Here we are! March hasn't been an idle month, that's for sure; it went by in the blink of an eye, as people say, between creating and shipping a lot of artworks, launching a large-scope survey on Fine Art Photography, writing various articles for the blog on photography and equipment, working on my website to implement the new changes inspired me by your answers in the survey, and so on... So, let's see more in detail what happened around here last month.
VIERI BOTTAZZINI FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY 2.0:
THE FIRST REVISION TO MY WEBSITE IS ONLINE!
Last month's Fine Art Photography survey produced very interesting results. Let me thank once more the hundreds of people that let their voice be heard and shared with me their views on the Fine Art Photography business: as you will see reading further, your help has been invaluable to design a shopping experience tailored even closer to your needing and wishes. Without further ado, let me list for you the most important changes and news that you will enjoy on
VIERI BOTTAZZINI FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY starting April 3, 2013.
ON THE ARTWORKS:
- New: Stand-alone finish available! You can now purchase your artwork as print-only as well, with neither mat nor frame; your full choice of finishes includes now Stand-alone, Matted or Framed;
- New: paper selection now available! You can now choose to have your artwork printed on your choice of Matte or Glossy paper, and you can also select You choose to leave the decision to me.
ON THE PRINT OF THE MONTH:
- New: the
PRINT OF THE MONTH is now available in 3 different series! You can now choose to purchase your POTM in the Preludio, Sonata or Sinfonia series, with your full choice of Matte and Glossy paper, in Stand-alone or Matted finish only.
ON PRICING:
- The price list has been updated to reflect the new options above; when purchased as Stand-alone, for instance, the Print Of The Month is now available starting at $99 US only, while the regular artwork series start at just $119 US!
1. Lifetime Quality: your artworks carry a lifetime warranty against discolouration!
2. Damage Replacement: artworks damaged in transit? No problem, I'll send you a free replacement, shipping costs included!
3. No-Questions-Asked Return: change of mind? You have 6 months to return your artwork, exchange it or get a refund!
4. Certificate of Authenticity: your artworks are guaranteed with an hologram-based Certificate!
5. Future-Proof Pricing: your artworks will increase their value, guaranteed!
6. Safe Shopping: total safety for your personal and financial data!
Please take a minute to read the full
6-POINTS WARRANTY for full information.
ON MY ARTIST'S STATEMENT:
- I updated my
ARTIST'S STATEMENT, reflecting my philosophy and my views on Fine Art.
ON THE WEBSITE IN GENERAL:
- The
FAQ section has been completely re-checked and wording has been improved; a few new Q-A have been adde to cover the new options and additions to the site;
- More information has been added to the
PRICING AND WARRANTY page of the website, to help you complete your acquisitions with absolute peace of mind; the page has been reworded extensively to provide you not just with more information but with clearer information as well.
As a result of all this hard work and with your help,
VIERI BOTTAZZINI FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY is arguably becoming one of the best one-man Fine Art Photography business online, offering the best print quality on the best papers in 5 different artwork series, the most complete choice of paper and finish, the best warranty and the best support. I couldn't have done this without you, so once more THANK YOU for your help!
NEW BLOG ARTICLES
March has been an intense month for the blog! Here the main articles I posted on it last month:
- RUNNING A BLOG: A FEW FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
Running a blog can be an activity spanning from the occasional post here and there to a full-time job, and everything in between. Recently, I found myself in a sort of conundrum on the topic: read THIS ARTICLE to see my thoughts on this important issue.
- A COMPACT STORY: THE NIKON P7700 IN VENICE
Modern high-level compact cameras have gone a long way in the last few years; Nikon hasn't been particularly brilliant in this segment of the market, until their more recent releases. Out of this new breed of Nikon compacts, the P7700 is a truly competent image-making machine, but after so many years of trailing the likes of Canon, Sony & Olympus, will the new P7700 be enough to turn the tide over? Read my review in THIS ARTICLE to find out!
- PRINTING BIG: FROM MEDIUM FORMAT TO COMPACT CAMERAS
Once upon a time, to print large (real large!) one had to go for the camera with the largest negative one could practically use for the job at hand. Since the advent of digital, while the classic equivalency "bigger sensor = better image quality" still holds to a large extent, things might not be so black & white anymore (excuse me for the pun). Modern 35mm cameras with high-resolution sensors started to endanger digital Medium Format cameras position as the Kings Of image Quality; it was only inevitable that compact cameras would get closer and closer as well. So, where do we stand now when it comes to printing really large? Do we still have to carry our equipment with a mule a-la-Ansel Adams or can we get there with compact cameras as well? See my answer in THIS ARTICLE!
- THE SIGMA DP MERRILLS AND THEIR COLORS: THE TRUTH REVEALED!
Among high-end, (very) high-image-quality compact cameras, the Sigma DP1 Merrill, DP2 Merrill and now DP3 Merrill enjoy a near-cult following. I am using these small, wonderful machines since last November and I have to say that the fame is well deserved (a few quirks aside and once one got to grips with the near-abysmal Sigma software). Since the release of the latest of these, the DP3 Merrill, serious photographers started an heated discussion online about colour consistency between the three Merrill cameras. To put an end to this debate, I designed a small test under controlled conditions to go to the bottom of this issue. Read all my findings in THIS ARTICLE!
NEW GALLERY
This month, I created and added the TURKEY gallery for you, featuring 24 artworks with images from this beautiful country. As always, these newly added artworks are for sale in all my regular series (starting from $119 US): printed in-house personally on wonderful archival acid-free Hahnemuhle paper, they come with your choice of paper (Matte, Glossy) and finish (Stand-alone, Matted or Framed). No matter what size or finish you chose they all carry my unique 6-POINTS WARRANTY and a hologram-based Certificate of Authenticity. Here you can find a couple of images from this new gallery. First, "Sokollu Mehmet Pasha Mosque, II":
Then, "Lycian Tomb at Termessos":
And finally "Pergamon, IV":
PRINT OF THE MONTH
April's Print of The Month is available for the whole month for the first time in ALL three PRELUDIO, SONATA & SINFONIA series, printed personally in-house on wonderful archival and acid-free Hahnemuhle paper; again for the first time, April's Print Of The Month comes finished either as Stand-alone or Matted. Starting from $99 US, the Print Of The Month carries my unique 6-POINTS WARRANTY and a hologram-based Certificate of Authenticity. This month's print is "Mt. Nemrut's Beheaded Gods, II", out of the TURKEY gallery:
Read below for a behind-the-scene of this image.
SHOOTING APRIL'S PRINT OF THE MONTH
Shooting on Mount Nemrut is an experience by itself, one for which it is better to set off well prepared. The reward: you'll find yourselves on top of Mount Nemrut enjoying an incredible view over the surrounding valleys and peaks, and face to face (literally!) with the Beheaded Gods, the famous statues that King Antiochus I built in his own images and that of various Gods to surround what was intended to be his own tomb-sanctuary. See a view from the top of Mt Nemrut:
So, how to get to such an incredible place? Well, you'll need to fly-drive-hike (or rent a mule for the last, very steep hike); setting off from Istanbul, you'd better consider to spend at least one night or two down the mountain top; I'd say a three-day trip (return) is a safe bet. What about the best time of the year? Well, winter is a tough one (snow can make it difficult to get there); summer, an even tougher one (too hot); my suggestion is to go between mid-May and late-June, or mid-September to mid-October. However, if you want to shoot the heads with good pre-dawn light, or stay for after sunset light, I strongly suggest that you bring very warm clothes, layered. Remember that you are on an always-windy mountain top, and that temperatures drop dramatically there without the sun; don't forget to bring a lot of water, sunscreen and a hat: even in mid seasons, the sun is VERY strong once it's out, and together with the wind they will dehydrate you pretty quickly if you don't pay attention.
(Antiochus on Mt. Nemrut, II - Phase One P65+, 150mm, f12)
OK, now that you are on top of the mountain, warm and hydrated, how to shoot these amazing heads? Well, as always let's start with equipment: as with any location involving hiking or trekking, or even a ride on the back of a mule, it is worth to be wise in our choice of equipment and bring only things you'll really need and use. A sturdy tripod and a set of filters are paramount; I'd suggest a polarizer and some Grad-ND filters. As far as camera and lenses go, you can use lenses from WA to moderate tele according to your vision; I went there with a Phase One camera equipped with a 28mm, 55mm, 80mm and 150mm which in 135 focal length are equivalent to about 17mm, 35mm, 50mm and 90mm. You can see how the image above look compared to that below, to get an idea of what different focal lengths do. The Print Of The Month, on the other hand, has been shot with a 28mm (equivalent to 17mm).
(Antiochus on Mt. Nemrut, I - Phase One P65+, 80mm, f16)
Once I decided which focal length to use, I approached the shoot like a regular portrait shoot: these are faces, after all! For very obvious reason, however, I could not pose my models according to the light, so I had to position myself in such a way to get the light fall on the faces the way I wanted. This influenced the choice of background, of course, making it a very delicate balance between lighting the faces in the best light and having a decent background behind them nevertheless.
This is it for April's Print Of The Month: if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me!
SPECIAL OFFER FOR SUBSCRIBERS
This month, I decided to reward those of you that go for multiple purchases: buying more than 3 artworks, you'll get an incredible $100 US discount!! Basically, if you buy two images of your choice you'll get the equivalent of the Print Of The Month in Stand-alone finish for free: don't miss this opportunity! Use the coupon below at check-out to redeem:
MP@VBFAP#0413
(Offer valid until April 30, 2013 for purchases of three items and more. No limitations on repeated use)
OK, this is about it for this April's issue of my monthly newsletter, thank you very much for reading so far! Until next month,
Vieri
