Lawrence Photographic

Fine Art Prints!

Last Updated - 12th August 2013

Fine Art – The photograph identifies with the photographers vision of the scene and invariably is altered to express his vision. This can be accomplished by using specific types of cameras and lenses with film, invariably black and white film which offer a broad dynamic range and tonality to the negative and the finished print. Classical type lenses are well sought after for Fine Art photography and the draw of the lens plays an important part in the final production. Some lenses are very sharp and some produce a softened almost a glow like appearance, yet add a subtle sharpness to the image. The photographer can exert a greater control in expressing his vision by attaching filters to the camera lens to alter the lighting and mood. Printing of the film negative is accomplished in the darkroom using an enlarger and chemicals to develop the print.

In this digital age, photographers are using digital cameras and are turning more and more to digital post processing of their camera ‘RAW’ image files using Adobe and PhaseOne software and producing the final prints using an ink jet printer.

Most Fine Art photographers’ have found a ‘niche subject’ to express their style, their vision and invariably the final image is so altered that it bears only a slight likeness to the original scene. This type of Fine Art photography is usually digitally edited by a photographer with artistic skills using a pen tablet to draw over the original digital image file (a digitally scanned film negative or a digital camera image file) to produce a form of hybrid photograph/painting. However, there are photographers who are capable of producing Fine Art images which have not been altered in any way but are reflective of a scene that the photographers has spent a great deal of time and patience waiting for the optimum light and mood before taking the shot.

There is nothing quite like a print on the wall, it is singular, it captures that moment in time and it stimulates conversation. Whether it is hanging in a gallery or a hallway or living area it should last the test of time (at least 100 years) without fading.

Some photographers prefer a portfolio containing their best work in large prints which invariably are in monochrome fine art form and bound in a nice book, usually leather. In any case, the paper has to be of the best quality and pigment ink is used for long life and to bring out the tonality, especially the layers of grey scales.

Printer
The printer is important, unless the actual printing process is to be done by a professional printing company. Many photographers print their own work at home and sell limited editions of the print on the Internet. There are many types of printer available but my choice would be the Canon Pixma Pro-1

The Canon Pixma Pro-1 has a very large footprint and should be situated on a stable platform, it has an ethernet port so it can be positioned away from the desktop. The printer delivers the very best prints (maximum size 13" x 19") when used in combination with ICC profiles and Canon have included a free software download to use for creating profiles.