photograph
All posts tagged photograph
I've never self-published a photo calendar before so this first effort is kind of exciting. I chose Lulu.com which does printing on demand… I didn't have to contract to print a bunch of stock that won't sell. On the other hand, quality of reproduction is a little uneven with two images that had subtle tones looking a little off-hue, even unsharp. So I'm not wildly enthusiastic. Most other images look fine to very good — especially the sunflower and the dragonfly. The process allowed me to add special events or "holidays," so I researched and added a bunch of astronomical occasions but nothing too geeky. I suppose as self-promotion this isn't the kindest review but I want it to be honest. Click here and enjoy the preview! {This is a re-post without a somewhat clumsy embedded object.}
Please pardon this "group reply" to the kind comments from fellow Voxers: I spotted the leaf (previous post) in our parking lot yesterday –all those perfect beads of rain, the leaf so dramatically floating over black asphalt– and photographed it. I was so compelled to capture the image after glancing at that leaf that I walked through the rain to my office, retrieved my camera, and went back out in the damp to shoot. It felt like a sad image. This morning I learned my mother had a very serious medical problem; I posted the picture because it illustrated how I was feeling. It is beautiful and it is sad. Mom, by the way, though hospitalized, is doing very well and is constantly on my mind. Spike, after I shot the faded yellow leaf I walked about 20 feet over to a tree and photographed a red leaf wet by the same rains. Not really done for you but, what the heck!
I received the completed order yesterday (Thursday) afternoon in three big boxes delivered by FedEx. It was only Monday night when I uploaded the eight photographs I settled on for printing! The order was mostly 8 X 10 color prints but included matting, and framing with glass cover. Amazing speed, the work is beautiful, and it cost about a third of what the local framing shop was going to charge! I have nothing against the local franchise frame shop –they were the first place I went when planning my show– but the much lower cost of my online supplier made the show possible in its "larger" end form. I've a only few little tasks yet to complete:
- Select "old" work to display with the new
- Figure out pricing – same for show and online sales
- Make a tag for each picture — title, price/NFS, etc.
- Make a small sign with maybe a little bio
Preparing for the show had the side benefit of finally getting me to print and frame some of my work. I'm hoping I'll do that a little more often going forward, even without a deadline pushing me along. The photo of my "favorite sunflower" is resting on our mantle until it is packed for transport to the show. It's every bit as beautiful as the online version, maybe even better… stunning, actually!
I stayed up a bit late last night tweaking and uploading my eight final photo choices to the online printing and framing company (they did a very good job on the test image I'd sent). Even at their very modest rates for work done, it's expensive when you multiply by eight. The finished and framed pieces should arrive in plenty of time for the October 1 hanging. Tonight or tomorrow I'll choose some of my framed work from my first show, done long ago, to hang with the new stuff. This process has been interesting to me if to nobody else!
Today is my day to go to work late. Last night was a lovely clear night. I had the time and energy. I had this morning to rest up. So I went to the Observatory last night and wound up staying til almost midnight! Typical of me, I didn't get to bed until close to 2 AM and then pretty much woke at 5:00. Nap? Nope! I went to Hinckley Lake –it was a beautiful morning– ran an errand, and did my laundry. I'll probably crash later (at work, of course) but it was totally worth it. I saw the brilliant waxing gibbous Moon in great detail last night and Earthbound glories this morning. You have to enjoy times like these when you can for you never know whether they'll come again.








