Presentation for Photography Clubs and Associations

by Mark Prior BA, Dip.Pro.Photography
Photographer, Print Publisher, Art Dealer

Large Format Digital Photography, Art Reproduction & The Fine Art Photography Market








Overview

I have 30 years professional experience as a photographer/artist behind me, years which also include 17 as a gallery owner in the UK and in Canada, the last 4 as a successful Fine Art Publisher for artists and photographers.

In the first session I will give an insight into image capture with a 4x5 digital scanning back, including panoramas and advice on photographing art, which will lead to the "Film vs. Digital Debate". After a break there will be an opportunity to have your photographs assessed for fine art publishing with a discussion of how to produce photography that is 'saleable' in a retail environment.

With new concepts to introduce, some surprisingly controversial amongst photographers, and cutting edge large format equipment to demonstrate, my style is 'interactive', encouraging discussion and questions.

I will cover all or some of the following topics:

4x5 Photography with a Better Light Digital Scanning Back - Art Reproduction

My experience as a photographer has been central to our fine art publishing operation. For the last 5 years I've specialized in the photography of 2-D artwork and will impart many techniques and tips applicable to both digital and film photography, for the successful image capture of a wide variety of painting and mixed media.

At the heart of our digital photography studio is a Better Light Super 6K-HS high-resolution 4x5 digital camera back, with a maximum file size of 618 MB, 9000 pixels x 12000 pixels x 6 bytes per pixel, coupled with a Wista 4x5 view camera and German lenses, resulting in a stunning digital capture of artwork. Flawless prints can be made 4 to 5 times larger than the original with no loss of sharpness and no pixelation.

Better Light are recognized as the leading manufacturer of large format digital equipment in the world, hand building one or two units per week in their California 'factory'. It's fair to say that most photographers haven't even heard of it and this will be their first chance to actually see this rather rare (and expensive) piece of equipment.

(To find out more about Better Light Digital Camera Backs, click here to visit the Better Light website.)

4x5 PANORAMIC Photography with a Better Light Digital Scanning Back

As a landscape photographer I could not resist the Panoramic Adapter for the Better Light. With file sizes of up to 2GB, seamless panoramas of up to 360 degrees can be printed to the full width of the 44" rolls of paper or canvas that we use with corresponding lengths of 20 feet or more.

A panoramic scan taking up to 25 minutes to complete 180 degrees is not without it's challenges. Requiring a laptop with extra battery capacity and a dedicated hard-drive on top of all the usual camera equipment it is not for the faint-hearted either!

I'll bring the above panorama printed on canvas 16 feet long by 30" high, for you to appreciate at the sharpness of the detail of the ferry, fishing boats and the buildings on the far shore!

(To see more Panoramas by Mark Prior, click here.)

The "Film vs. Digital" Debate

Until about eight years ago I was of the large format, zone system, archivally processed fine prints school of photography and my work has been hung in many galleries and museums (Biography).

However, digital imaging and giclée printing have won me over. I have 4 main reasons: (Read More...)

I must admit that until a 4x5 digital back capable of 'instant' image capture (as opposed to a scan) becomes a reality, and that's not even on the technological horizon, there will always be a place for film. But I will put the case that with flatbed scanners being so good now, I'd rather create a digital file from film and make an archival inkjet print and I'll back up my argument with an example or two.

Large Format Inkjet (Giclee) Printing

Although most photographers, film and digital, are still printing their images on photo paper, for a growing number giclee printing on fine art papers and sometimes canvas are becoming the norm.

There is great interest in this relatively new approach but where do you start? Who will you trust with your precious images and hard-earned dollars? Many photographers simply don't get into it because of lack of knowledge.

By seeing first-hand and close-up, examples of photographs printed as giclees, you will have the opportunity to make up your own mind. Here is what one photographer had to say about my work: "Mima's exquisite prints of my work caught my breath and delighted my clients. Mark Prior's total commitment to fine art printmaking - from preparing each digital print file for optimum results to the mounted image backed by a "Certificate of Authenticity" - has made me a loyal and grateful fan."

To read more testimonials please click here.

Publishing and Representation Opportunity for Professional Fine Art Photographers with MiMa Fine Art Publishers, inc.

Members who would like their work to be critiqued for publishing are invited to bring along a selection of prints for discussion from that point of view. This will be equally instructive for members who do not present work but would like some insights about how to produce photography that is 'saleable' in a retail environment.

MiMa now represents 46 artists (32 living in BC) but only 4 are photographers: Myself (no surprise there); Steve Silverman from Ontario; Sharon Tenenbaum from Vancouver and Mitra Ghaffari, my co-director of MiMa and principally a painter.

We've been approached by many photographers that we've had to turn down, usually because their work just isn't of a high enough artistic standard and sometimes the work is excellent but just doesn't suit the market that we serve.

We are actively looking for more photographers to include in the MiMa portfolio and welcome submissions from professional and gifted semi-professional fine art photographers. (You can find out more about the submission procedure on our "Artist Submission" web page.)