Today I will take my family to see the James Cameron’s blockbuster movie Avatar (in Imax 3d of course). I realized this morning when I awoke that there is a relationship between this movie and my career as a fine art nature photographer. This will be the third time that I have seen it. The movie is visually stunning a real feast for the eyes. The story takes place on a planet called Pandora. On this planet all things of nature are interconnected in a living network created by the roots of the trees that cover this imaginary world. This network of all living things or “Eywa” is accessed by the native people and the other creatures that inhabit Pandora. It is inhabited by a race of 10 foot tall people who are closely linked to this network and who respect and revere the spirit of nature. These Na’vi are reminiscent of Native Americans as well as the native peoples of other cultures around the world.

Regardless of how you feel about the plot of the movie, the special effects and the beauty of this imaginary world are awesome. I will admit, however, to being somewhat saddened by the fact that it takes a movie that cost $240 million dollars to remind this generation of movie goers of a relationship that is central to all of us. We are all connected to and a part of nature from the smallest dew drops on a blade of grass to the grandest mountains.

Nature’s “special effects” are every bit as impressive and aweinspiring as James Cameron’s screen spectacular.

My hope is that people will be motivated by this movie to get out and reconnect with the natural world around us.

Capturing, revealing and sharing the spirit of nature and our connection with it has been a central theme of my life since my childhood. It is a bond that I have spent a lifetime illustrating through my photographic art.

One of the fastest growing trends in the art photography world has been printing fine art photography on canvas. Photographs on canvas have a luxurious look and feel and offer some interesting options for displaying. For example, stretching the canvas and applying a gallery wrap has become extremely popular. The gallery wrap image is mirrored, extended and folded around the edges of the stretcher bars, thus doing away with the need for a frame. This gives a modern look which is sometimes less expensive than traditional framing.

We have been reproducing my fine art photographs on canvas for many years now with great success. We have learned a few things that are important in getting the best quality and greatest longevity possible from a canvas print. We use a special canvas that is designed to be coated after the image is applied to protect the image from fading, scratching and scuffing. The canvas is then machine coated with a UV protectant sealant. It is applied by a machine rather than being hand rolled or hand sprayed. The machine removes residual dust as the coating is applied and can do a much more uniform job of application than a human can. Photographs on canvas produced in this way are projected to be fade free for 100+ years.

What is Wabi-Sabi and what does it have to do with my photography?  Wabi-Sabi describes a Japanese aesthetic of art and living.

One of the best explanations I have seen for the term is:

“Wabi is a feeling of loneliness or solitude, reflecting a sense of nonattachment and appreciation for the spontaneous unfolding of circumstances. It is like the quiet that comes from a winter snowfall, where all the sounds are hushed and stillness envelops everything. Sabi is the suchness of ordinary objects, the basic, unmistakable uniqueness of a thing in and of itself.”
From ” The Zen of Creativity”
John Daido Loori

A few years ago a large number of my images were chosen by a client to be hung in an upscale hotel. While I was printing the images I marveled at how the image choices seemed to have picked up a theme that ran through my images. This was not a theme that I was aware of as I was creating the photographs in the field. I was so fascinated that my client had seen this thread that ran through my imagery that I was unaware of, that I couldn’t resist writing her and telling her how much I appreciated her “getting it”.

Her response was “I love your work it is so Wabi-Sabi!” I immediately began researching on the internet and at bookstores. I ended up reading and learning about a Japanese aesthetic which had permeated my fine art photography for years without even being aware of it.

When we think of putting art in a child’s room, the first things that come to mind are bright, primary colors and juvenile images of trucks, cars, princesses and kittens, and then maybe nursery rhymes or famous movie and TV characters.  All of these ideas are fine, of course, but they do have their drawbacks.  Here are a few different ideas to consider.

Nature photography can create a wonderful atmosphere for a child’s room and there is a great selection of this type of art that you can purchase online.  Most children love animals and clear colorful prints of tigers and giraffes, or zebras and monkeys can be just as interesting.

© Byron Jorjorian

The subtle, calming colors of most art photography are perfect for a little one’s bedroom, and the realistic portrayal of nature in an artistic photograph can also be very educational.  As the child grows and learns, the art on the wall can become a focal point of quiet time conversations and bedtime stories.

Choosing a more natural type of art also means that the child will not outgrow the room’s decor quite so soon.   Nature photography allows you to move from a simple decorating scheme for an infant, to a more complicated design for a preschooler, and still be effective for the more specific tastes of a young child.  For that matter, good nature photography can even move effortlessly into a completely different room in the house such as a family room or den.  Investing the money once to buy art such as this for a child’s room will indeed be money well spent.

© Byron Jorjorian

One other thing you might want to consider before framing the art, is the option of having it mounted instead of framed. This is a process where the art print is fused to a backing and coated with a protective coating so that it can be displayed without frames or glass.  If you would rather frame the art, look for frames with art quality Plexiglass instead of glass just for safety reasons.

The art is the investment here, so if your client’s on a tight budget, you should spend less on the framing.  For a nursery, you might even consider plastic frames that compliment the colors of the photograph.  Large art photos for interior design purchased in poster size are really cute in a toddler’s room and you can purchase poster-size frames that can turn a whole wall into a work of art.

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Have you ever considered that the art in your office or place of business could be sending a message to your clients, customers, patients or colleagues? It is something to consider for sure, when you choose nature photography to decorate the walls.  Here are some samples of unique and inspiring works from the world of nature that can create exactly the moods and feelings that you want in your office.

If you would like to instill a feeling of calm in your office, a selection in muted, relaxing tones is a good choice.  The composition should be simple and uncomplicated and in as few colors as possible.  This grass photograph with its muted colors and suggestion of flowing movements is perfect.  You can almost feel the calming breezes flowing by!

If you want to imply that your company is a one of a kind, you could do this by hanging prints with one bold object as the focal point of the print.  In a subconscious implication, your art can say that your clients are in the waiting room of a company that really stands out.

Definitely one of a kind, this magnificent white tiger is an image any business would be proud to be associated with.

Believe it or not you can even reinforce your company’s sense of identity and connection to an area, city country or even the nation.  If you are proud to associate yourself with a particular place, you could display some awesome art that includes a state flower, local waterfall, or natural landmark.

Every company, business or even individual wants their customers to see their business as strong and prosperous.  You can promote your image of strength by arranging art that displays bold and defined images in its composition on your walls.

Along with an image of strength, you can also promote a sense of stability for your business by displaying art that depicts deep roots and perseverance.  Your clients will feel confident that they are dealing with a company that’s going to be around for a while to see them through their needs.  The large solid rock photographed here is a definite symbol of immoveable strength.

All of these prints are available along with many more distinctive nature photography prints, a few of which are sure to make your office art stand out and be remembered.

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Removing color from a photograph can add a lot to it; it can reveal details that would otherwise go unnoticed.  Color, in some cases, may obscure the texture and form of the subjects, while black and white emphasizes the structure of the composition.

Black and White Botannical #80407_190bw

© Byron Jorjorian

There are many ways in which the different colors turn into different grays, meaning that you can experience great light and dark richness when using black and white nature photography.  While color may emphasize the shape of a subject, its black and white version may add a lot of character and feeling by highlighting its texture.

In black and white photography, the absence of light is as important as its presence.  The profound shadows add depth and strength to an image.  Photographers know how different colors, and lighting, react, and they use this knowledge to create impacting black and whites that deeply arouse, shock, inspire or relax.

Healing Waters #070508-03bw

© Byron Jorjorian

Black and white photography allows you to see color in a different way.  The artist detaches himself from the effects of color and brightness, and this lets him use color more effectively, to really provoke a strong emotion, one that can be translated into a space to create a special and intense mood.

Black and white photography may offer dramatic stone carving textures, wild active skies, or unusual atmospheres.  Shadows are a basic part of a black and white composition, as the aim is to create contrast between light and dark, between what is known and what remains a mystery, between stillness and turbulence, only to find out in the end, that both are always there, as a part of life and its balance.

Twisted Oak Tree Image #32107_76bw

© Byron Jorjorian

So, why use black and white photographs to decorate when you can use color?

Good black and white photographs enhance a space with the image’s strong mood.  Color can get in the way of the message you desire to convey when it is full of momentum, force, drama and beauty.  Black and white makes color work better, under its shades and tones; you reach out to the viewers, showing them a side of nature they have yet to discover.

Any of Byron’s images can be converted to black and white. If you would like to view some images that have already been converted, click HERE.

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I recently spent 4 days in the swamps of Mississippi photographing wood ducks. I would enter the blind at 4am and be out of the blind with time to explore the swamp by 9am.

© Byron Jorjorian

One morning as I walked through the swamp in Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge, I was struck by the pattern of arching trees and their reflections in the dark still water.

Angled Trees Patterns in the Swamp #041808_333

© Byron Jorjorian

Here in all the chaos of a swamp was order in nature. I composed the image and began taking pictures. During one particularly long exposure, it occured to me that I had returned to make pictures in a place that was only a little over an hour from where I spent my childhood catching snakes, lizards, turtles, and frogs.

Reflections of trees and leaves #041708_486

© Byron Jorjorian

Have you ever noticed how the colors of a photographic print will look diferent at various times of day and under different light sources?

© Byron Jorjorian

Most photographers and printers use daylight profiles. The print looks good under daylight but under flourescent or incandesent lighting the colors can take on radically different hues.

I have been making fine art photographic prints for more than 30 years first in a black and white darkroom, then a cibachrome lab and now using state of the art photography printers.

This has been an issue which has bothered me a lot in the digital era.

My solution to this problem is to use mixed lighting profiles and even profiles for specific light sources.

© Byron Jorjorian

The majority of fine art prints which I produce are produced using a mixed lighting profile. It is designed to give the most natural looking color under a varity of lighting conditions. It works well even under conditions where a combination of light sources (for example flourescent and daylight) might both be illuminating the photographic print.

If you know that the image will be viewed only under a specific light source and not moved you can let us know and we can set the color to create the art print to look best in your environment.

However, if the photograph may be moved or viewed under different light sources it is best for us to use the mixed lighting profiles that I use by default.

Concern for the environment goes hand in hand with being a photographic artist that specializes in nature. Therefore, I was eager to try the new Bamboo paper that Hahnemule introduced recently as a paper that has been produced in a more eco-friendly fashion.

Their website states:

“Bamboo 290 gsm

Is the first fine art inkjet paper that consists of approx. 90% fibres from highly renewable bamboo grass and whose production is therefore very eco-friendly.”

I have been using the Hahnemule Bamboo paper to make some stunning prints over the last few months. I really like the texture and warm glow that the paper imparts to my photographs.The paper is recyclable and produced in a way that leaves less of a footprint on the environment and it is beautiful.

© Byron Jorjorian

I say it is a step in the right direction.

If you are working on a project that you feel might benefit from this paper and you would like to get a sample please contact susan@byronjorjorian.com

We all have a favorite piece of nature photography that we love, or home decor photos that we want to display to beautify our homes and just simply enjoy.  Some of us are collectors and buying that next gorgeous piece of art photography that we’ve found is just too hard to resist.  But now we are left with the question of what to do with it all.  We only have so much wall space, right?  Well the good news is, there are a number of ways to display these cherished pieces without taking up every square inch of wall space.  When you need something a little different, be sure to try out one of these cool ideas for getting your art off the wall!

© Byron Jorjorian

One obvious solution that has become very popular is to display art on a shelf.  There are even specially designed shelves available that have an edge on the front to keep your art from sliding off.  Arrange a single photo or an arrangement on a shelf and see how effective it is.

Take a hint from the artist himself, and try displaying a piece of art on a freestanding easel.  An unused corner of space can suddenly become the focal point of the room.  Easels come in a variety of materials from shiny aluminum to highly polished ebony.  Choose an easel that compliments your art and matches your room for a very dramatic effect.

Another thing to do when using photos for decorating is to try and downsize your prints somewhat so they can be placed on bookshelves or other decorative shelving.  Arranging a few photographs among the spines is a great way to break up the monotony of a bookshelf.

Try putting some art in chunky freestanding frames that can sit proudly on a piano, in a curio cabinet or even on open kitchen cabinets.  After all, looking at our art gives us pleasure and should be all around us.

Large pieces of framed art can even be displayed on the floor.  Lean a large picture against the wall and arrange some smaller pieces in front.  This type of display is especially effective with country style frames in a more rustic setting.  Create a little vignette by adding a vase, sculpture or other decorative piece to the arrangement of pictures.

Floor screens that are designed to hold photos or art are another option for displaying pictures once your walls are full.  The advantage of one of these types of frames is that they allow you to display a large number of photos in one place.

If you’re both an art collector and a craftsman, you may want to create a table that displays some of your favorite pieces.  For this, your art is displayed under a piece of glass that is fitted to the top of your coffee table.  Instead of picking up that coffee table book, you can admire your mini art collection every time you sit down to relax!

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