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Essence of Spring Lost Coast, CA  
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Galen Rowell, the great adventure and landscape photographer, wrote about the inclination of people to describe common objects or events by recounting extreme examples, rather than those that are most typically observed. He noted that this habit was, “especially relevant for photographers,” as they “tend to search out extremes, even when our intention is to have them represent the normal in other people’s minds.”

Never more poignant for me was Rowell’s observation as when I was making this photograph. I had made it one of my goals in 2006 to make a unique image of a California poppy, a flower so ubiquitous that most people from our state could readily describe its features without stopping to think. I, too, had my own mental image of this familiar subject. I sought one with perfectly smooth, undamaged golden petals, each pressed tightly upon the next to reveal only the slightest opening at their very edges, symmetrically attached to an unblemished stem that isolated and positioned the flower at just the right angle toward my lens.

And so I set out with my favorite macro lens to several locations in Point Reyes and Marin County, each time returning with less than stellar results. Everything was almost right… except for a crease, or a tear, or a stray patch of pollen, or unseen silken strands left by an absent insect. I found it bewildering that I could be surrounded by literally hundreds of specimens and still be unable to find a single one to photograph. I was beginning to think the one I was searching for didn’t exist. And then one evening, surrounded by virtually thousands of poppies on a remote hillside in the Lost Coast, I realized that Rowell was right. I was looking for the archetype, the flower that literally didn’t exist. Or, if it did, my mental image was so extreme in its requirements for perfection, that It was going to take a lot more searching to find.

And that’s the insight that led to this abstract composition. I realized that the one invariant feature of all the poppies I had photographed to this point was color. That golden, saturated yellow-orange is unfailingly dependable in every flower. And, in retrospect, it’s this very color that signals the onset of spring, not the poppy’s shape, curvature, or petal orientation. I decided to focus on just the thinnest sliver of petal, throwing all its remaining identifying features out of focus. I wanted just a hint of its stem in the lower right to allay confusion with say, a bell pepper. For me, this image represents the very essence of a poppy, and in many ways, the essence of Spring.
Purchase Pricing and framing options for "Essence of Spring"
"Essence of Spring" Limited Edition Prints
1. Limited Edition Archival Prints

I currently offer prints on two fine-art archival papers: Epson Ultra Premium Luster and Fuji Crystal Archive Supergloss.

The Epson Luster paper has the look and feel of a fine-art photograph, with an intermediate texture to glossy and matte surfaces. It is an excellent choice for color, and the only choice that I offer for black and white photographs because of its ability to produce incredibly deep and rich neutral tones.

Fuji Supergloss has an amazing glass-like surface with intense, saturated colors and fantastic tonal range. Prints seem to "glow from within." It is extremely reflective and therefore particularly prone to "cockling," necessitating cold-mounting for larger prints.

All prints are from a limited edition series and signed, dated, and numbered in the bottom margin. If you prefer an unsigned print, please let me know at the time of your order.

To learn more about paper choices and printing, [click here].

   Luster Print   Supergloss Print 
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Options
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Size (in) Price Buy Price Buy
 8 x 10   $70  
 $110  
 10 x 13   $130  
 $180  
 12 x 15   $200  
 $260  
 16 x 20   $290  
 $370  
 20 x 25   $400  
 $500  
 24 x 30   $510  
 $640  
"Essence of Spring" Limited Edition Prints
2. Mounting (optional)

Select from one of the follow three options for mounting your fine-art print for framed display. (Please choose the option corresponding to the size of the print that you've ordered in step 1.)

  1. Traditional hinge mounting (free). Included in the cost of your frame purchase. Excellent results for smaller prints on Luster surfaces. Larger prints should be cold-mounted to prevent bulging, rippling, and sagging of the print from developing over time. [Learn more] or continue to [Framing options]
  2. Cold-mounting to Foamcore board. Great for Luster prints, recommended for sizes above 12 x 18 inches. Can be used for mounting Supergloss but aluminum is preferred.
  3. Cold-mounting to Aluminum sheets. Outstandingly strong and uniform surface. Recommended for Supergloss prints of all sizes, essential for sizes larger than 12 x 18 inches.
[Click here] to learn more about the mounting process and options.

  Optional
 Foamcore Mount 
Optional
 Aluminum Mount 
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Options
Next: Mounting Prev: Prints
Next: Mounting Return to
photo
Check out Proceed to
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Size (in) Price Buy Price Buy
 8 x 10   $37  
 $67  
 10 x 13   $37  
 $67  
 12 x 15   $46  
 $83  
 16 x 20   $52  
 $100  
 20 x 25   $66  
 $146  
 24 x 30   $91  
 $207  
"Essence of Spring" Limited Edition Prints
3. Framing (optional)

For framing, I use ¾-inch wide solid wood frames with a polished matte black finish, thick, 8-ply pure white mats, and clear acrylic plexiglass to protect your print. Alternatively, I can recommend excellent framers in the bay area if you require more flexibility in frame styles, sizes, or materials. Please choose from the following options that correspond to your selected print size.

A standard frame with a 2- or 3-inch mat will look identical to those displayed in my exhibitions. Mat width is personal preference; most people prefer either 2 or 3 inches. If you would like a wider mat border, let me know and I will be happy to provide a quote.

A recessed back frame is a great-looking alternative to the standard frame. Your print must be cold-mounted on a strong surface first (e.g., aluminum), then a recessed wooden frame is attached to the back of that material. To protect the print from scratches and dust, a thin sheet of acrylic plexiglass is placed directly on top of the print. This method gives the print a "floating" appearance since it hovers in front of the wall without a frame or mat.

To learn more about the materials I use for framing, [Click here].

  Optional
 Frame with 
2-in mat
Optional
 Frame with 
3-in mat
Optional
Recessed
 Back Frame 
(mounted
prints only)
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Next: Mounting Prev: Mounting
Next: Mounting Return to
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Size (in) Price Buy Price Buy Price Buy
 8 x 10   $63  
 $77  
 $103  
 10 x 13   $71  
 $86  
 $140  
 12 x 15   $87  
 $104  
 $154  
 16 x 20   $138  
 $165  
 $165  
 20 x 25   $173  
 $204  
 $207  
 24 x 30   $221  
 inq  
 $253