How I work

I have high expectations of myself, preferring to get it right in camera. I walk a long way to get my Landscapes, who knows when or if I will be able to get back to the shot. I have been known to use Google Earth to scout shots. I am on the Autism Spectrum, somewhere, as such some things are super important to me, and I sometimes get locked into a mindset that may not work. Ha! That doesn’t stop me from bashing my head against it for way too long.

For example, I have been honing a specific set of photography skills over the last 6 years (wait this is ever changing… ok as of 2018), that give me an outcome that quite closely meets my expectations. But it is so randomly fiddly and environmentally risky that it is by no means a slam dunk every time. I will get to this directly. The upshot of many failures was an eventual acceptance that simple but clean shots are well worthwhile too, there are many of these on this site.

So these skills are Focus Stacking and Panorama. Conjoining these ‘different twins’ can be so damned difficult. Why? Environmental movement and changing light. Time baby. The gear. And software in post-process, Helicon Focus (focus stacking) and PTGui (stitching).

Helicon is damn good, the basic assumption is that it’s use is for macro shooting. Ok, but I am making it work with landscapes to increase depth of field - but ya don’t have to because they are far away and you can set the aperture and put everything in focus. Not if you want foreground features in sharp focus as well, and boy do I want that. Ok, so using a wide angle lens it will provide everything you want. Not is you want to retain perspective in your image. Use a shift lens. Most of those begin and end at 35mm and I do not want to use that focal length. Almost everyone uses wide and super wide angel to shoot Landscapes, which is wider than 35mm even. Don’t get me wrong, I think wide angel is fine for what it is, it is just not what I see.

Perspective. I want to retain it. Or even enhance it by introducing some compression. So I look at mid-teles, normals (50mm-50mm+) can work, more on that later. I have been working with 135mmm, which can be magic, but it ain’t easy either. I think the sweet spot will end up being 85mm. Hence the Panorama.

Additionally, you need to learn the lens to determine how to step in such a way that do a ‘complete’ cover of focus from foreground to background, and that isn’t linear. I have the aperture/focus distance/depth of cover data for one of my lenses (Ziess Loxia 50/2), and it works really well. But I am not convinced 50mm is ideal to retain perspective (give the behavior of PTGui later in the process - checkout the blog. Why go to all that trouble? Well too me it seems that when you do this accurately and the environment is good; you get a weird almost 3D depth in your image that is like the best food I have ever eaten. You begin to understand that the perception of the space between things also matters. Fortunately the Ziess Batis range of lens provide: focus distance; near focus distance; and far focus distance; and of course focus peaking to top that off. While not perfect it is extremely helpful.

PTGui Panorama, well yes I think maybe the coders are crazy wide angle junkies. They seem hellbent on making the resulting image with a wider angle than the lens you shot it with. Thankfully they provide several projections that tweak this. A bit. Not ideal. Or rather not what I want. You will see this in my images.

If you prefer wide angle, and given what I have just described, you would be insane not to - look at the scene; shoot the image; compare it to what you see. It’s different, right? That feature in the background has receded so far back, whatever drama it had is gone. I will never accept this outcome.

NB I am attempting to make a living by being, in the field. I may not always be available, so please be patient for contact. I will provide a notification banner on the site to define the duration of absence.

Printing & Shipping & Returns

I do not do the printing. I use a service provided by Print Art, they do great work using excellent paper. The paper we are using is Iford Gold Fibre Gloss 310gsm Baryta Finish.
The print sizes mentioned are actually the original size of the paper. From there we provide a 3” margin. Additionally, when the aspect ratio is unconstrained, does not conform to traditional aspect ratios,.eg 2x3, 3x4, 16x9 - the print is trimmed leaving that 3” margin. My composition wins, one original dimension no longer conforms. In this case less is more.
PrintArt will ship on my behalf, using NZ Post.
Note I have been advised of price changes for printing and shipping. I will update prices when they do. Shipping
I was unable to integrate a live shipping component into this site, the technology is narrow. This does not work with the workflow I am currently locked into.
Instead I have implemented a Squarespace flat rate shipping mechanism. Due to the sizes of my prints, the mail tubes are in 2 sizes which are the same price, therefore I am able to charge $NZ95.00 for all international shipping.
Unfortunately, with the flat rate the cost is higher than it should be in New Zealand. Therefore I have implemented a number of NZ Regional Discounts that can be applied at payment.This process is not automatic, I will need to generate a one time only code and send you the code for you to put into the field. For verification that the appropriate discount is being offered (there may be times when cost updates have not yet been applied). Please communicate this to me together we will correct the shortfall. This information will coincide with PrintArt Shipping.
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Terms

Returns: The process of determining any fault with a print, must come to me. Email me your valid contact details by using the site Contact Page. Remember that the Printer does a thorough quality control assessment before packaging, but please contact me if you find a problem, and we will start a dialog.
Criteria: The client is responsible for detailing the issue with accurate descriptions and images, to help the process. Their concern must be clear at all times. I will then begin, with the Printer; to determine responsibility. The Printer assumes responsibility for shipping. Both Printer and Postal Service guarantee their work.
Printing By PrintArt who guarantee their work. They are excellent and extremely professional, which is great for me. If there is a print issue they will re-print and resend to the client at not cost to the client.
Shipping is done by NZ Post, with full insurance, if they damage it they pay the Printer to re-print and it is shipped once more. The packaging is solid, but everyone accepts that some times it happens.
The payment component is handled by Stripe.
Donations are currently put towards placing this site in front of people who wish to buy prints. In the future I may set up a Donation channel to donate to a specific cause/charity. Details on that will be provided.
We do not have a physical shop address, and carry no physical materials. Any address provided, is where I live.
When Order(s) comes in, I place it with the Printer who adds it to their job list. When in is printed, and dried, it is placed into a shipping tube and sent to the client using NZ Post. I am then advised and notify the client.
I am point of contact in all matters.
Privacy: I do not keep client information, unless they wish to subscribe. I do not share private information.