John Christopher, the Highlights

I have had a long love affair with the fine art of Photography. The advent of digital photography and the 'computer-darkroom' made it all but impossible to resist the call to go into it full time.

Brief resume higlights:

Artist's Statement

To me Photography, like all art forms, is a means of communication - a kind of language, but one that enables dialog on the emotional level. The art of Photography attempts to communicate emotion through visual imagery; a process that begins when we see what is, visualize what could be, then use photographic tools to translate the reality we encounter, into the possibility we imagine. It involves seeing with our "mind's eye", beyond the physical apparatus.

In my Photography I consciously seek to develop images that transcend the literal, yet remain recognizably faithful to it. In the process I use the most appropriate tools available to me; from cameras, lenses and filters, to the tools of the digital darkroom.

In that way I aim to produce images that clearly communicate the emotion that triggered the process in the first place, and do so better than I could with a thousand words.

I hope you enjoy your visit here. Feel free to send me your feedback on any of the images that may speak to you, or to comment on our blog ("Image Quest").

PRINT FAQ

* Why we work with external labs

Considering customers' requirements for an endless number of print sizes and finish surfaces, and the fact that photographic paper has a limited shelf life, a few years ago we decided to establish working relationships with top quality external print labs instead of generating our own prints. Even though the initial lab cost is higher than that of a blank sheet of paper, scrapping expired paper plus maintenance, amortization & calibration costs to keep a high quality commercial printer in top condition, bring the final cost for in-house printing to about the same as the price charged by a lab. Yet, even though overall costs are similar, working with an external lab we can always count on a fresh supply of paper and a matching printer to produce archival quality, long-lasting prints. We have found the quality and consistency of results to be well worth the few additional days required for outsourcing.

* The actual process

Getting a digital image ready to print involves several adjustment steps on monitors calibrated to the international Pantone color standards. State of the art software and hardware is used to control the final output, so that an image viewed on any late-model monitor, calibrated to the same standards, will look identical in tone, luminosity and hue regardless of monitor or location. Likewise printers calibrated to match monitor output on a given paper, will produce prints that are indistinguishable from one another. Thus, the print process involves four steps:
1. 'development' of the raw file to match the artist's vision, using the tools and techniques of the digital darkroom
2. Electronically uploading the final image to one of our print lab partners
3. Receiving the print from the lab via Fed-Ex or similar courier. And...

* Quality control

The 4th step in the process, before a print is sent to the customer (or any other destination specified by the customer) is close inspection at our location. The print must be as close to what we developed and uploaded and as high a quality in detail, contrast and luminosity as if we had printed it in-house. If it is found to meet our standards, the print is then discreetly signed or monogrammed by the artist, and carefully packed and shipped to the customer.

* Shipment to customer

Typically we ship via USPS/priority/insured, unless the customer has a strong preference for a different shipping method. Total turn-around time from customer order to final shipment is anywhere from a week to ten days.