Calm Photos

Since July 2006 I have been using ImageKind.com as my primary resource for managing online sales of fine art prints of my original nature, landscape, wildlife and cityscape photographs.

Before ImageKind I tried to manage order fulfillment by myself here in my studio. The following are the steps that took place:
1) A visitor to my main web site would see an image that he or she wanted to purchase a print of
2) They would select and purchase using my previous service for online credit card orders via buttons and size choices listed below the image
3) I’d receive a notification from my online credit card processor that a purchase had been made as well as the image #, print size selected and shipping address
4) I would fire-up my Epson 7600 large format printer, making sure I had the correct 24″ roll paper loaded and plenty of available Epson Ultrachrome ink cartridges
5) A typical 16″x24″ print, at high resolution and at the top of the line print settings, would usually take about an hour to run
6) I’d manually prepare the print for shipping, rolling and packing it in a shipping tube and then placing that package within a FedEx triangular shipping container
7) I’d go to my online FedEx account and que for a package pick-up
The print would be shipped to the customer along with their receipt as well as some of my promo material

Now here is a lesson in basic economics. Look at all the steps above. Each one has a price tag. Either in the way of my time, material, and/or fees. There was no way I could price my prints high enough to 1) recoup my costs, and 2) allow for a profit margin. Also, the customer has very limited options. They get the print, and that’s it. No mounting, mat or framing. No choices in paper and maybe three size selections.

The process wasn’t much less expensive for me when it came to local walk-in and phone customers. In fact sometimes it would be even more of an expensive proposition when I would hear those dreaded words “can you get it framed for me.” Uuuugggghhhhh !

Now enter ImageKind.com.

For a minimal annual fee, as well as a very low cost per image sold, I have unlimited memory capacity for uploading my high-res JPEG files of the images that I would like to offer for sale as fine art prints, ability to set and mange my own margins, opportunity to create and manage as many separate online galleries as I like, create custom HTML code for each image and gallery and leave the entire credit card processing and order fulfillment process in the hands of the capable staff at ImageKind. Not only that, but customers have a HUGE online selection of custom papers, mats, mounting and frames that can be applied to each and every one of my photographs posted for sale on my ImageKind storefront. In fact any online customer can preview exactly how their selected print will look with their mat and frame choices.

And here’s the best part. I love the print quality and care in shipping that ImageKind provides. In fact it is just as good (if not better) than what I was achieving with my Epson 7600 (which by the way, is for sale as part of my moving/liquidation sale prior to my upcoming move to Texas).

The following is a recent YouTube posting of a Seattle (where ImageKind is based) newscast featuring the president of ImageKind showing just how easy it can be to select and purchase artwork online. Watch it all the way through because at the end Kevin announces a special promo code for free shipping.

. . . or out in your lobby, or in your home. It doesn’t matter. Just hang me.

No, not me physically. For one thing you’d have to drill some serious holes in a stud behind the wall, and use some serious hardware, just to hold all my ever-increasing weight. Also, I don’t do too well in office corporate-type office environments. As I like to say about my experiences in the corporate world, I’m like Chinese food. At first I look real good, but if I sit around too long I go real bad, very quickly.

What I’m referring to is the opportunity for you take a hang an original and breath-taking print representing my artistic vision and photographic discoveries. In each and every nature, landscape, cityscape and wildlife photograph that I discover, capture and create there is a bit of my artistic soul and spirit that has been invested in the fine art prints that result.

There’s also a bit of “love of subject” as well as technical skill invested, particularly with the photographs that make-up my newest online storefront at ImageKind.com - Hand-Colored Photos.

With these photographs you can see how I’ve carefully converted the original, color image to back and white and then digitally bring forth color in the areas of the image that I want to emphasize. These photographs are a great selection of artwork for rooms, whether office or at home, where a particular color is emphasized.

Prints ordered through my ImageKind Hand-Colored Storefront are available in sizes ranging from 8″x10″ all the way to 40″x60″ and without any degradation in image clarity and print quality due to the fact I custom format the digital file that each print is crafted from, ensuring optimal output as custom Giclees prints. What I also like about ImageKind are the choices provided for paper, which includes Enhanced Matte, Somerset Velvet, Photo Rag and Fine Art Pearl. I recommend Enhanced Matte.

And the choices don’t stop there. You can also choose from what I’ve found to be the best online selection in custom mats (you can select and adjust width) and frames that range from black, to mahogany, to light wood and many more. As these choice are made you can preview exactly how the finished product will look and what the final price will be, right online. I’ve posted an example below using my favorite combination of a black wood frame with a white mat.

Best of all you can purchase safely and securely online with ImageKind’s refund policy/satisfaction guarantee and professional care in packing and shipping. No crowds to fight at the mall. No traffic to get caught in. Just beautiful, original artwork that everyone will love. So don’t wait. Buy now for Christmas and hang me, here, there and everywhere.

Once again I’m re-evaluating my selection of printing vendors regarding online print sales of my fine art nature and landscape photographs. My current storefront with Printroom.com is pretty good, but I’ve been more impressed with the quality of printing, selections in papers, frames and matting and user friendly interface provided over at ImageKind.com.

Fine art prints purchased at my ImageKind storefront come with a refund policy - satisfaction guarantee, safe online shopping guarantee and careful attention and care in the packaging of prints, both framed and unframed. These are also Giclees prints crafted from the largest possible TIFF file, carefully edited by me, from the original raw digital capture. This results in the best, museum-quality print versus those that are produced from compressed JPEG’s. I can personally attest to this fact because I’ve conducted my own print-and-compare quality testing process from these same file sizes and formats here in my studio using an Epson 7600 wide format printer.

Giclees prints from ImageKind have a longevity of over 125 years when framed under UV-protective glass. Also, you will be impressed with the variety of framing options offered through ImageKind. Their selection of frames, mats and coating options is perhaps the best you can find with an online art store and of course you can preview exactly how each print will look with your choice in paper, mat and frame.

I’ve started to populate my ImageKind storefront gallery, titled “High Dynamic Vision,” with some of my most recent nature, landscape and cityscape photographs captured this past September and October in locations such as the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and the Hocking Hills of Ohio. I will be adding more selections to this storefront over the next several days. I also maintain another storefront/gallery of old favorites on ImageKind titled “Serenity Images.” The best seller there has been my famous Dayton skyline.

My latest image catalog, which includes updated nature, landscape, wildlife, cityscape photography, is now available for preview in PDF format.

Well, the first 15 pages anyway, but it will give you a good idea of how extensive and well-organized this image catalog is.

With the arrival of online, on-demand self-publishing services such as Blurb, I’ve now discovered a new and more professional method for presenting my fine art photography to art dealers and buyers. Within the 72-page, hardcover, large format book are over 380 of what I consider to be the best of my nature and landscape photographs, organized and grouped according to subject and file numbers for easy reference when ordering prints or requesting image licensing.

The image below is the cover of the new image catalog. This image also serves as a link to the online, 15-page PDF preview. The entire 72-page book can be ordered directly from Blurb.

As part of my continued commitment to the long term success of Picture Ohio, LLC, I am pleased to introduce my new online storefront for the presentation and sales of fine art photographic prints of my favorite subject areas - nature, landscape, wildlife, historical, events, cityscapes, florals and aviation.

Since starting Picture Ohio, LLC in April 2003 (four year anniversary coming up) I have managed my own storefront, with shopping carts, on ohiophoto.org, printing, fulfilling and shipping the orders from my studio/gallery in Dayton. I have had limited success with this approach, primarily due to the time and expense involved.

A big advantage of being involved in a professional association such as the Professional Photographer of America, and attending the Imaging USA conference in San Antonio, was the opportunity to meet with a variety of vendors that serve the professional photography industry. One such vendor I had the pleasure to get to know was Printroom.com, a professional photography lab and e-commerce business partner based in Santa Clara, California.

But prior to using their services for a possible new storefront it was important for me to put them through my own quality control process.

I was blown-away with the results. The prints from Printroom.com are fantastic, as well as their customer service.

So now I would like to present the new and improved Picture Ohio Print Storefront. Here you can find 115 of what I consider to be the best sellers and personal favorites from my growing library of nature, landscape, wildlife, cityscape, event and flight photographic images. And this is just the start as I will be constantly adding new material as I continue to venture forth to new venues and scenic areas.

The best part about this Printroom.com storefront is that now I can offer a far greater variety print sizes, paper and related photographic products. Prints are available in sizes ranging from 5″x7″ to 24″x36,” printed on a choice of papers that includes Fujicolor Professional pro lustre, matte or glossy as well as Kodak Metallic and Ilford Black and White. Photo gift products with my images include a variety of greeting cards, note cards, calendars, photo puzzles, coasters, buttons and even t-shirts.

I’ve seen samples of all, which look incredible, but I have to say my favorite are the prints on the Kodak Metallic paper. They not only pop, they snap ! Order your favorite Jim Crotty photograph today.

I’m pleased to introduce another great print product offering from Picture Ohio, LLC - framed PhotoGlow prints. This is a ready-to-hang or display-on-easel system that includes the print of one of my many landscape, wildlife, cityscape and nature images carefully crafted on a specially made medium, which is completed here in my studio, and placed within a pre-cut mat and metal frame. But by no means is this your typical photographic print. What makes this product so unique and pleasing to the eye is the unique lighting system built directly into the frame, providing even, backlit illumination, all the way to the edges.

The prints virtually “pop” right off the wall or easel, especially at night or when displayed in a darker hallway or customer waiting area. The thickness of the frame is less than one inch, with just a very small power cord on the bottom. The lights only draw 15 watts of electricity and they have a 20,000 hour lamp life ! These prints are available in sizes ranging from 8″x10″ to 24″ x 36.”

What’s really great is that the actual prints can be changed in and out of the frame system, providing a way to display and rotate new artwork without the hassle and expense of framing each individual piece. I’ve been display a 24″ x 36″ PhotoGlow of my best-selling Blue Hen Falls print in my front window of my gallery and studio, located right off Far Hills Ave. in Centerville. I will be changing the print out over the next several weeks with images of florals, Dayton skylines and colorful wildlife.

Although I’m including a image of this print with this post, you really have to see the PhotoGlow in person to appreciate the visual impact of this product. Call me at 1-877-527-6889 or 432-6711, or complete the contact form below, if you’d like to know more or receive pricing information.

More megapixels, better photos: Fact or fiction? | Tech News on ZDNet

The following is just one of the many excellent points made in the article which is linked above:

“More subtle problems also are possible. Camera image sensors rarely get larger from one generation to the next, so squeezing more megapixels out of a sensor means each pixel on the sensor is smaller. In most of the chip business, smaller electronics are dandy, but with cameras, they translate to less light per pixel.”

Less light per pixel, and in photography, light is EVERYTHING.

I shoot with both a Canon 1D Mark II and a Canon 5D. The Mark II has a 8.2 megapixel sensor. The 5D has a full-frame, 12.8 megapixel sensor. Now does this mean that I will always choose the 5D over the 1D Mark II. Nope. In fact I probably use my 1D Mark II twice as much as I use my 5D, and here’s why - there’s more to a professional-grade digital camera than a high megapixel sensor, such as weather and dust resistant seals, a more powerful and longer lasting battery, custom functions designed for outdoor photography, etc.

Don’t get me wrong. I do like the 5D. It’s my preferred camera when I have to travel light and for portraits in my studio. When it comes to very fine detail on someone’s face for large print output, then yes, you might be able to see a slight difference if you look very, very closely at the print. But compare, side-by-side, 16″x24″ prints of a nature or landscape subject that originated from RAW files shot with both the 5D and 1D Mark II - both set at 50 ISO - then you will be hard pressed to see any difference. But let me emphasize again - both shot in RAW and at 50 ISO.

So many amateur and hobbyist photographers get caught-up in the “I’ve got more megapixels than you so that makes me the better photographer.” This after they make it also clear that they have the biggest piece of lens glass. I see this all the time when two or more photogs get together, and I always walk away shaking my head.

First of all if you don’t have the eye, the talent, the skill and perhaps most important of all, the passion for creating great images, there is no camera or big lens in the world that will make you a good photographer.