Fine Art Photography Works

I have been asked to reveal technical info about the fine art landscape photography and paintography prints I sell.  To answer those questions, I have prepared the following short article.

To ensure the highest quality images and longest-lasting prints, the highest quality equipment and supplies are used and archival procedures are employed.  Here is a brief summary.

Equipment:
Very high resolution, professional, “full-frame” cameras are used to take the photograph.  “Full frame” means the sensor size in the camera is very large, and is the same size as a 35 mm film negative.  This produces an image that is higher in resolution, has less noise (grain) and can be enlarged to very large print sizes while still maintaining a higher quality print than an equal film negative can produce.  In addition, the lenses used with the professional-quality cameras are also of a professional grade.  The special line of lenses cost more because they use special optical technologies to produce sharper, more colorful, higher-quality images than normal consumer-level lenses.  In short, the best cameras and the best lenses are used to produce the best image possible.

Archival prints:
I personally produce prints myself to guarantee I have full control over the printing process.  This ensures the highest quality, most archival prints are produced.

The prints I produce and sell are museum-quality giclee prints.  The term “giclee prints” describes an elevation in print-making technology.  Giclee prints are typically created using professional grade 8-color to 12-color inkjet printers.  Archival-quality pigment ink is used on archival fine art paper (rag) and canvas.  Giclee printing produces better color accuracy than other methods of reproduction.  The modern technology used is capable of producing incredibly detailed fine art prints.

The stability of giclee pigment ink prints are superior to that of any other method of printing, including traditional silver-halide or metal-based.  The image quality of giclee prints rival traditional silver-halide and gelatin printing processes and is commonly found in museums, art galleries, and photographic galleries.  Examples of giclee prints can be found in the New York City Metropolitan Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, and in the Chelsea Galleries.

Simply put, my prints are archival.  As a quick example, consider this.  One printing paper I commonly use for both color and black and white prints is Hahnemuehle Photo Rag.  Wilhelm Research is probably considered to be the top and most trustworthy source of testing photo printing processing in the industry.  Using the most current printing technology, Wilhelm Research has tested silver-halide prints on Fuji paper to last 40 years, and on Kodak paper to last 19 years (framed and under glass).  But Wilhelm Research has rated the giclee printing method I use on Hahnemuehle Photo Rag to last 60 years.  Framed and under UV glass that increases to 115 years.  Wilhelm Research has rated both the Fuji and Kodak prints to last between 50 to a little over 100 years when stored in a dark environment.  The Hahnemuehle Photo Rag is rated 200 years plus.  To further continue archival processing, when I frame and/or matte a print I use only acid-free archival matte board, glues, and tape.  Nothing touches the print that is not archival quality.

In summary:
The bottom line?  My prints are as sharp, crisp, colorful and as high a quality as you can see in the world’s greatest museums and they will more than likely last a lifetime.