Uncategorized

Black/white photography show

Leave a comment

For Immediate Release

Walking Through WNC: An Exhibit of Photographs by Vagabond Photo Walks Members 

Opening reception and show set featuring photography of western North Carolina towns

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – A collection of black-and-white images documenting sights and personalities through western North Carolina will go on display starting August 22 when “Walking Through WNC: An Exhibit of Black-and-White Photographs by the Vagabond Photo Walks Group” opens with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. at Texture Gallery & Art Bar, located at 1516 Patton Avenue, Asheville, NC. 

Photographs in the show are the results of Vagabond Photo Walks MeetUp members roaming together with their cameras through various parts of Asheville, as well as the towns of Black Mountain, Waynesville, Weaverville, Brevard, Hendersonville, Old Fort, Marshall and Hot Springs. The theme for this year’s show is “Black & White”.

The group is made up of beginning photographers, hobbyists, and professionals. Though this is the fourth year running for the group exhibition, for many of the artists, this is the first time they have exhibited their work. The group is part of MeetUp.com, a network of local groups aimed at revitalizing local communities and helping people around the world to self-organize. 

Professional photographer and instructor David Simchock started this creative community in 2014 and serves as its walk guide and mentor. 

“We get together because we love photography, and we are interested in documenting life in western North Carolina, making friends, improving our skills, and expanding creative comfort zones.,” Simchock said. Secondary to that, he believes the group’s work at continuously documenting everyday life in WNC creates a valuable record of how the area changes year over year, particularly in Asheville. “Adding all of our work together, the number of images runs in the thousands, as the group has been together for over five years, and over 100 events have taken place in that period.

Patrice Murillo, owner of Texture Gallery & Art Bar where the show is being held is very excited about the initiative, “Not only is Texture a wonderful space to display art, it is a studio where artists of all levels come to learn, play and create. Since we hosted the inaugural VPW show in 2016 at our previous location, it was a natural fit for us to host their 2019 show at our new location.”  

Opening reception attendees will see images of urban scenes depicting street festivals, breweries, musicians and markets. Photo styles range from minimalist interpretations to dynamic storytelling. About 45 photographs by 15 group members will be on display.

Many of the artists will be in attendance at the reception. Refreshments will be served, and the event is free and open to the public. The show will be up through October 22. In addition to the reception, the gallery is open from 10:30am to 6:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Sunday and Monday hours are by appointment by calling 828.484.1240.

All art is for sale, unless otherwise specified by the artist.

About Vagabond Photo Walks Group

Vagabond Photo Walks is a MeetUp.com group created by David Simchock. He started the group in early 2014 because he sensed that there were a lot of photography hobbyists in the area who wanted to get out shooting, but not necessarily do it alone. “The Asheville area is filled with transplants from other parts of the country, and a common reason that folks join MeetUp is that they want to meet some new friends,” he said. “The MeetUp is going strong after over five years in existence, with new members joining every week, and new events planned every month.”

Vagabond Photo Walks members may use any kind of camera they wish – from camera phones to pro-level DSLR cameras. All skill levels are welcome.

Currently, there are more than 700 members, though typical outings have about 10 to 20 participants. Walks take place two or three times each month with lesser frequency in winter months. New members are always welcome, and it’s free to join. Most photo walks are free, however, some specialty events may require a nominal fee. 

To sign up for the group, visit https://www.meetup.com/Vagabond-Photo-Walks/

###

About David J. Simchock: A native of New Jersey now residing in Brevard, NC, David is a freelance photographer, artist and educator. His images have appeared in major publications around the world, and he has exhibited his work in galleries and venues from New York City to Asheville. David’s efforts have been awarded prestigious accolades, while his life story and career have been covered in several publications, on-line, and TV features. David is also an educator and speaker and is the Chief Creative Nomad of his full-service photography instruction company, Vagabond Vistas Photo Tours.  Vagabond Vistas is based in Asheville, but active globally. www.VagabondVistas.com 

His photography / art business can also be found on line at: http://www.DavidSimchock.com

About Patrice Kennedy Murillo and Texture Gallery & Art Bar:  Patrice took up photography in 1989 and has had an ever-growing love and passion that has grown into a successful business. Her company, Indulge Images, is most known for the various events it works on the road. She and her husband, Manuel Murillo, operate Texture Gallery & Art Bar, a venue that is not only an art gallery hosting local, regional and international artists, but is also a working studio where artists of all levels can learn, play and create. The gallery offers professional picture framing and printing, working with the highest quality of materials available on the market at an affordable price. Art Bar supplies a wide variety of art supplies to be used in-house and doubles as a dedicated classroom for top-notch instruction. Texture is also available for parties and events. 

Uncategorized

New Service Time!

Leave a comment

Starting July 27, 2019, every Saturday of the month will be for pick up and drop off only of your prints/slides/canvas orders. Meaning, we will not be printing on this day.

YES, you can still bring in your items throughout the week, but now, Saturdays will be for picking up your items or dropping off your items only.

We are excited to offer this as its a way for us to keep the doors open for YOU on the weekend, and still a way for us to travel and work with our long distance photography clients at the same time.

IF YOU HAVE A SUPER RUSH-NEED-IT-NOW-EMERGENCY-ORDER that has to be done same day (on a saturday), there is a slight chance we can make some calls, and make it happen. But no promises. So let’s just go with it’s a pick up and drop off only type of thing.

Uncategorized

Spring into summer with a camera in your hand

Leave a comment

1) Take Photo Walks –

Go out and see the beauty of the world without distraction. Put your computer on sleep mode, turn off the TV, call a friend (or not), grab your camera and go on a walk. A Photo Walk is just what it sounds like: you go on a walk somewhere interesting and take photos if anything looks amazing or interesting. If you can do this at least once a week from 30 minutes to an hour, you will be amazing at what you can find. If you are local, look into joining up with famed photographer David Simchock with Vagabond Photo Walks in WNC.

2) Wake up early. See the sun rise over the world.

Waking up at 4am to trek up a mountain or to a vista carrying all of your gear just to take pictures may not sound like fun, but it can be extremely rewarding.

The most beautiful light of the day for photographs is either sunrise or sunset, also known as “golden hour”. With the sun low in the horizon, it gives your images the color, clarity and contrast that you will never get in the middle of the day when the sun is at its fullest. Need some inspirations to get up one day, check out my friend Stacy Redmon and his incredible images at Red Rock Photography


3 Experience all of the seasons: winter, spring, summer and fall

I happen to live in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina. We get all four seasons here, though some are longer or shorter depending on the year. But most days are simply lovely and great for taking out the camera.

Got out and pick a tree, a location, or vista you like and make that “your spot for the season”. Take a photo or two each season from the same view point. The way it changes by season will surely surprise you as you look back on them. Did you remember when the trees were bare? Or when the green buds were just starting out? what about when the leaves were in full color? Using your camera will help you experience these things as you work to capture the beauty that each season has to offer.


Uncategorized

Hours May Change Daily

Leave a comment

Our hours may change on a daily basis for the next few weeks as we are out in the community working on projects with clients. You can always email us your images and we will be sure to get them printed for you in a timely manner. Just keep an eye on social media for hours when we may not be here. It is always best to give us a call first whenever possible. IF it does go to voicemail, there is a VERY good chance we are not in the studio at the time.

Thursday June 3, 2019 we will be open from 1:30-6pm ONLY

We will be closed from June 16, 17,18 and 19th. And open again June 20, 21 and 22.

Please understand that we do a lot of things but will always be checking our email and voicemail and will make your project a priority!

Thank you for your continued support and growth in our new location.

Editing, Photography

Why print Quality matters

Leave a comment
DSP Fine Art Photography
Image result for epson surecolor p6000 printer

There are always articles floating about about print quality, our friend, and talented photographer, Dave Simchock recently shared this post on his site.

Remember, here at French Broad Imaging, we provide the highest quality products with not only printing, but with custom framing as well.

Have you ever purchased, or thought about purchasing, a print from a photographer?

Did you know that not all photography prints are alike? 

Not only does the quality of the actual prints vary from one lab or printer to the next, but if you are buying “ready-to-hang” framed matted print behind glass, then there are a few other things that you should be aware of before making your purchase.

FINE ART PRINTS: When buying prints, always make sure that the photographer is providing archival-quality prints that will stand the test of time. Such prints require special paper and inks which, of course, cost more than the economy versions. The last thing  you want to do is buy a print that you believe to be a good deal, only to find that it fades in a matter of months after purchase. Archival prints are typically rated at 100+ years. So, always ask the artist if their prints are “archival”. If they are not, or the artist doesn’t know, or stumbles with with question, then beware.

DSP Fine Art PhotographyCANVAS PRINTS & UV COATINGS: Canvas gallery wraps are now very popular with fine art photographers and their buyers. And, like fine art (paper) prints, there is a wide range of quality in papers, inks, and printing processes. Many high-end photo printers can print on both paper and canvas, and would use the same archival-quality inks for both mediums. Be sure to ask about this when buying. Another very important question to ask the artist is whether their canvas prints have been sprayed / coated with a UV-protectant veneer. Some artists skip this step, as it takes more time and costs more money to prepare. As a buyer, I recommend that you inquire about this, and if the artist is not coating their canvas prints, then pass. Yes, their prices may be cheaper as a result, but the longevity of your investment may be in question.

MATTING & BACKING: This is another area where some artists cut corners in order to save on costs. Higher-end materials are “acid-free”, which help to preserve the integrity of the print. If you are buying a matted print that you will frame yourself, be sure to ask the artist if they are using acid-free materials in their mounting and matting. If not, then beware that you may be getting an inferior product that can deteriorate much quicker than it should.

UV GLASS: It is always worth investing a few more bucks into a higher-quality glass for framed prints. Usually, the glass that comes with ready-made frames is very fragile, and not UV-protective. So, if you buy a matted print from an artist (acid-free materials, of course), and you want to put it into a ready-made frame that comes with glass, it is always best to pop out the glass that comes with the frame and buy a piece of glass that is UV-protective. If you are using a standard size such as 11″ x 14″ or 16″ x 20″, then the local framing or art shop should have these readily available, and they won’t need to be cut to size. If the artist is selling their work framed and under glass, then be sure to ask them if the glass is UV-protective. As a side note, not only is the UV glass better for preserving your art, but it is also much stronger and does not break nearly as easy as the cheaper glass.

CONCLUSION: Basically, when you are buying photo art, like anything else you want to be an informed consumer. If you go to a lot of art shows, there is often a good reason why some fine art photographers are more expensive than others, and that reason goes beyond their professional reputation. It is often a reflection of the quality of the materials that they use in presenting their work, and not just the quality of the images themselves. There is, indeed, a difference between investing in a piece of artwork, and buying a poster.

The moral of the story is… Always ask questions when making an art purchase. It’s just not worth saving a few dollars only to find that the great deal you picked up at the local art show is only going to survive a year or two, or less, on your living room or office wall.

To see more from our talented friend, Dave Simchock, please visit his site!

https://www.davidsimchock.com/blog/2019/4/not-all-fine-art-photo-prints-are-the-same


Asheville's Best Photo Prints