prints and process

it all starts with an adventure…

before a print is able to manifest itself in the physical world, a vision must be brought to reality by braving into the wilderness. this could range from snowshoeing 10 miles in 20 degree weather in colorado, hiking 21 miles to the top of the tallest peak in the lower united states in california, or traveling halfway around the world to new zealand to shoot waves crashing on the beach. no matter what the case is, an enormous amount of time and energy is put into the preparation, planning, and execution of an adventure.

capturing the perfect photo

when i am shooting i am always focusing on taking the best quality technical photo. this means that i am properly focusing on the subject, framing the photo in the best way possible, exposing the photo for the highlights, and making sure that there are no glaring defects in the image. this can be difficult to achieve at any moment, but when you are out in below freezing temperatures, high gust winds, or in the desolate wilderness this can become a daunting task.

bringing a vision to reality

my current camera is a nikon z6ii. when i shoot an image it is captured in RAW format which means it is not yet processed and must be edited to be ready to print. i edit all of my photos in adobe lightroom which is a stripped down version of adobe photoshop and focuses on lights, shadows, and colors. since i came from a painting background, i carry a very painterly quality into my editing process. i try to accentuate the characteristics of the world that may not be obvious to others and show the world in the light that i see it. my main focus is always composition and maintaining the balance of color and vibrancy, which can be a very difficult job depending on the situation. i also go through a technical editing process that is very tedious. the removal of dust spots, ensuring no color banding is occurring, removal of any hot pixels and compression artifacts are all a part of the technical editing process. once all of this is achieved then the photo is finally ready for the printing process.

printing process

each photo is sized optimally for the print job. my ideal print is set at 300dpi to ensure the highest quality possible for the print. i tediously review each photo before it is sent off to one of my suppliers. i only use the best suppliers that i have personally vetted by visiting and/or printing numerous prints through each one. paper prints are produced on the highest quality paper using uv resistant inks to maintain longevity and quality. dye sublimated metal prints are my pride and joy of printing. the metal prints carry my colors, vibrancy, and detail unlike anything else i have ever printed on and they have a very unique process.

THE PRINT IS FIRST TRANSFERRED TO A HIGH-RESOLUTION TRANSFER MEDIUM AND THEN PLACED AGAINST A COATED ALUMINUM SHEET THAT HAS BEEN DESIGNED FOR MAXIMUM IMAGE QUALITY AND LONGEVITY (THESE ARE ALSO EARTH FRIENDLY AS THEY ARE MADE FROM RECYCLED ALUMINUM).  THE IMAGE AND THE ALUMINUM are THEN HEATED TO PRECISE TEMPERATURES WITH A CALIBRATED MACHINE AND THE COATING SWELLS AS THE INK EVAPORATES.  THE COATING ABSORBS THE PRINTING DYES AND HARDENS AS IT COOLS, LOCKING THE IMAGE INTO THE PROTECTED ALUMINUM.

since these prints become a part of the metal, in addition to being uv resistant, they also carry the unique property of being waterproof.

triptych metal prints

my suppliers can produce metal prints that can be printed as one piece up to a 48” x 72”. after that size, the print must be split up into a 3 piece metal collage, known as a triptych, in order to accommodate the size. i printed my first 60” x 90” triptych for festivals this last year. triptychs truly are a statement piece and they carry the majestic quality of a scene like no other print can.

production and shipping

due to supply chain issues, production and shipping times in the us are an estimated 3-4 weeks as of now. they are typically produced quicker but i like to stay on the safe side of estimated time of arrival. all prints are custom ordered and printed brand new. any sizes over 30” x 45” have a custom box or crate created for them. i stay on the process the entire way through and send updates as i receive them from my suppliers.