While reflecting on the reason why I work at producing photographs I have concluded that in the final analysis I want to remember and to be remembered. To remember where i’ve been and what I have seen. Photography gives me the means to do that plus what seems to me to be the perfect synthesis of science and art, the technical and ethereal. That remains true whether the image was produced using chemical and mechanical processes or electrons on a computer screen and tiny splotches of colored ink on a paper substrate.
These images by themselves mean nothing but when the reflected or transmitted photons reach the brain they revive synapses that evoke the feelings experienced when the photo was first recorded whether on film or a photosensitive chip.
We photographers all have different and diverse motivations to spend excessive amounts of time, energy, money and risk in an attempt to communicate to others what we have seen, experienced and felt at the moment the shutter was released. The best photographs produced by all of this effort touch the intellect and the soul of the observer and produce a strong positive or negative emotional response. It does not concern me which response the image gets as long as it makes a change in the observers view of the world. Then I have done my job.
My background includes over 50 years involvement in the graphic arts. I was apprenticed as a letterpress operator running Heidelberg Windmills, Kluge clamshell presses and lithography. For seven years after that I worked on large format lithography presses including four color process litho presses of 38”, 40”, 50”, 60 and 77” two color, four color and five color machines. In my early thirties I began in printing sales, eventually starting my own print brokerage. As part of my brokerage business I worked as a consultant to Anheuser-Busch Inc. handling Mr. Busch’s personal printing needs plus promotional activities. While doing this I was approached to establish a foil stamping and embossing company to assist in producing the corporate stationery and other finishing needs for their in-house printing division. I sold my interests in those businesses after 6 years to move to Denver where I started another wholesale foil/emboss operation. I closed that business after 5 years to retire to a home I built in the Rocky Mountains. After completing construction I began working as a real estate photographer concentrating on homes in the resort areas of Vail, Breckenridge, Snowmass, Keystone, Copper Mountain and Gypsum.
Over the years I have been able to travel extensively in the United States and a few places overseas. I make my own prints on an Epson 17” P900 and a 44” P9000 both of which are 10 colors machines. I print primarily on Epson Lustre and Epson Lustre Metallic as well as various art stocks. Sizes from 4” x 5” through 44” x 100’ are accommodated.
Thank you for taking the time and making the effort to observe my photographs. For any feedback you would like to make please email me at patrick@3rdrockphoto.com.
Winter Tree - Jackson Hole, Wyoming