Monthly Archives: March 2013

off comments

ARCHIVAL AND ORGANIC PHOTOGRAPHS

In today’s world, everyone hears about organic foods and archival products. In a way, they are similar. As a portrait photographer, organic and archival are very important concepts for me and my portrait photography studio.

I have been eating fresh and organic foods all my life. I either grow or seek out what’s local and in season and what is grown without harmful chemicals. The same goes for the products I produce for my photography clients. I start with a high resolution file that has been meticulously retouched for a natural appearance. The inks I use are fresh, the paper and mats are acid free. Just as a fruit or vegetable is harvested at the appropriate time, my prints are made with pigment-based inks , cured and archival with a lightfast rating of up to 108 years. The grandmother test is that a print should be unnoticeably changed for three generations. Refrigerating your produce helps some last longer after harvesting. Photographic prints generally last longer when they are kept out of direct sunlight, extreme heat and humidity. Take a look at the photographs below.

Archival And Organic Photographs

PAPER FOR PORTRAIT PRINTS: These family portraits were all made over a hundred years ago. Each has varying stages of aging. The print from 1870 shows the most signs of deterioration with uniform lightening of the tonalities. The image was printed on albumen paper made with egg whites. The photographs from 1900 and 1911 were printed on a fiber based paper and show almost no signs of fading, just a shift to warmer toned blacks. At my portrait studio, the inks are pigment based and the paper is acid-free. I also offer photographs made on an artist’s acid free watercolor paper which has a slight texture. It is museum grade and produces prints rich in tonality.

COFFEE TABLE ALBUMS, BOUND LIBRARY BOOKS:

The company I work with has a tradition of fine bookbinding procedures since 1942. The original founders and owners were trained in old world Italy from a fifth generation custom bookbinder and use the finest quality materials. Album styles range from very traditional through contemporary to avant-garde. They welcome photographer’s ideas and will customize the books to meet our client’s needs.

Archival and Organic Photographs

CLOTH DESK FOLIOS: I have a company that uses Japanese bookbinding fabrics, acid-free mats and their loving hands make the most exquisite desk folios. They produce their products as heirlooms to last for generation after generation. This is a concept I fully embrace. What I also love is that they will create custom folios to meet my client’s needs.

Archival And Organic Photographs

At my portrait studio, archival and organic is a way of life. Photographs made with pigment based inks, on acid-free paper, and mounted in products like books and desk folios will last many generations. If you have any questions about growing vegetables organically or eating organic food, please contact me as well. I am well versed on both topics!!

 
off comments

Friday evening, March 1st, was the $75,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup in Wellington, Florida. Seven countries had teams of four competing twice over the same course. It was an exciting class to watch. The fences were huge, the course was long, and each rider had the pressure of doing well for their team! Having had a top jumping horse, I knew the hard work, preparation, training, time, teamwork and patience to bring along a world class champion jumper. What caught my attention that night was the horse and rider expressions throughout the course: focus, concentration, exuberance from some [horses kicking their heels up after the last fence,] the joy of success, the agony of defeat, the love and pride. Please enjoy the photographs below.

United States Equestrian Team Wins Nations Cup, Wellington, FL 2013

Johannes Ehning of Germany, riding “Salvador V” gave it their best but unfortunately had 8 faults in the first round and 4 faults in the second round. The German team came in third place in the overall team standings.

United States Equestrian Team Wins FEI Nations Cup, Wellington Florida 2013

Laura Kraut of the United States rode “Cedric” also her mount for the 2012 Olympic Games. This little powerhouse can fly around the course springing high above the jumps. Laura was clear in round one, and had 4 faults in round two. The United States team was victorious with all of their other horse and rider combinations going clear in round one and two.

United States Equestrian Team Wins Nations Cup in Wellington, Florida 2013

Cian O’Connor of Ireland rode “Splendor” to a clean round in one and two. The horse has a magnificent almost gold colored coat. Cian is a marvelous rider! I had the fortune to see him handle the Jumping Derby victoriously the week before over a grueling course of 20 obstacles. His horse was so excited after the last fence he had the energy to buck and kick up his heels. Cian was happy and breathless at the end. The Irish team came in fourth place.

United States Equestrian Team Wins Nations Cup in Wellington, Florida 2013

Reed Kessler of the United States aboard “Cylana,” also her mount in the 2012 Olympic Games went clean in round one and two. She is the youngest rider on the American Equestrian Team and in Olympic competition at the age of 18. Her horse is brilliant. She was ecstatic to go clean. Cylana seemed to trot off with her head held high enjoying the applause.

 

All of the riders I watched that night were magnificent! It was a thrill to see the skill of the rider and their successful partnership with their horse.