how to order prints...
It is very easy to order prints. This is done from within my gallery up to certain sizes. Larger sizes are available, inquire for a quote.
Each thumbnail image is linked to a larger version. Underneath that larger image is a dropdown menu of options. Simply select the option you want, and click "add" to add to your shopping cart. Sizes other than what are listed are available, please see the section on Print Sizes.
If you are trying to decide between multiple pictures, consider using the LIGHTBOX feature. By selecting the ADD TO LIGHTBOX link underneath each larger view or in thumbnail gallery views, it places that image "on the lightbox." Then when you click the LIGHTBOX menu option (button list at the left in the gallery), all of the images you are interested in show up in this one place. (Your computer must be able to accept cookies, as this helps the gallery remember what your selections are - it is private and safe.)
Curious about nature prints already hanging in hospitals, private homes, and offices? Check out these example installations.
As always, every print order is 100% guaranteed for satisfaction. You can also read notes sent from these happy customers. Most major credit cards accepted through Paypal. Art consultants and corporate clients may also purchase through purchase orders. Payment terms are typically on delivery or Net 30 days. Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery, larger orders may require extra time or around holidays. Please inquire if faster delivery is available at your time of order if needed.
sizing...
Print sizes up to 16x24 inches (40.64 cm x 60.96 cm) are available for direct order from the gallery, with some larger canvas options as well. Larger prints are available upon request. Typical larger sizes are 20x30, 24x36, 30x45, 36x54, 40x60 inches, as well as custom sizes.
You can use this quick contact form for a quote.
These are for full frame enlargements (ie. as I composed them in the viewfinder) from a 2:3 aspect ratio original photograph (typical for 35mm film and digital sensors). The aspect ratio is an indicator if the image will need to be cropped to fit a certain size requirement. (2 and 3 divide by the same number into 16x24, 20x30, etc - yes, keep thinking math is fun!)
Panoramic images are also special cases. Please inquire for quotes regarding prints of these types of images.
Print shown above: Hepatica and Peeling Birch, 24x36 print (Image ID # FL-8807) that hangs in a hallway of the patient lodges at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital, West Bloomfield, Michigan. It represents the increased use of nature themed photography for health care fine art. Interior design by Michelle Meier, framing by Kerry Farrell. More examples.
cropping...
Cropping to "Standard print sizes" you might find in bulk, store bought frames like 8x10, 11x14, 16x20 has availability advantages, but also can compromise the original composition of the photograph. Most 35mm based and digital sensor based photographs have a 2:3 aspect ratio. Full frame enlargements are multipliers of 2 and 3. Example - multiply by 3 gives you a 6x9 print. (remember, math is fun!)
An 8x10 print is a 4:5 aspect, historically due to wedding and portrait photographers prominant use of 4x5 medium format film that propogated throughout the industry.
The Katmai Brown Bear picture here is an example of an 8x10 crop applied to a 2:3 aspect ratio image. As you can see, significant parts of the original composition are excluded, cutting off the paws of the mother and one of the cubs. Some images have some freedom in the composition, others like this one, not so much.
When ordering, you have two options:
1) Order the full frame 2:3 aspect (6x9, 10x15, 12x18, 16x24). Some sizes I offer matting to standard frame sizes using gallery white matting. You can also order the print only and order elsewhere online a properly sized mat, or support your local framer.
2) Order the cropped version (8x10, 11x14, 16x20) and I will crop the image per my discretion. If it is an image like the one above that cannot be reasonably cropped, I will let you know. You can visually estimate the cropping by the amount of significant detail that may be along the edges of the photograph.
Panoramic and other formats other than 2:3
Some images are stitched or cropped to create panoramic proportions. For these images, the longest side will fit the longest dimension of the print. For example, a panoramic format image on a 16x24 print will have the longest edge of the image at 24 inches.
"pigment on paper"...
Similar to artist terms like 'oil on canvas' or 'charcoal on ricepaper', "pigment on paper" provides a descriptive term for the media used in the creation of the physical piece of work in my studio.
Pigment inks in combination with museum quality fine art papers simply provide an indication of quality above and beyond terminology like "photograph" or "photographic print" because such terms can vary wildly in the types of materials used to produce them. Below are some particular details behind the technology of my prints;
UltraChrome prints
The fine art prints I offer are from high resolution scans of 35mm slides or digital high resolution originals. Prints up to 16x24 are Ultrachrome produced in my studio. Larger sizes are typically Lightjet or Chromira prints, sometimes Ultrachrome as well.
Both processes offer superior color vibrancy and archival longevity in excess of 60 years or more under normal room display conditions. UltraChrome is a high-gamut process using color pigment inks that have consistent appearance under different lighting conditions, as well as outstanding longevity and stability. They are specifically suited for exhibitions, museum, and gallery displays. On certain cotton rag matte papers, longevity is estimated to be in excess of 100 years!
Generally I use a lustre/semi-gloss finish. In cases of framing under glass - the finish reduces possible surface reflections from the lighting in your room. Unframed, this finish reduces glare as well as any visible dust or fingerprints that might accumulate. This finish also produces excellent sharpness and vibrance of color. (Please also see the LIGHTING RECOMMENDATIONS section to get the most enjoyment from your print)
Print shown above: Chagrin Riverside Rocks, 12x18 print (Image ID # LA-8677) that hangs in a patient lodge at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital, West Bloomfield, Michigan. Evidence-based design studies show that nature photography promotes a tranquil, healing environment for patients. Room photograph by Mark Graf, Interior design by Michelle Meier, framing by Kerry Farrell. More examples.
lightjet and chromira...
Lightjet prints are created using a combination of red, blue, and green lasers to expose the image on Fuji Crystal Archive paper. Chromira is a Digital Enlarger that exposes type C photographic paper with LEDs. The photo paper is then processed in RA-4 chemistry, creating a continuous-tone, true photographic print. Both processes yield fine art prints that exceed the quality, repeatability and longevity of traditional, chemical darkroom Ilfochrome (Cibachrome), Type C, and Type R prints. These processes are typically used for 20x30 and larger sizes.
As new papers and technologies are developed, they will certainly be utilized for my work. I still maintain a lot of control over the print appearance, even if I outsource the physical printing. With a fully color-managed workflow, it is quite rare that I receive a print back that doesn't look exactly how I want it to.
Print shown above: Round-lobed Hepatica, 24x36 print (Image ID # FL-7861) that hangs in a visting area at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital, West Bloomfield, Michigan. Nature prints help promote a calming atmosphere in hospitals, medical buildings, and office settings. Photograph by Mark Graf, Interior design by Michelle Meier, framing by Kerry Farrell.
matted nature prints ...
When prints are ordered with the matting option, GALLERY WHITE, 100% cotton rag, 8 PLY archival mat is the type I use. I use 8-PLY mats because I think their dramatic depth on the bevel cut gives a piece a simple yet elegant, gallery look. (Standard mats are 4-ply).
Photographs larger than 6x9 are dry-mounted to insure flatness under varying temperature and humidity conditions. (No wavy prints!) Colored mats are not offered because it is impossible to offer the complete range of colors available in a color-accurate, web presentation. Black or grey matting may be available on a limited basis - please inquire about stock and added delivery time.
Generally colored matting is best done at your local framer as they will have endless styles, colors, and frames to choose from. If you have specific mat colors in mind for your decor, I recommend purchasing the print only and selecting the mat color in person at a framer or store.
gallery canvas of nature photographs...
Prints on canvas are stretched over a wood frame just like a painting and ready to hang. No framing needed. In fact, they are quite often mistaken for paintings.
They offer a clean, elegant display option that blends with any decor.
lighting recommendations ...
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of using quality lighting for your prints, or any other art work for that matter. While most prints will look great in well lit rooms - using lights like recommended here will change that 'great' into a jaw-dropping "WOW!" The difference can be as dramatic as night and day.
While not everyone can have a gallery-like environment in their homes, offices, and other settings - a little knowledge, and relatively small investment can provide you with greater enjoyment and appreciation of your purchase. To get the most enjoyment from the prints that I offer, I recommend lighting them with a fixture that utilizes a full spectrum SoLux 3500K bulb.
SoLux is widely known for their extensive work with museums like Memorial Art Gallery in New York, The George Eastman house, and the Van Gogh museum. When you have statements from curators of a Van Gogh exhibit stating how a light bulb has revealed new details in some of the most famous paintings, that alone is worth trying to see the difference for yourself.
I have no connection with SoLux other than the fact I have their bulbs in the track lights in my own home based upon recommendations from several professional photographers that are experts in the area of fine art printing. The halogen bulbs that I previously had in these lights were standard, off the shelf, home improvement store bulbs. Replacing them with SoLux bulbs was simply one of the best decisions I have ever made, revealing colors and details that even I didn't see before in my own prints on my own walls.
There is a HUGE amount of material available on SoLux's website ranging from psychological studies, to biological information on our perceptions of light, to all the technical details you could ever dream of. They practically offer a degree in lighting with all of the material there. It can take awhile to sort through it all with how their site is organized, but it is well worth the time. So check it out, and try some of their lights - you will not be sorry.
fine art prints..
What is a "fine art" print?
I suppose there can be many definitions, art is quite subjective. What I hope to convey through my prints is not only the original vision of the image, but my care and handling of the technical aspects of print production itself and transforming the impact any particularly moment had on me onto physical media. The original capture of a photograph is truly only the start of the creative process.
I fully support the process conceptualized and advocated by the great Ansel Adams. Ansel certainly embraced that the concept of art goes beyond the effect produced by any particular image or object. It presumes something about the creative process. It is a combination of the technical difficulties with the imagination of the artist in selecting and transforming materials that realize the impact imposed by the natural world.
Ansel once remarked that a good print is one that isn't seen simply for the representation of a moment in time on a piece of paper, but should represent a window into the vision of the photographer. Owning a piece of artwork is like owning a piece of the artist because the lens of the camera often points both ways. With the heart and soul I put into my images, I certainly believe that to be the case with my work. Below is a segment of an interview with Ansel Adams where he describes much of his philosophy in the transition from previsualization to the print.
creative nature Photography for interior design ...
My prints have been used for many private homes, hospitals, patient rooms, conference rooms, health care facilities, corporate offices, medical buildings and nature centers. Whether the image is reproduced on paper or canvas, they represent my artistic interaction with nature, my interpretation of what I experienced.
You can see example installations here, and some of my customer feedback here. Thank you for your interest in my work, and please contact me with any questions.
