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Gallery Director Anne Kelly shares Prom Gown #1, by Tom Chambers

This week we're excited to share the recording of the recent online event hosted by the Santa Fe Workshops, as part of their Creativity Continues series. Anne Kelly, the Gallery Director of photo-eye Gallery, and the director of The Rubin Collection, Michael Rubin, took us on a delightful journey through the enchanting world of collecting photography and the sheer joy of collecting in general.

Collecting is all about the thrill of acquiring and organizing items that tickle our fancy — whether it's stamps, coins, mesmerizing photographs or something else. It's a gratifying pastime that allows us to express our creativity and wholeheartedly indulge in our passions.

For Anne and Rubin, collecting photography is more than just a hobby — it's a way of life. As a passionate gallery director, Anne not only manages the gallery's impressive collection but also assists fellow enthusiasts in building and nurturing their own treasured collections. She curates captivating exhibitions and supports the artists represented by the gallery.

Rubin, with his lifelong love of collecting, has seamlessly woven his passion for photography into his journey. As both a dedicated collector and an accomplished photographer, he collaborated with his father on The Rubin Collection. Today, he continues to share his extraordinary collection with others, including recent classes held by Santa Fe Workshops.

Now, we invite you to dive into the recording of this special workshop, where Anne and Rubin share their valuable insights into the world of collecting photography. Gain a deeper understanding of this art form, gather practical tips for building and managing your own collection, and explore the profound connection between creativity and collecting.

>> Collecting Tips: Understanding the Print Process <<

>> 5 Tips to Start Collecting Photography by Gallery Director Anne Kelly <<

Gallery Director Anne Kelly, Portrait by Dave Hyams

Anne Kelly is the Director of photo-eye Gallery in Santa Fe, NM, and has been with the company since 2006, producing over 80 exhibitions. Established in 1991, photo-eye Gallery is a premier contemporary photography gallery representing both established and emerging photographers. Her interest in photography developed at an early age, influenced by her mother’s love for the medium. In addition, Kelly is a highly engaged portfolio reviewer for several arts groups and organizations across the country, both in-person and online, providing feedback, critique, and discourse. As an active supporter of the arts, Kelly has been described as enthusiastic, tenacious, and curious and is an occasional contributor to Analog Forever Magazine.

Director & Photographer Michael Rubin, portrait by Angela Allen

Michael Rubin has been a photographer and collector for more than 40 years, newly relocated to Santa Fe after decades in the Bay Area. As a young protégé of Jerry Uelsmann, he began by creating images that were both composed and surreal. Rubin’s work continues to meld the surreal with the intimate; he embraces the passion of the amateur and evangelizes photographic exploration for consumers. He manages a photo collection of thousands of classical works of mid-century modernism, always incorporated into his workshops, and has spent the past years developing this new curriculum in photographic education.

Concurrent with photography, he has had an entrepreneurial career that has spanned industries such as publishing, consumer retail, entertainment media, and technology. Career highlights include Lucasfilm, Netflix, and Adobe. He has had editing and post-production roles on numerous television and movie projects, including the miniseries “Lonesome Dove,” and the Bertolucci feature “The Sheltering Sky.”

* * *

If you are in Santa Fe, please stop by during gallery hours or schedule a Virtual Visit HERE.

For more information, and to reserve one of these unique, extraordinary new works,

please contact photo-eye Gallery Director Anne Kelly or Gallery Associate Jovi Esquivel.

photo-eye Gallery

1300 Rufina Circle, Unit A3, Santa Fe, NM 87507

Tuesday– Saturday, from 10am– 5:30pm

You may also call us at (505) 988- 5152 x202

Jo Whaley, Magnolia, 2016, archival pigment print, 2020, 14" x 24," edition of 25, $2000

"Every work of art has a story — who made it, how, when, and what it means — hanging it in your home makes its story a part of your own."

— Anne Kelly

Some people buy photographs as an investment, they hope for a profit once an artist becomes more established. Others collect photographs simply because they resonate with an image, and want to display and enjoy it. What should you look for when collecting photography? Anne Kelly, our gallery director is here to advise. With her expertise in photography, Anne has a keen eye on what to look for. Check out the links below for her top tips on collecting photography.

» 5 Tips to Start Collecting Photography

» Collecting Tips: Understanding the Print Process

Anne Kelly by David Hyams

Also included in this post are some excellent print recommendations to start your collection.

See below!

Mitch Dobrowner, Mammatus, 2016, archival pigment print, 2020, 14" x 20," edition of 40, $1500

"Get familiar with the kind of work we offer by taking a look at the website and get a feeling for the kind of work you most respond to most — what affects you, what delights you, and what does the work generally cost."

Julie Blackmon, Night Windows, 2016, archival pigment print, 2020, 22" x 29," edition of 25, $3100

"If your collecting budget is on the conservative side, take look at the Photographer's Showcase. The Showcase primarily features works by emerging artists, photographer's new or fairly new on the scene, and the prints tend to be more affordable."

Bryant Austin, Solar Transit of Coastal Valley Oak - Carmel CA, 2016, archival pigment print, 2020, 22" x 15," edition of 10, $3400

"So much great work is being produced, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Chose an aspect of the work you respond to that serves to unite and focus your collection."

James Pitts, Single White Tulip in Round Black Vase, archival pigment ink print, 19 x 15," edition of 10, $1200

"Because of our access, we can also find you sold out works, only available on the secondary market."

Kate Breakey, Cicada, archival pigment ink on glass, 24kt gold leaf, 3 x 5," edition of 20, $970

"Reach out. Build a relationship with Patricia or myself, and we can guide you through the process. ASK US ANYTHING – sometimes collecting can be jargon-heavy, and we can help make sense of it for you!"

• • • • •

All prices listed were current at the time this post was published.

For more information, and to purchase prints, please contact Gallery Director Anne Kelly or Gallery Assistant Patricia Martin, or you may also call us at 505-988-5152 x202

Spider Chrysanthemum, Archival Pigment Ink on Glass, 24kt Gold Leaf, 4x4" Image, Framed, $950
© Kate Breakey

As the year winds down and the holiday season approaches we have been reflecting and revisiting images that have stuck with us over the years. Because we are lucky enough to be immersed in photography every day, our list of favorites is naturally rather extensive and in an attempt to prune the list down so that every image gets the attention it deserves we are focusing on photographs that are $1000 or less – prints that could be a great gift for others OR for yourself! As we mentioned earlier this year in our Collecting Guide, setting a limit, like a budget or a genre, is an excellent way to center in on purchasing the right piece.

If any of the images speak to you, please reach out to us, we would love to tell you more about the images and the artists.

— Anne, Lucas, and Savannah

Tom Chambers
Edge of a Dream
Archival Pigment Print
14x14" Image
Edition of 20
$950

Laurie Tümer
Cloud No. 0001
Archival Pigment Print
5x3" Image
Edition of 10
$500

Douglas Levere
Snowflake 2014.02.16.024
Archival Pigment Print
12x12" Image
Edition of 10
$500

Karl Blossfeldt
Plate 111 - Campanula alliarifolia, Spurred Bellflower
Photogravure
10x8" Image
$285

Amy Friend
It Could Be Anywhere
Archival Pigment Print
17x18" Image
Edition of 10
$695

James Pitts
Clover Flower, 1994
Platinum/Palladium Print
11x8" Image
Edition of 50
$750

Zoë Zimmerman
Origin, 2007
Albumen Print
10x8" Image
Edition of 24
$900

David H. Gibson
Grasses and Reflections, Eagle Nest Lake, New Mexico
Gelatin-Silver Print
8x23" Image
Edition of 48
$800

Limited Edition of A Clearing by represented artist Raymond Meeks – Hardcover w/ Slipcase & Artist Made Print

Silver Gelatin Print included in the limited edition of A Clearing

Raymond Meeks
A Clearing
Limited Edition Hardcover Monograph with Silver Gelatin Print
Nazraeli Press, Tucson, 2008. 48 pp., 34 duotone plates
12x17"

The limited edition of A Clearing comes with a gelatin silver print (approximately the size of the hardcover book) housed in a clam-shell box in an edition of 25.

$675

Rachel Phillips
Hoffeld Lake House
Pigment Transfer to Antique Envelope
4.5x6" Image
$650

http://www.photoeye.com/gallery/forms2/index.cfm?image=1&id=68149&imagePosition=1&Door=1&Portfolio=Portfolio10&Gallery=1&Page=#LBimage034

Pentti Sammallahti
Western Cape, South Africa, 2002
Gelatin-Silver Print
2.8x3.8" Image
$800

Steve Fitch
Wakefield, Michigan, May, 1989
Archival Pigment Print
12x12" Image
$450

Jo Whaley
Papilionidae, 2010
Pigment Ink Photograph
8x10" Image
Edition of 10
$900

» Inquire about Purchasing Prints

» Read – Collecting Tips: Understanding the Print Process

For more information, and to purchase prints, please contact Gallery Staff at

505-988-5152 x202 or gallery@photoeye.com

For some time I've been ruminating on a series about collecting photography to help demystify the process. This summer we kicked off the series with a piece highlighting 5 basic tips to start your collection and then moved into some of our staff’s favorite images. Today we are going to bring our focus back to the basics by defining four common types of photographic prints, their strengths, and why to collect them.

NOW is a very exciting time for photography. New technologies have created unforeseen printing possibilities but have also caused a resurgence in classic processes — resulting in a slew of possibilities and a longer glossary of terms. The range of what is considered 'photographic' has and is expanding. Occasionally, gallery visitors get caught up between the type of print and the process of creating the photographic image, and typically the two are related, although they don't need to be. This post is a guide to four of the most common types of photographic prints, how they are made, and why they may be a good fit for your collection.

– Anne Kelly, Gallery Director

Silver-Gelatin Prints

Capodacqua Lake, Capestrano, Abruzzo, Italy, 2016, Gelatin-Silver Print, 8x8" Image, Edition of 25, $3000
© Michael Kenna

Silver-Gelatin prints are papers coated with a layer of gelatin emulsion containing light sensitive silver salts and typically made from a film negative in the black and white darkroom. Introduced in the 1870’s, these prints became a favorable black and white print type from the turn of the 19th century to present day.

Photographers and collectors alike can always appreciate a gorgeous gelatin silver print for its rich tonal value and unique surface. For over a century, the traditional silver print has remained as a fundamental printing method and quintessential representative for the medium’s history.

Select Artists making Silver-Gelatin Prints:
Michael Kenna
Pentti Sammallahti
Edward Ranney
Hiroshi Watanabe
David H. Gibson
Mark Klett
Raymond Meeks
John Delaney
Steve Fitch

Archival Pigment Prints

Cloud caster, 2013, Archival Pigment Print,8x8” Image, Edition of 15, $1500– © Maggie Taylor

Archival Pigment Prints are nearly ubiquitous these days as many photographers continue to move their work out of the darkroom and onto the computer. Originating as a digital file, either from a camera or scanner, Archival Pigment Prints are created on professional inkjet printers utilizing refined particles of tonal pigment resilient to degrading environmental elements. Ok, what does that mean? Essentially Archival Pigment Prints offer exquisite rich tone, black-and white or color, and can last for hundreds of years – far longer than the traditional chemical color C-Print.

In the past ten years, we've also seen a renaissance in paper choice for Archival Pigment Printers, including thick matte cotton rag and the introduction of a clay base just like Silver-Gelatin Prints. These papers have been especially freeing for color photographers who were previously limited to plastic based resin coated papers. We love materials at photo-eye and how they can affect the interpretation and feeling of an image.

Far from push-button, mastering Pigment Printing means possessing an intense understanding of your materials, including paper, ink choice, and the profiles used to transform a digital file into a physical object.

Select Artists Making Archival Pigment Prints:
Maggie Taylor
Julie Blackmon
Mitch Dobrowner
Tom Chambers
Jock Sturges
Jamie Stillings
Laurie Tümer
Richard Tuschman
Brad Wilson
Zoë Zimmerman

Chromogenic Prints

Red Curtain, 2016, Chromogenic Print, 14x14" Image, Edition of 10, $2500 – © Cig Harvey

Chromogenic Prints, or C-Prints, are made from a color negative, slide, or digital image (known as a digital C – print). A color photograph in which the paper has three emulsion layers of light sensitive silver salts. Each layer is sensitized to a different primary color - red, blue or green. During processing, chemicals are added that form dyes of the appropriate color in the emulsion layers. The silver salts are bleached out and only the color dyes remain. This process was developed in the 1930s and became quite popular upon Kodak’s introduction of Kodacolor film produced from 1942 to 1963. C – prints remained as the most common color printing method until the recent shift to archival pigment prints.

Chromogenic prints often speak to photographers and collectors with a more traditional or purist approach to the medium. What makes these color prints unique, or stand apart from more contemporary pigment prints, is that they are made from an exposure that requires light – photography’s key ingredient.

Select Artists Making C-Prints:
Cig Harvey
Terri Weifenbach
Carla van de Puttelaar
Liz Hickok

Platinum Prints

Dried Clematis Blossom, 1995, Platinum/Palladium Print, 10x8" Image, Edition of 25, $750 – © James Pitts

Like most other alternative photographic processes, the Platinum Print's roots stretch back to the nineteenth century. Born of noble metals, platinum prints became prominent among photographers in the late 1800s and early 1900s as photographer's sought to elevate the medium's artistic status by creating images both elegant and handmade.

The platinum printing technique consists of hand-sensitizing fine cotton rag paper with a custom emulsion cocktail built specifically for each image. Once dry, negatives are laid against the paper and contact printed via a UV light source — such as the sun. The procedure is specific, peculiar, and laborious, with a single platinum print sometimes taking up to eight hours to render.

Although complicated, the aesthetic and archival benefits of using platinum materials is astonishing. Compared to contemporary printing procedures, platinum prints exhibit a long and graceful tonal range, deep luscious blacks, a sense of three-dimensionality, and unique luminous quality. When properly cared for, platinum prints are also very permanent and can last thousands of years.

Select Artists making Platinum Prints

• James Pitts (above)

• Ronald Cowie

• Teri Havens

• Nick Brandt
• Bob Cornelis

For more information and to purchase prints please contact

Gallery Staff at 505.988.5152 x 202 or gallery@photoeye.com

Works by Brad Wilson installed at photo-eye Gallery

If you've contemplated collecting prints and just didn't know where to start or even think it was possible – well, this is your guide. In my 10 years at photo-eye Gallery, I've heard anxieties from people considering collecting their first print, sometimes even apologizing for not knowing more about photographic processes, a specific artist, or collecting work. Don't panic – you don’t need a degree in Art History to appreciate or collect photographic prints. In fact, informing clients about photography, and giving them the details they need to select the right photograph to start, or continue, their collection as become an absolute passion for me during my time at photo-eye.

Beginning today, Gallery Associates Savannah Sakry and Lucas Shaffer, as well as myself, are launching a blog series aimed at answering many of the questions frequently asked about collecting, and I want to begin with 5 Tips to get your collection started:

Unpacking Tom Chamber's 20 x 20" print,
A View from The Bridge

#1 Collect Work You Love

This one may sound simple, but it's perhaps the most critical piece of advice: love the works you collect and don't make the mistake of trading artwork like stocks and bonds.

Artworks, including photographic prints, have value, and while some of that value is certainly monetary the real value is the experience of enjoying, contemplating, and adoring an original print in your home for years. I can attest to this myself, and the experience of viewing an original artist-made work in your home on a daily basis is a game-changer.

Every work of art has a story – who made it, how, when, and what it means – and hanging the work in your home makes its story a part of your own.

#2 A Little Bit of Research

photo-eye is an incredible resource of photographic knowledge including detailed project descriptions, bios of our artists, and excellent interviews. Get familiar with the kind of work we offer by taking a look at the portfolios and get a feeling for the kind of work you most respond to most – what affects you, what delights you, and what does the work generally cost.

Investigate the inspirations for the photographers you love. For example both Julie Blackmon and Cig Harvey list Keith Carter as an early inspiration for their work, so if you respond to their images it's worth taking a look at his portfolios.

Here are some additional resources on collecting photography that we offer via photo-eye Bookstore:

• Collecting Contemporary Photography

• The Unseen Eye (W.M Hunt)

Works from Golden Stardust by Kate Breaky

#3 Establish a Budget

Hands down, photographic prints are one of the most affordable ways to collect original artwork.

If your collecting budget is on the conservative side, take look at the Photographer's Showcase. The Showcase features works primarily by emerging artists, photographer's new or fairly new on the scene, and prints are usually very affordable. Some established artists, such as Kate Breakey, offer prints for less than $1000.

Open Editions, prints that aren't restricted to a certain number of sales, are also a great value. Represented artists Steve Fitch & Richard Tuschman both offer a few of their images as Open Editions for less than their Limited Edition prints.

If there is a piece you JUST have to have that pushes the limits of your budget, we totally understand and can offer you the option of making payments over time. Just let us know what you’re looking for and we can give you the details.

Make sure to leave room in the budget for framing and finishing. With a few exceptions, prints from photo-eye are sold unframed but we work with an INCREDIBLE team who can archivally prepare your print in either traditional or contemporary treatments. Framing and finishing for each piece is hand-made, and custom cut, so we provide quotes on a case by case basis.

15 x 15 inch Silver prints by Keith Carter

#4 Pick a Theme

So much great work is being produced, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Chose an aspect of the work you respond to that serves to unite and focus your collection such as:

Subject Matter

landscape, narrative, portraits, etc…

Artist

collect work by the same artist

Print Material, or Print Process

Silver Gelatin, Archival Pigment, Tintype, Platinum …

Style

Black-and-White, Large Format …

Location

Work made in a one location such as the American West.

Print Size

If cost remains a factor, collecting small prints is a good way to go. Amy Friend, Ernie Button, and Rachel Phillips all offer amazing work in smaller print sizes for $600 or less.

#5 Connect with a Gallerist

Gallery Director Anne Kelly

Reach out! Build a relationship with Savannah, Lucas, or myself, and we can guide you through the process. ASK US ANYTHING– sometimes collecting can be jargon-heavy, and we can make sense of it for you!

We send out the latest information to our clients about photo-eye artists, including new releases, which helps collectors secure the base price on new work.

We make recommendations based on your previous interests, and can suggest work by an artist that you may not be aware of that will be a good fit for your collection.

Because of our access, we can also find you sold out works available on the secondary market. Please feel free to call or email anytime!

Next week the three of us will be offering up a few of our favorite works by photo-eye artists, as well as sharing a bit about ourselves and our own stories and collections.

Get ahold of us in the meantime if you have any questions or requests:

Anne Kelly, Gallery Director
505.988.5152 x121 • anne@photoeye.com

Patricia Martin, Gallery Associate
505.988.5152 x116 • patricia@photoeye.com

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