FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: HOW DO YOU SUGGEST I FRAME THIS PRINT?
A: This is the most common question I get so it has it's own page with some photos with examples at rockytopstudio.com/framing-suggestions
Q: DO YOU PRINT THESE YOURSELF OR HAVE THEM PRINTED FOR YOU?
A: I've been printing my own work since I began over 11 years ago. I really prefer to have control over the entire process. I started in the b&w darkroom back in the days of film, and I now use an Epson 3880 printer that prints with archival Epson pigment inks. I prefer to use matte papers because I love the feeling that the soft matte surface lends to my work. I use a heavyweight archival paper with a beautiful smooth surface, similar to a hot press watercolor paper. Any professional printer who prints "archival giclee fine art prints" is likely using the same, or a similar ink & paper to what I use, but by printing them myself I am able to ship the next day and create custom sizes for you. All of my prints are fully archival and will last a lifetime with proper care.
Q: HOW DO YOU DO THOSE BIRD SHOTS?
A: The short answer: with lots of patience & persistence. For the flight shots, I have feeders that I built specially for the purpose set up around my house, I know the hours of day that the light works on them, and I often shoot the birds through a window. I use a tripod with the camera focused on a spot I know they'll be flying through, and I try to click the shutter when that happens. The flight shots are very tricky - the magical combination of the bird being in focus, in the frame, and looking cute and/or interesting is a tough combination to come by. I've taken tens of thousands of shots and only a tiny percentage of them become prints. I'm constantly trying to improve the quality of the flight shots so older shots that aren't perfectly in focus eventually get weeded out as new photographs are taken.
For some of the other shots I go outside and spend some time blending with the trees. Eventually the birds come to me, and as the years go by it gets easier because I have a feeling they know I'm the source of their food. Did you know a chickadee can live up to 12 years? Many of the songbirds at my feeders have likely been with me for many years at this point and many of the birds will come to within a foot of me while I'm filling the feeders. I'm always trying to pick up new tricks to attract new, interesting birds to the yard. I've spent several years building a butterfly & hummingbird garden in my backyard which also attracts it's share of interesting visitors.
Q: DO YOU NEED A REALLY LONG LENS TO DO BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY?
A: Well, it depends on what you want to photograph, and how close it is possible to get to it. While it is undoubtedly easier to take bird shots with a long lens, in many cases it is very possible to do it with one in the medium-long end of the spectrum, like 200mm. If you can be patient and creative in ways to either get closer to the birds or bring them closer to you, you may not need a huge telephoto. Shoot from a blind, through a window, bring them to you with birdseed or other treats, or spend lots of time near them and they will get used to you. I recommend getting as long of a lens as you can afford, but equally as important is how quick the autofocus is. Birds are small, and they are fast. You won't even believe how fast they are until you start trying to photograph them. Their little minds must work hundreds of times faster than ours, and their little bodies respond just as fast. "They're just so FAST" escapes my lips about twenty times every time I set out to photograph them. Good, fast autofocus will be your friend here, and is equally important as a long lens.
Q: WHAT CAMERA DO YOU USE?
A: I get asked this all the time and I'm never quite sure how to respond. I have been photographing since before digital was accessible and I have used so many cameras that the one thing I am confident I can say is: it's not about the camera. There are so many great cameras out there today that you'd be hard pressed to find a DSLR that takes bad pictures. I do not invest heavily in camera bodies because they are evolving so fast that you will probably want to upgrade every few years. That said, Canon is my brand of choice and I'm very pleased with my Canon equipment, and it is by no means the fanciest equipment out there. While I do not suggest breaking your whole budget on a camera body, I DO suggest you invest in good quality lenses, because you will likely have them for much longer than you will have the camera body, and good lenses make all the difference. Equally important, tho, is knowing how to use those lenses. Personally I do not like the idea of being an equipment junkie and the way I find balance in the never-ending, ever-tempting lens market is to treat myself to 1 new lens a year and REALLY get to know it. Once you have an arsenal of good lenses that you really know how to use, you will be in good shape.
Q: HOW DO YOU GET THAT EFFECT ON YOUR PHOTOS?
A: I employ a large variety of techniques to get different effects in my work. Although I was trained photographically in the black & white darkroom, I was always looking for ways to push the limits and I am now more than happy to use any digital techniques I feel are necessary to create the image that I have in my head. So most of my images are a result of editing in Photoshop & Lightroom, using many techniques I've picked up over the 10+ years I've been using Photoshop. As much as I love photographing, editing to me is the FUN part where I find it easy to get lost for hours. Living in Maine, I try to do a lot of shooting during the summer so during those long winter days I can edit away, ignoring the cold and the fact that it's dark at 3pm. It makes the winter go by much faster.
Q: IS THE TEXT "© ALLISON TRENTELMAN" ON THE PRINT TOO?
A: No, it's only on the online versions of the image as a watermark, your print won't have any text on it. (I sign them on the back).
Q: DO YOUR PRINTS FIT IKEA FRAMES?
A: Yes, some sizes will. My 5x5" prints will fit into the 9x9" RIBBA frame located here
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00078032
My 12x12" prints will fit the larger 20x20" RIBBA frames located here
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60078034
Q: CAN YOU PRINT IN A CUSTOM SIZE?
A: Absolutely. Generally my custom sizes will be the same price as the next size up, because it mostly depends on paper size. If you have a custom request feel free to ask - I'm happy to work with you to print exactly what you want.
Q: HOW DO YOU PACKAGE THESE?
A: I package prints well and make my packages as sturdy as possible so your print will arrive safely. All prints are enclosed in clear archival bags and packaged between sturdy 4-ply boards (which is archival and can be re-used as backing board for framing if desired). Packages are marked on the front and back with big neon DO NOT BEND stickers. Matted prints are shipped in sturdy boxes with a piece of (white, clean, new) newsprint for padding. Cards are shipped in flat mailers for quantities up to 5, and for more than that are shipped in boxes. Framed prints are shipped in Priority Mail boxes with lots of bubblewrap.
Q: CAN YOU SHIP THIS DIRECTLY TO THE RECIPIENT FOR ME AS A GIFT?
A: Of course! If you'd like me to include a gift card with your message just let me know. I won't include a receipt, unless it's shipping to an international address where I'm required to include one.
Q: DO YOU GIFTWRAP?
A: I'm sorry, due to the nature of how I ship these, I cannot gift wrap any of my items. I am more than happy to throw in a free gift card with any package that's a gift tho - just let me know if you'd like one. I'll chose a seasonally appropriate image for you.
Q: CAN YOU PRINT A MESSAGE ON THE INSIDE OF THE GREETING CARDS?
A: I'm sorry, my cards are only available blank on the inside.
Q: DO YOU DO WHOLESALE / CONSIGNMENT?
A: I do not do consignment but I will wholesale some of my items to approved galleries and shops. Please contact me using this form and tell me a little about your business and I will send you further information.