With the start of another new month (seriously, it’s August already?), some of you may have seen the multiple warnings of my print prices increasing. I know, with inflation still rising, eggs being more expensive than probably the dang bird itself and now Joshua Raines Photography jacking up prices you have to ask yourself, what next?

In all seriousness, I wanted to take a deeper dive into what a fine art print is and why the cost can seem, to some, so high. Other than my insatiable corporate greed and desire to become independently wealthy off the the 10 prints I sell a year, I thought I would try to peel back the layer of this print making onion and give clients a better understanding of what a fine art print is, what goes in to making a fine art print and why this process is special to me. Stick around until the end, where I show product images and prices for everything offered on joshuarainesphotography.com!

This image of Lone Eagle Peak was nearly 7 years in the making. Time and time again I backpacked in to this high alpine lake (over 7 miles in and several thousand feet up) before I captured an image I was satisfied with.

If you enjoy buying stock images off of Etsy or have a desire for Amazon Prime turn around times, maybe this isn’t the article for you. Hey, I get it, not everyone is going to dish out hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars for a piece of art. However, if you are looking for a meaningful piece of work that connects you to a place, a story or a prior moment in the landscape and you wish to have that image last years, well then keep reading because this onion is about to get de-layered.

What Is a Fine Art Print?

So what the heck is a fine art print? Is it just some advertising slang for a “print”. Well… no. If you think a fine art print is similar to those Wallgreens print labs, notorious for detail-less shadows, terrible tint and color casts, let me shake things up on you (Also, sorry Walgreens, I mean no slander).

A cold wintery morning at Garden of the Gods is illuminated by the rising sun. When I look at this image I can almost feel the warmth of the sun contradicted by the cold mountain air. With snow having fallen all night, a natural noise dampener, the park was beautifully still and quiet.

A fine art print is produced at any number of local and national labs. Typically, a high quality photographic paper, metal, canvas or acrylic is used. Like any piece of art, photography is not resistant to the test of time and it is important that you are working with the highest quality mediums to limit any number of potential environmental degradations. This could be anything from glass with reflections that ruin the viewing of art work or colors washing out when exposed to UV light for prolonged periods. Fine art prints even take in to consideration materials used when placing the image on a mat, taking care to limit contact of the print with oils on our skin or acid on tape that may be used. Again, if you are looking for a quick turn around time on a stock image, hey that is great, but I hope that a fine art print has a much deeper purpose and meaning to my clients. Thus, I take the effort to make sure my prints are not only of the highest quality, but that they will last a lifetime.

A peaceful sunset? Anything but.. This photo was taken in howling winds with sand blasting across my camera and face. At one point, I was literally hanging on my tripod to keep my gear firmly on the ground. Although the extreme weather conditions gave this beautiful hazy look, the process of capturing this image was less than ideal.

What’s Up With the Cost?

We could take the cost of a print a couple of different ways. Going back to the onion analogy, get ready to shed some tears because I am about to pull on your heart strings.

Making a fine art print can take years and the investment is costly. Let’s take the below photo as an example.

Longs Peak, as seen during the fall on the trail to Bierstadt Lake, RMNP.

To capture this image, I had visited Bierstadt Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park probably 20 or 30 times. (That dang lake remains my arch nemesis for sunrise/sunset). And I’m not talking about visiting at noon, after a solid breakfast and leisurely coffee, this particular photo was taken after a sunrise hike. Driving from Denver (nearly a 2 hour one way drive) required waking at 3am and being in this exact location before sunrise. Now for some of you fit, extreme endurance athletes this may seem like an easy task. but strap on a tripod, 3 lenses and camera system all weighing easily 20+ pounds… (and not to mention my waistline that has easily packed on 20 pounds as well)… and it is not a trivial thing to get up at the crack of dawn to be in the right place, at the right time, to capture this image. Not to mention the financial investment to have the appropriate gear to capture this image and be able to print at a large size. Shoot, if you think it’s trivial, tell that to my wife who still has PTSD after I broke my leg not far from this trail and required a 12 hour search and rescue to get me off the mountain (probably more to do with the waistline issue mentioned above than the conditions of the hike).

Dream Lake at RMNP… not that hard of a hike, right? Well… that depends on the conditions. To capture this image you have to be in the middle of winter when the lake has frozen over. But wait, you can’t have fresh snow because then the lake is covered, but you do want some snow to create these beautiful textures. And clouds? Dont even get me started, they are either too dense and you can’t see the distant Hallet Peak, or non existent and a bland blue sky detracts from the photo. But maybe you get lucky enough that all these conditions align… now try operating your camera in what can be negative temps! It was no easy task to capture this image!

But lets say you have educated yourself on how this image was captured, have the appropriate gear and visited this particular hike time and time again so that when the conditions were just right, the stars aligned so when you click that shutter, a fine art print can be made. So you are done right?

In all honesty, the hard part has just begun. An image like the ones shown above can take a significant amount of time to edit. I often come back to an image over the course of weeks, if not months, making sure every detail is just right. As you edited a photo, it can be easy to become married to the image, failing to recognize slight color shifts, distracting elements or a lack of focus. Only after taking a break from the image and perhaps sharing with other photographers can these flaws be found and dealt with. This iterative process, depending on the complexity of a photo, can happen over months (I even have some images “marinating” for years).

Once an image is ready to be printed, a whole new iterative process begins. Each printing medium takes a different color profile, requires different levels of sharpening etc... It is not uncommon that I will adjust tonal balance, sharpening and color three, four, five or more times before an image is ready for printing!

Although photographed many times, I hope my rendition of Fall Creek Falls gives the viewer a sense of calm and peace. Although the end effect of this composition is soft, ethereal, even dreamy, the activity behind the camera was anything but. To achieve this photo, a neutral density filter that blocks light reaching the sensor must be used to slow the shutter speed and create the milky smooth waterfall look. But every second the shutter is open there are drops of mist and water accumulating on the lens. I was frantically wiping clean these water droplets while trying to capture this image. After many attempts, Mother Nature finally cooperated and I came away with this image.

What’s That Got To Do With Me?

I warned you… peeling back the onion can lead to tears. Alright, all joking aside I am not looking for your tears. After all, taking photos is a passion of mine. Finally achieving an image and holding that image in the form of a print means a great deal to me. And I suppose that is what I am most trying to convey to the viewer. Not that I broke my leg and spent way too much money on camera gear nor wasted hours in front of the computer learning the art of imagery curation. But that my images tell a story. I often sell prints not because the image is just pretty to look at, but because it conveys an emotion or helps the client relive a memory. Perhaps it’s an iconic overlook where they first popped “the question” to their significant other. Or maybe it was the feeling they had the first time they saw the aspens changing in the high country, or even just simply the gobsmacked feeling they had when looking at a grand scenic overlook. In many ways, we are connected to our landscapes and nature around us and value the natural environment. Heck, thats why millions of people trek to national parks every year. When I think about a fine art print, it’s more than a print that is technically sound, looks good printed large and stands the test of time.

Green River Overlook in Canyonlands National Park. Not a difficult hike by any means, I still appreciate this photo for how small it makes the viewer feel. When you stand at this overlook you can’t help but feel overwhelmed by the size of the landscape, it’s a powerful feeling that I hope can be relived when spending time with this image.

In a society where we are so quick to scroll to the next overly edited, contrived, dopamine inducing imagery so often seen on social media, I hope my photography achieves something deeper. Rather, when a client purchases a fine art print I hope it transports them back to a moment in time. Perhaps they can only visit these beautiful places infrequently, perhaps some of these places no longer exist, or maybe the client just want a little piece of their memory hanging on a wall to reflect back on. Whatever the reason may be for purchasing a fine art print, I hope it represents more than a snapshot that lives on a iPhone, only to be scrolled past and quickly discarded in to the archives and recesses of our mind.

Printing Your Memory:

Hopefully I haven’t lost you on this layered onion story as we talked about what a fine art print actually is. I get a lot of different questions regarding different mediums that images can be printed on as well as sizes, prices etc. I thought I would leave you with less above the shoulder musings of an aspiring hippie and instead some nitty gritty details about the printing I offer.

I’ve driven past Moraine Park in Rocky Mountain National Park more times than I can recount. It is a special place on the Bear Lake Corridor, anyone going to the classic hikes of RMNP pass through here. And yet, I’ve only seen light like this once. It was special enough I pulled over, stopped racing to find the ideal sunset spot and instead simply enjoyed the show in front of me, thinking of how many times I rushed past this spot believing there was a better view just around the corner. I’m sure there is some deep life lesson or allegory here, but I think there has been enough deep thought for one blog post.

Print Mediums

I offer prints in 4 mediums: fine art paper, metal, acrylic and float plaqs. Each has their own distinct benefits and potential downsides. Although not offered directly on the website, I do offer canvas printing after discussion with clients. Canvas, as a medium, is difficult to print landscape photography on as the details often become non existent. In addition to printing, I also offer custom mat and framing, although this does require special consultation. Finally, I try to offer standard sizes that work well with my particular images, however, if a custom size is desired, I work with clients to create the best possible crop to achieve their desired dimensions.

Just a couple of horses? I hope the image says more than that. These two wild horses were photographed in Moab. Using a telephoto lens I stood back at a distance, waiting for the light to be just right, for over an hour. Patiently waiting allowed me to document a more intimate, meaningful photo. I’ve yet to capture horses in the wild like this again.

Fine Art Paper:

An acid-free, premium paper that is slightly textured with a luster surface. This fine art paper has a beautiful three dimensional feel with finely balanced landscape colors. Finally, the UV coated, water resistant finish produces a durable final product.

Cost:

8’’x12’’: 100$

18’’x24’’: 400$

24’’x32’’: 700$

30’’x40’’: 1,100$

54’’x72’’: 2,500$

Metal:

Unlike classically used papers, metal prints are created by infusing dyes directly into a sheet of aluminum, resulting in incredible quality. This process leads to images that are often deeply vibrant, colorful and striking. Using this process, metal prints are resistant to fading and moisture, while the print remains easy to maintain. One downside to metal prints is they can look quite different under different light conditions. In dark, poorly lit rooms these mediums can fall flat. On the contrary, metal prints with direct light may have a reflection or glare that limits its viewing. These prints do best with specific track lighting to showcase their beautiful qualities.

cost

8’’x12’’: 150$

18’’x24’’: 475$

24’’x32’’: 800$

30’’x40’’: 1,200$

Acrylic:

The gold standard in fine art printing, acrylic prints have a beautiful resolution, clarity and vibrancy. The images often appear backlit and give a stunning three dimensional view. In addition to the stunning quality of the image, the protective acrylic front limits degradation over the years. Finally, all acrylic products include a UV resistant and no glare finish. This product is the spare no expensive, Cadillac, Crème de la crème for the most serious of art collectors. Each piece is gallery quality, UV protected and anti glare. The edges are a luxury polish finish with a protective backer to assure your art piece stands the test of time. Finally, instead of composite material, a wooden floating frame is attached to the back along with a elegant French cleat. These constellation of features produces a archival quality product with finishing touches that match the highest possible quality in fine art printing. For any fine art acrylic printing a free consultation, mock interior and discussion of features is provided.

Cost:

8’’x12’’: $750

18’’x24’’: $950

24’’x32’’: $1,500

30’’x40’’: $2,250

54’’x72’’: $5,500

Float Plaqs:

Float Plaqs are gallery quality, ready to be hung art. This medium uses the same satin paper mounted to an acid free surface with a beveled edge and hidden French cleat. This process creates a “floating” piece of artwork that has become popular in galleries across the United States. No framing necessary and installation is a breeze.

Example showcasing the “floating” system and beveled edge

Cost:

8’’x12’’: $200

18’’x24’’: $550

24’’x32’’: $900

30’’x40’’: $1500

Specialty Products:

READY TO PURCHASE, READY TO HANG, AT DISCOUNTED PRICES ONLY AVAILABLE THROUGH THIS BLOG POST

Through tireless editing and printing, I have several pieces of art work ready to hang today. Most print processes can take 4-6 weeks before the customer has their image ready to hang in their own home. These below specialty products are not only finished, but ready to be hung in your home today!

Icon Series: Antelope Canyon

Design: fine art print on satin paper with museum quality mat, walnut frame and UV resistant glass.

Size (with frame): 40 3/4’’ x 55’’

Price: $1,950 (over $2,999)

Ready to hang, this satin fine art paper comes with museum quality mat and frame, specifically created for this particular image.

Fiery Alto:

This stunningly vibrant sunset, to date, is one of the best I’ve ever photographed. I chose a premium metal print to help showcase the beautiful colors in this image. Finally, the triptych presentation allows the eye to naturally explore the distinct areas of this photo and creates a compelling, original piece of art work.

Design: metal triptych in three panels

Size: 3 panels measuring…

42’’x15’’ for the two smaller panels flanking a middle panel 42’’x26’’

Price: $1,999 (regular pricing for custom triptych over $2,500)

Icon Series: Horseshoe Bend: (pictured below)

Design: satin fine art paper on a gallery float plaq

Size: 48’’x32’’

Price: $1,450 (regular pricing over $2,000)

Various Float Plaqs:

These images are popular enough that I keep 1-2 pieces on hand at all times. Ready to hang today with a French cleat, these beautiful gallery quality mounts look stunning in any light.

Design: satin fine art paper on gallery float plaq

Size: ranging from roughly 18’’x16’’ to 20’’x14’’

Cost: $199 (regular pricing over $600 dollars)

Mills Lake Scare (pictured below) 18’’x16’’