Fine Art Nature Photography: A World Of Timeless Beauty
FINE ART NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
A WORLD OF TIMELESS BEAUTY
What is fine art photography? What makes it valuable? How does it differ from standard photography?
The process.
Let’s take photography’s much, much older cousin once removed for example. The technique of painting using oil has been around for centuries. People tend to consider acquiring oil paintings as large investments with high value. Why? There are several reasons but mainly because of the advanced techniques used, large amounts of time and effort spent, high-end materials used, and the realism it achieves, to name a few. Sounds worth the investment, right?
How can we produce a piece of photographic artwork that offers the highest value, is created using the finest ingredients, and presents to most stunning detail to make the viewer feel like they’re there, in that moment, witnessing that exact sunrise seen within the photograph? By paying attention to detail, from the moment of capture in-camera to the final inspection of the finished large format piece. By using top-performing equipment with a high resolution to capture all the details needed for creating a large print. By seeking out and partnering with the highest quality printers available who have spent decades perfecting their craft.
Fine art photography is all about the process - the time, effort, and care put in by the artist to create something that evokes emotion and is memorable for its viewers. At Joseph Amaral Fine Art, we promise to deliver just that.
A quintessential Atlantic coastal scene. Where a mix of salty air and spruce trees meet the sound of gulls, waves, and the chiming of the lighthouse. Fine Art Limited Edition of 50.
It's important to understand the artistry that goes into capturing breathtaking and fleeting moments found in nature. This process is not started off using snapshots taken on a smartphone; fine art photography is a meticulous craft, equal parts technical and creative, that involves a profound connection between the photographer and the natural landscape. Time of day, style of light, conditions, weather patterns, air quality, and cloud formations are just a few of the many factors that go into capturing an image of nature worthy of printing and made into luxury wall art.
As a fine art nature photographer, my goal is to reveal a special moment in time captured with my camera with as much accuracy as possible. I want you, the viewer, to look and feel as though you’re in that exact scene; to feel the emotions you would feel as though you were presently there. This goes much further than pointing a camera at something pretty and clicking the shutter button. This involves digging deeper and choosing the right composition that speaks to the artist, utilizing the proper field techniques optimized for large format printing, and waiting for that ideal lighting to wisp across the landscape (many times this fails to even happen on a shoot). It’s a nuanced balance of composition, lighting, and timing. I find myself often finding a composition with potential, followed by patiently waiting for mother nature to work her magic by gracing the scene with a gorgeous play of light and shadow, bringing life and emotion into the landscape.
THE IMPACT OF FINE ART PRINTS
Field acquisition is just the beginning of the process. The image then moves on to the “digital darkroom,” the necessary phase of post-processing which is a highly subjective step and one that can make or break an image. This stage ensures the work is not only true and accurate to what the photographer witnessed in-person at the point of capture, but also has an apparent artistic style. Colors must be accurate and harmonious, and luminance values need to be right for the image. And because all photography is designed to be printed, the image then makes its way to the print lab, where it is crafted into something tangible and takes on a form of its own. If you’re unsure of what I mean, go visit your closest fine art gallery and spend time browsing around. Later on, check that same gallery’s website and experience those images on a 2D computer screen. You’ll notice they don’t leave nearly the same impact as they had displayed on the gallery wall.
New England is full of enchanting forests with long, winding streams that are full of life. Fine Art Limited Edition of 50.
RECOGNIZING AN ARTIST’S STYLE
Let’s take a look at some artists that have made their mark within the art world. Whether they are painters, sculptors, potters, or mixed media, they each have a distinct style that is very clearly represented in their art. That style reflects them as individuals and is unique to their work.
In the case of fine art photography, style is crucial in making a body of work stand out. As artists, we’re told early in our careers to be us and only us. That individualization is reflected within the artwork that is produced. Collectors are often interested in a particular artist because of how their unique work makes the viewer feel; because of their style.
Some examples of this could be the distinctive types of compositions used. Maybe it’s the way the artist incorporates moodiness with deep, dense shadows. Or perhaps the photographer employs minimalism or abstract subjects in their work.
I personally strive to evoke themes of hope, romance, and empowerment in my artwork through the use of painterly and harmonious colors, intricate details, and striking compositions.
UNVEILING NATURE’S STORY
They say every picture is worth a thousand words, right? There is a narrative behind every photograph ever taken in the history of the medium. They serve as a windows into another world, revealing hidden elements and micro scenes that may not otherwise have been seen. In the case of landscapes, the artwork becomes the storyteller, using a strong visual narrative to help spark an emotional connection between itself and the viewer.
The large format photography prints I produce include the kind of detail, color, and scope that allow the viewer to fully take in the scene as if they are there. Fine Art Limited Edition of 100.
UNDERSTANDING THE VALUE OF LIMITED EDITION NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
From an artistic perspective, all my original artwork for sale is crafted using the finest materials and printing techniques available, ensuring longevity and preserving the integrity of the image. The investment made on a high-quality piece of artwork enhances the value of the print, as they become timeless pieces that last a generation.
I produce my work using only the finest substrates, many with quality anti-reflective acrylic coatings, and finished with either hand-made Italian frames or modern recess mounts. Each limited edition print is a carefully crafted piece of artwork, with myself acting as both the curator and creator. Please visit the “About Prints” page to learn all about the two printing processes I employ in my work.
Unlike mass-produced or even open edition photography prints, the exclusive limited edition prints I offer are very individualized. Each one is uniquely numbered within the edition run. Once all the editions within the run are sold for a given piece, that artwork is retired and never created again. This type of exclusivity adds to the overall value of owning a piece of my work.
As an artist, what I love most about photographing nature is the intimacy of it all. Only a small electronic machine exists between me and a very real, vast landscape in front of me. This little machine has the power to freeze time, to reveal a moment or a memory. When done correctly, a fine art photographic print draws the viewer into a world fused between themes of both imagination and reality. Sounds worth the investment, right?