June 29, 2012

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art study, beauty, f164, Fine Art, journal, National Park, Nature, signature, silver, technique, travel

The Giants Court – Carlsbad Caverns NM.

The Giants Court – Carlsbad Caverns NP, New Mexico, 2012

I’ve spent three days at 750 feet below the surface, photographing in the dim light with digital and film. It’s truly awe inspiring and it was one of most challenging subjects I’ve worked with and not for lack of beauty or interest, but perhaps for to much of it.

A subterranean wonderland that’s a challenge to capture in a natural sense, since natural here is total darkness. The artificial lights here have been beautifully done and you rarely see a cord or a bulb, but they are low and were designed for seeing with the eyes more than seeing on film.

It was breathtaking. One day I hiked out the natural exit, packing all my gear all the way to the top rather than use then subterranean elevator. I’ll admit it was more than I bargained, but a stunning hike and a great exercise.

Behold! The Hall of Giants! Perhaps my favorite place in the caverns. It’s Stalagmite columns like towering kings watching over the royal court. It took some time and study to gain a grasp on how this beauty beneath should be best captured, but I feel I’ve in part conveyed that feeling I had as I stood, looking on in awe.

 

Release details: Prints Available.. Order Open Edition originals above.. Master prints and Signature Limited Editions are listed below and can be ordered by contacting gallery.. Learn about limited edition prices here.

Released prints….

For Photographers. How it was made…

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June 21, 2012

1

f164, journal, musings, signature, technique

Ultra Thick DIY Inkpress Business Cards.

Custom business cards made using rubber stamps and heavy mount board. Cost is roughly seven cents each.

These are the new gallery cards I made up for Nathan and I. I’m always trying new card designs, but I’ve been wanting something with a hand made impact that can be produced easily and on demand here in the studio.

They’re made using a heavy 4 ply white mount board and self inking rubber stamps that cost about twenty dollars each. Using our straight mat cutter board, we cut slices about 3.5in x 1.5in from the 32×40 sheets of board that cost less than ten dollars each. The cards are them stamped, our names on the front in brown with lots of open space. The back is stamped with the studio details in black.

The neat thing is we can make thee on demand. They’re beautifully thick and we can change the look at any time with a fresh stamp. Making it far less expensive than order small batches of custom cards of this weight. They’re minimal, but based on the board price and the cost of the stamps, these cards come out costing about .07 each if the stamps are only used for about 1000 cards before being updated. They can be re-inked of course and be used for far larger quantities. Of coarse there’s some labor involved, but they don’t take long and it’s part of the fun.

Just one of the many ways to produce hand worked a card with a bit of impact. So far I’m enjoying them… Gav

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June 19, 2012

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color, f164, journal, Nature, travel

First Flight – The Gliding Saga, Utah

First Flight - Sondra's first ride with Steve. In a tandem over the hills of Lehi Utah. She came back grinning ear to ear.

It was Spring by the time we hit the last leg of our 2012 winter tour. We stopped in the Salt Lake area and parked overnight at Cabelas in Salt Lake City. Sondra went shopping the next day and I went hunting for a part I needed for the Super Camper. On the way I noticed a kite shop called Cloud 9. Since I had been wanting a stunt kite to carry along, I decided to stop in. Inside I did find a neat little stunt kite and took it with me. But I also found something more. I discovered Paragliding.

I’ve always wanted to fly and just the possibility of an affordable means to do so, using a wing compact enough to fit in a backpack, got me excited fast. I decided to take a tandem flight with an instructor the next day for about a hundred dollars. I wanted fly and I did. It was breathtaking. I thought it would be scary. It was, but only till Steve and I took off. Once I realized I was floating in the sky, suspended as from a cloud, I was instantly hooked.

Back at the trailer I praised the flight, telling my wife how amazing it was. I told her it was not that same fear as being afraid of heights, because once you’re up there you don’t feel at all unstable. You have control, can glide, gain altitude and land at your pleasure. Sondra started getting annoyed because I kept going on about it. She told me she WAS NOT going to fly. So,  good and kind husband that I am,  I said OK and shut up about it ;). Soon we headed down the road towards Nevada and I let it go, simply saying I might still have to learn on my own.

That night we camped by the Bonneville Salt Flats. In the evening after some him-hawing around, Sondra suggested that maybe she should give it a try. I laughed at her, but it was a good laugh. The next day we booked her a tandem for that evening and drove all the way back to the training hill outside of Salt Lake City. Sondra flew and when she landed she was grinning, giddy and could not stop telling me how much she she now wanted a paraglider of her own. It was so cool to watch her.

We were both hooked now. The ability to carry a wing with us on our travels, soaring and photographing. Even the ability to add a small motor if need be, to go to areas where wind currents might not favor us. There’s more to it than that of course and we plan to learn about that soon because now that we’re home, we can’t wait to get back down there and get certified. That’s something we hope to do later this year. It costs about a thousand dollars plus gear. So for now we just watch videos, look at photos and dream of free flight. Both of us.

With that I better get back to work, pay some bills and make some prints, because we want to go flying. Soon… Gav

For Photographers. Tech Notes…

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May 22, 2012

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beauty, f164, Fine Art, journal, Nature, signature, silver, technique, travel

Memory Lane – Southern California

Memory Lane. Southern CA forest, Corral Canyon, Spring 2012.

It’s that peaceful time just before sunset in the hill country. Warm breezes and insects flying in the evening air. That gentle flair of the sun peeking thru the trees before it recedes into night.

I can almost taste the peaceful feeling we had that evening, my four year old standing next to me with his little camera and a cool mountain breeze drifting over the valley. It was in a remote forest near one of our favorite camp spots of the winter 2012 trip.

I’m finding the simple scenes often have more impact to people than the grand iconic landscapes. Say Arches or the Grand Canyon. Don’t get me wrong, I love the grand landscapes of America. But sometimes the simple idealistic scenes evoke something more. Each person adding their own experiences and emotions into a scene, triggering memories, sights and sounds.

Release details: Prints available. Contact the studio. Learn more about prices. Available prints…

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May 18, 2012

0

4x5, beauty, color, f164, journal, photo couch, podcast, technique, travel

Photo Couch Podcast #30 – Valley of Preparation

King of the Valley - A scene from Valley of the gods Utah. This is not the 4x5 frame discussed on the recorded (that had not been finished yet) but is is the area.

Photo Couch Podcast #30 MP3

Gavin just made a fast 4×5 exposure in the fading light of Valley of the gods Utah. He shares a few thoughts on being prepared and knowing our equipment.

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Photo Couch is the companion podcast of Gavin’s f164 project. Sort of an audio journal. Nothing fancy here. Just short musings, tips, and thoughts on photography. You can listen below, or subscribe for free and get all the latest episodes. If you want more, you can also check out Gavin’s full podcast, Pro Photo Show.

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