Friday, July 26, 2013

Ceramic Art Tiles For Sale


For years we've had total control over our images; from capture to display we've left our DNA on each and every canvas print we've sold.  While our primary printing has been on canvas we've also done printing on paper and only relinquished control when it came to matting and framing.  That level of control has extended to our DVDs with us setting the images and videos where we wanted them, choosing the music, burning the DVD and printing the label.  In short if not total control near total control of everything we offer.

That's changing with our offering 6x8 ceramic tiles.  The tiles will be "Open Stock" and offered at what we believe a reasonably price.  The one thing that's different is that we won't be the ones printing the tiles.  We've outsourced our tile printing to Tony LeBoeuf, owner of Changeyourart.com. 

After a very lengthily conversation (sorry about that Tony) we feel comfortable in trusting Tony with our work.  What impressed us the most was his willingness to try printing infrared images (something he's never done before) for free to see how they turned out.  After waiting for the UPS delivery to come we were extremely pleased with the result.  So pleased that we've now placed an order of 5-images to be printed.

San Lorenzo De Picuris (Infrared)
  
"Crosses"
 
The images included here are the sample infrared tiles that were provided.  These as well as  a mix of landscape and wildlife will become available for sale shortly. 
Each tile measures 6x8 and will have an easel backing attached to allow display on a tabletop or hung from a wall; your choice.  These along with the other tiles will be available for $39.95 plus shipping and handling.



We'll post the other tiles just as soon as we receive them.
 

Sandy & Don

 

 






 
 


Friday, July 19, 2013

Devils Tower, Wyoming

Along the way
 
Getting closer
 
Our first close-up
 
Depending on what you read, Devils Tower is either the core of a volcano or the result of seven small girls being chased by a bear.  Legend has it that the girls were playing when a bear began to chase them.  Unable to run back to their village the girls jumped upon a rock about three feet high and began to pray to the rock, "Rock, take pity on us; Rock, save us."  The rock heard the pleas and began to grow, pushing higher and higher out of reach of the bear.  The bear clawed and jumped at the sides of the rock breaking its claws and fell to the ground.  The bear continued to jump and the rock as it continued to grow pushing the girls into the sky, where they are to this day in a group of 7-little stars (The Pleiades).  The marks of the bear claws are still there for all to see.  (Don tends to believe the legend...)
 
The view from within the Park
 
 

Slightly different view
 
See the marks left by the bear?
 
No matter what you might believe Devils Tower is tall, raising 865 feet (263.65 meters) with a walking path around the perimeter of 1 1/2 miles (2.41 km).
 
The next series of images were all capture using the Sony NEX7 (30mm) Infrared converted camera processed as black & white.  Don feels this series adds to the eeriness of the Tower.
 
 
 
 
 
We were blessed with gorgeous skies and plentiful clouds the day of our arrival as well as the next day; we simply couldn't have asked for better conditions for our first visit.
 
IR shot of shooting timelapse videos
 
The Tower isn't the only thing to see as we also found a huge colony of prairie dogs in the area.
 
 
 
 
And finally one last image of Devils Tower...
 
 
We had 2-great days to shoot in and around the area and are already making plans for a return visit.
 
Old barn
 
The majority of the images shared here were captured with a Sony NEX7 either in color or infrared with the remaining with a Cambo WRS/Phase One IQ160 or in the case with a couple of the prairie dogs a Phase One DF/IQ160 with a Mamiya 300mm lens.  All images have been processed using a combination of Capture One Pro and Adobe Photoshop CC.
There's more to share so please stay tuned.
 
Sandy and Don
 
Here's a sample of our latest DVD Volume 5 which is now available for sale.

 
 
 

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Beautiful and Historic Taos, New Mexico

Sony NEX7 20mm Infrared
 
San Jose de Gracia de las Trampas
built 1760-1776
Sony NEX7 18-55mm
 
San Jose de Gracia de las Trampas
built 1760-1776
Sony NEX7 18-55mm
 
We have wanted to visit the Taos area for years however just never found the time until this year.  I remember reading an article by Miles Hecker on The Luminous Landscape titled "On the High Road to Taos" and it has stuck in my memory ever since.  I'd suggest reading the article before venturing out if like us you've never been to the area.
 
Taos Pueblo Graves
Sony NEX7 18-55mm

Taos Pueblo
Sony NEX7 18-55mm
 
Taos Pueblo
Sony NEX7 18-55mm
 
Taos lies less that 500 miles from our home and we made it easily in one-day.  Not having been there before and not knowing what to expect we decided on 5-full shooting days; we found that was just barely enough. 

Taos Pueblo
Sony NEX7 20mm Infrared
 
Taos Pueblo Graves
Sony NEX7 20mm Infrared
 
Our trip took us through Santa Fe/Taos New Mexico before turning north to Devils Tower in northwestern Wyoming then through the beautiful Big Horn Mountains on our way into Jackson Hole for a couple days and finally returning to Tucson.  All told 15-days and over 3,800 miles.

San Lorenzo De Picuris
Built cira 1769
Sony NEX7 20mm Infrared
 
As reported earlier we added 2-new cameras to our kit, both Sony NEX7 and brought them along.  One Sony has been left "stock" with the standard 18-55mm lens while the other was converted to shoot infrared along with a Sony 20mm pancake lens.  We had ordered the new Zeiss Touit 12mm and 32mm lenses which we had hoped to have for the trip however sadly there was a shipping delay which made them arrive the week after we left.
 
San Francisco De Asis
Built cira 1810
Sony NEX7 20mm Infrared

San Francisco De Asis
Sony NEX7 18-55mm
 

San Francisco De Asis
Sony NEX7 20mm Infrared
 
There were numerous wildfires while we were in the area, the biggest (as far as we could tell) was in the Pecos Wilderness of the Santa Fe National Park.  While devastating these fires also caused some significant changes to the sky landscape.
 
Smoke from the Pecos Wilderness fire
Sony NEX7 18-55mm
 
Another view of the Pecos Wilderness fire
Cambo WRS/Phase One IQ160 55mm
 
Having seen the Taos area for the first time we can readily see how it inspired the likes of D.H. Lawrence, Georgia O'Keeffe and Ansel Adams.  If you haven't been and wondered if it was worth the trip the answer is YES.
 
Window
Sony NEX7 18-55mm
 
Gate
Sony NEX7 18-55mm
 
Gate
Sony NEX7 20mm Infrared
 
As you can see the majority of the images were captured with a Sony NEX7.  The images included here have all be processed using a combination of Sony Image Data Converter (for Infrared), Capture One 7 Pro, and of course Adobe Photoshop CC and Nik software.
 
We hope you enjoy the images some of which will be included in our web gallery for sale.  Please stay tuned as we venture into the Devils Tower area.
 
 
 
Sandy & Don