The Sloan Gallery

Artificial Limited Editions

Justin — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:00:45 +0000

Many collectors of photography have fallen to the misconception that limited edition numbered prints are more valuable than prints that are not numbered. A quick look at the history of fine art photography shows that this is a false assumption easily taken advantage of by manipulative artists. Ansel Adams did not number his photographs. The number of prints available were limited by the time of his death, not by an artificial predetermined number designed to boost sales. The only reason to limit and number available prints is to increase the perceived value.

Here is how Alain Briot, one of the most famous modern landscape photographers, explained it:

“The marketing principle goes like this: reducing the quantity by a measurable amount will allow the photographer to increase the perceived value, and in turn the selling price, by a commensurate amount. In other words: the smaller the edition, the higher the price of each print in this edition. An edition of 10 will allow each print to be priced higher than an edition of 100 which in turn will be priced higher than an edition of 1000, and so on. The respective price of each print is set by the photographer, the gallery, or both. Pricing is no small task, and is often just as challenging as setting the number of an edition.”

In the world of art in general it is extremely uncommon for significantly high numbers of copies to dilute the value of the work. If a collector requires a number to be present on a print as some kind of insurance policy that the photographer will not dilute the value of the print is uneducated in art. If the photographer were able to sell such a high number of prints they would actually be able to make a living selling art!

The photographs that I make and prints I produce are not numbered or limited. I do not make photographs to become famous, nor do I have such an inflated self-pride as to think that I need to limit editions. I simply make photographs to be printed, framed, and enjoyed.

Creation & Selection Criteria

Justin — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 13:36:37 +0000

When I make photographs it is always with an end goal in mind. The specific criteria will differ depending on the location I am shooting. For instance, I may have a certain overlook, tree, or natural formation that I want to photograph. But I also have several general criteria which I use to maintain an artistic perspective. These are the things I am intending to do with each photograph made.

- Create photographs that will be matted, framed and displayed

- Create photographs specifically to be enjoyed in homes

- Create photographs to be shared openly and freely

- Create photographs that will inspire others to create

- Create a body of work covering a specific number of different locations, with one keeper per location

- Create a collection of sunset (or sunrise) photographs

Portrait in Sepia

Justin — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 10:00:22 +0000

The novelist Isabel Allende writes beautifully and about the photographic process in her book Portrait in Sepia. I found the following excerpt particularly meaningful.

“If you observe an ordinary object or body very closely, it is transformed into something sacred. The camera can reveal secrets the naked eye or mind cannot capture; everything disappears except for the thing that is the focus of the picture. The photograph is an exercise in observation, and the result is always a stroke of luck.”

“The camera is a simple apparatus, even the most inept person can use it; the challenge lies in creating with it that combination of truth and beauty called art.”

“The quest is above all spiritual.”

Hello

Justin — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 11:16:22 +0000

Thanks for joining me at the new website of The Sloan Gallery. As you can see there are several new features on the Gallery website, including this blog. I’m excited and looking forward to sharing missives, essays, thoughts, and links about photography.

A major part in designing the new website was to better integrate my vision of what the online gallery should be. There are static exhibits which will feature my latest works as they become available. Additionally, the Gallery itself is now separate from the store, so feel free to browse and enjoy the photographs without feeling pressure to make a purchase. I make photographs to be enjoyed, so please stop in and visit anytime.

The Gallery will also feature rotating exhibits a few times a year. I am planning for these to be museum-type exhibits with themes, descriptions, techniques, and history of the featured photographs, so please enjoy.

If you decide you would like to make a purchase, the Print Shoppe features prints for sale on a limited basis. I am also planning to self-publish a few photography books, so look for those to be available in the Print Shoppe in the future.