About the Photographs

Print Types

About Silver Gelatin Prints

The Definition
The silver gelatin process is the photographic process used with currently available black and white films and printing papers.

The Process
A suspension of silver salts in gelatin is coated onto acetate film, fiber based, or resin coated paper and allowed to dry (hence the term dry plate). These materials remain stable for months and years unlike the “wet plate” materials that preceded them.

The Quality
Silver gelatin prints typically give deep rich blacks and crisp whites on a high gloss paper. They have excellent archival properties, lasting more than 100 years without visible fading if kept carefully.

The Market
Judging from auction prices and gallery exhibitions, the fine art market seems more interested than ever in the silver gelatin print. Obvious reasons for this include its handcrafted nature, depth of image, quality of tones, overwhelming beauty, lengthy tradition, and the fact that it utilizes a precious metal.

Photography is entering a similar phase where the handcrafted object, and the properties that make a silver gelatin print unique, are taking on a new significance. This credo was made famous by the late Robert Heinecken who said,“The photograph is not a picture of something but is an object about something.”

About Giclées

The Definition
Giclee (zhee-klay) - is a French term meaning to spray or squirt, which is how an inkjet printer works.

The Process
Images are generated from high resolution digital files and printed with archival quality inks onto various substrates including canvas, fine art, and photo-base paper. In giclee printing, no screen or other mechanical devices are used and therefore there is no visible dot screen pattern. The image has all the tonalities and hues of the original piece of art. The giclee printing process also provides better color accuracy than other means of reproduction.

The Quality
When it comes to fine art reproduction technology, painters and photographers consider giclee prints to be a terrific medium because of their beauty, colors, and resolution. The quality of the giclee print approximates traditional silver-halide and gelatin printing processes and is widely accepted by artists of all mediums, including photographers.

The Market
The market for giclee prints is transforming. Years ago, giclee prints were frowned upon by the traditional professional and fine art photography market. Today, however, photographers are starting to issue limited edition giclee prints and the medium is gaining acceptance as an important one for photography, especially for large scale and modern art (digitally created) images.

Our Giclees
We use giclees as an affordable option for reproductions, not to be confused with our hand-printed, limited edition silver prints. In addition, the terrific flexibility of our inkjet printers allows us to print on demand and at nearly any size. Ultimately, we believe that everyone should have access to affordable art - and our line of giclees makes it possible for us to deliver on that promise.

Collector's Fine Art Silver Gelatin Prints

Jesse only ever makes 50 prints of any one picture directly from the negative. In the case of images he's captured digitally, we output to a negative and print in the darkroom the old fashioned way. Again, only 50 of these prints will ever be made. These silver gelatin, hand numbered and signed limited edition collector prints start at $3,000 and are available through the David Streets Beverly Hills art gallery.

Collectors' Inquiries should be directed to
David Streets at: david@davidstreetsbeverlyhills.com
(323) 951-9259