-021-P2


Medric Riley & Jordon Tapia

Ilford MGIV in

Ansco 103 with

Se toning.

1

DEFINTIONS OF ABBREVIATIONS, ACRONYMS, AND TECHNICAL TERMS

25

USED IN TABLE II AND ASSOCIATED NARRATIVES

“120 format” refers to a film imaging format of medium size. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/120_film.

“645” refers to a medium format camera having an aspect ratio of 1.35:1 that yields, with 120-format film, 15 or 16 negatives, each

having a nominal size of 56mm x 41.5mm.

“Ansco 103” is a MQ paper developer originally designed to give blue-black tones on contact papers. For general information about

Ansco as a business concern, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansco. For information regarding the composition of Ansco 103, see

“Photographic Lab Handbook, 5th

Edition” John S. Carroll, American Photographic Book Publishing Co., Inc. (AMPHOTO), Garden

City, New York, 1979, or an equivalent authoritative reference.

“Aristo cold light” refers to a type of enlarging lamp consisting of a diffuser and fluorescent light source that generated minimal heat.

The lamp was manufactured by Aristo Grid Lamp Products, Inc.

“ASA” stands for “American Standards Association.” The ASA system was one of several developed for rating the speeds of

different films. At the time of this writing, the ASA system had been largely replaced by the “ISO” rating system. For more

information on the ASA and other speed rating systems see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_speed or other authoritative references.

“BRF-200” refers to “Bergger Roll Film ASA/ISO 200.” The manufacture of Bergger films in all sizes was discontinued in 2007.

“C-41” refers to a chromogenic color print film developing process. The C-41 negative image was formed of dyes. There is some

question about the long-term stability of these dyes. This instability is manifested in fading or a color-shift over time. See:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-41_process.

“FB” refers to a standard “fiber-based” baryta-coated printing paper. All of the photographic printing papers in this collection are

double-weighted papers (meaning they have thicknesses of about 260 µm, and weights of approximately 255 to 260g/m2.

“Fujinon EX” is a type of enlarging lens manufactured by Fujifilm Holdings Corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/120_film

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansco

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_speed

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-41_process

26

“HAL” means “Holland America Line,” a British-American owned cruise ship line. See:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holland_America_Line.

“Ilfobrom Galerie FB (Grade 2)” was a traditional back and white, double-weight, fiber-based enlarging paper of neutral tone

produced by Ilford/Harman. It had a glossy surface and was produced in evenly-stepped grades 1, 2, 3, and 4 (with grade 1 having the

lowest contrast and grade 4 having the highest contrast). Grade 2 papers generally fitted negatives of normal contrast.

“Medium format” refers to film and equipment used to produce and manage negatives larger than a full-framed 35mm negative, but

smaller than a 4x5 negative.

“MGIV” stands for “Multigrade IV,” a glossy, double-weight, fiber-based enlarging paper of variable contrast and neutral tone

produced by Ilford/Harman.

“MQ” stands for “metol-hydroquinone.” “Metol” and “hydroquinone” are common names for distinct chemicals used in combination

with other substances to produce large and broad classes of black and white developers for both films and papers.

“NR” means “Norman Riley.”

“NR35” denotes a 35mm negative by Norman Riley.

“NR35-237” refers to sheet number 237 of 35mm negatives by Norman Riley. In Part II of the collection, sheets of 35mm color

negatives are numbered sequentially beginning with NR35-237 and ending with NR35-274.

“NR120” denotes a 120 format negative by Norman Riley

“NR120-001” refers to sheet number 001 of 120 format negatives by Norman Riley. In Part II of the collection, sheets of 120 format

negatives are numbered sequentially beginning with NR120-001 and ending with NR120-022.

“Omega D-IIV” is a type of enlarger produced by Simmon Brothers, a maker of various photographic products formerly based in

Woodside, New York. D-II series enlargers were introduced in 1955 and discontinued in 1979.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holland_America_Line

27

“P” denotes a print. A print identified as “NR35-260-P5,” for example, is a print from negative number 5 in sheet number 260 of

35mm negatives. Likewise, a print identified as NR120-020-P2 is a print from negative number 2 in sheet number 20 of 120 format

negatives. A stamp on the back of each print mount bears the title of the image, the dates that both the negative and print were made,

and the corresponding negative number.

“Pentax 6x7” refers to a single-lens reflex medium format camera manufactured by Asahi Optical Co., LTD of Japan.

“PMK” stands for “pyrogallol-metol-Kodalk” an advanced black and white film developer. “Pyrogallol” and “metol” are common

chemical names. “Kodalk” was Kodak’s trademark name for sodium metaborate. PMK is virtually the only film developer Riley used

for black and white work after late 1984.

“RC” stands for “resin-coated.”

“Se” stands for “selenium.” The Se toner used by Riley to finish the prints in this collection was a proprietary formula manufactured

by Kodak and sold under the trademark name “Kodak Rapid Selenium Toner.”

norman e. riley photography collection: part ii...

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