Artist’s Commentary
Firenze, 2009
January 2010
This recent commission I just finished up was from a large scale digital print
order for an Italian restaurant permanent display installation. The group of six select photographs featured Italian still life and architectural images
from some of my recent publications.
The challenge was reproducing digitally the same look as my original sepia toned traditional/darkroom generated "master prints". My major concern was preserving the original look and "appearance of the sepia toned image", as well as the overall contrast, shadow and highlight details. In addition I desired my unique darkroom "full frame edge" that borders the final image which was scaled to a final print size of 50" x 50" with a 2" border.
I think that the key was an excellent drum scan which was slightly modified for all the variables mentioned above. After a couple of smaller and larger proofs were pulled we nailed down the appearance and feel of all the scenes, then pulled the final large scale prints which appeared as remarkably close as possible to the overall quality of the original prints.
original content: from a 2008 Decor magazine editorial on best selling lithographic reproductions in the publishing industry
Courtyard In Venezia
This image was captured on film on my honeymoon in 10/2000 in Venezia, Italia.
Early in the morning while my wife was sleeping I would venture out to shoot between 5AM and 9AM.
As I was exploring one morning this courtyard caught my eye. I ended up trespassing (Unofficially.)
I was denied permission to shoot inside and outside in the courtyard of this government marina building,
that the garden was in. After official rejection to enter and shoot, I entered the premises anyway.
Undetected, I thought (not aware that security cameras where all over).
I carefully tried to reach the garden, then the Gates/doorway caught my eye.
I shot a couple of frames, camera on tripod and the
military police "gave me the boot".
Next thing I know I was on street with a killer Polaroid of the scene and 6 frames I captured on film.
This was not a romantic experience. A classic case of trespassing, while exploring and trying to find a a good location to shoot. The risk factor paid off. This shot paid for my honeymoon! I didn’t end up in jail for trespassing.
After photographing historic and significant private and public gardens and villas in Europe for 10 years, I decided to take a break from the gardens and villa environment and focus on significant public and civic architecture, which provide clues about the specific region and culture.
The courtyard in Venezia was personally a transition image for me. This image led me to a whole larger body of work featuring exterior and interior architectural details and panoramic style images. I often incorporate gardens, courtyards, fountains, gates and sculptures, emphasized with mood lighting, which all contribute to set the drama, tone and stage of the scene.
Sometimes premeditated or found via random exploring, curiosity and intuition, this type of imagery and style presently dominates the photography that I am still pursuing and exploring.
original content: From a 2008 BBC, UK production "On Your Wall"
Caffe Asolo a Veneto
This photograph was recorded on film in March 2004 in
Asolo, Italia. This was my first day in Italia, as I arrived about 3 hours before from a 17 hour trip from California.
My plans where to location scout that afternoon, so for the morning sunrise photography session
I would be prepared to photograph. As usual I bring my photography gear with me when location scouting,
just in case I come across an irresistible scene with the perfect lighting when doing my walk through upon
arriving at a new location. This was the case with this Asolo cafe scene.
After walking around Asolo in the rain for a couple of hours, I stopped at the cafe and to dry off, and grab a doppio caffe macchiato. Relaxing with my drink I looked outside the window and was totally intrigued by the vista. The white classic iron style furniture was glowing from the rain and it appeared to have stopped raining. The sky had a perfect cloudy and illuminated glow, as the time of day was around sunset. At that point I set up my large format film panoramic camera and photographed a panoramic out take of that scene.
Afterwards I set up my Hassablad film camera and captured the cafe scene in B/W with my square format film camera. My prints are b/w photographs which are personally handcrafted and printed and sepia toned once I return back to my home and studio in California.