FINE ART PHOTOGRAPH OF THE WEEK: SANCTUARY, KAUAI

©Kelly Fitzgerald.  Sanctuary, Kauai
Silver Gelatin Archival Fiber Base Print
20" H x 16" W
Limited Edition of 50
$1,000 Unframed.

This photograph was taken in Hanalei Valley on Kauai.  The valley is one mile wide and six miles long.  Most of the taro grown in Hawaii is grown here.  It is also home to the 917 acre Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge.  Established in 1972, it serves to protect endangered plants and Hawaiian water birds.

And here, at the gateway to the Hanalei Valley, is a one-way truss bridge originally constructed in 1912, the first of many one-way bridges that lie in the path of the winding scenic highway that leads through Hanalei Town to the end of the road.

Professional matting and framing is available for an additional charge.

This work was created by using an old manual SLR film camera and Kodak Professional High-Speed HIE Black-and-White Infrared Negative Film.  Sadly, the film is no longer being manufactured.  The silver gelatin fiber base print is printed in the traditional darkroom by a master printer with an enlarger, conventional chemistry and trays.  Made by hand, the old fashioned way.  This piece is part of an award-winning series called "A New Discovery".

A fine art photographic print by Kelly Fitzgerald
will beautify your home or enhance your place of business.

If you are interested in purchasing an original fine art print, please contact Kelly Fitzgerald at KelFitzPhoto@gmail.com or call (760) 670-6616.  A range of print sizes are available.  For more information, please visit the print information page on her website.

A percentage of sales from this print will be donated to a Hawaii non-profit conservation organization.

Mahalo nui loa.

To learn more about this award-winning body of work, please click here.
To learn more about Kodak HIE black-and-white infrared film, please click here.

MY TEAM: THE FRAME STATION

Over the weekend, I stopped in to The Frame Station to get one of my recently sold fine art prints professionally framed.  I have been working with them for probably over 15 years.  Owner Tom Sandler established The Frame Station in 1981.  Along with Manager Gloria Applegate and Head Framer Robin Herbert, they collectively have over 60 years experience in the custom framing business.

A member of the Professional Picture Framer's Association, they also offer one of the most extensive selections of mouldings in town along with both conservation and museum framing.

Head Framer Robin Herbert working on my fine art print "Ocean Swing, Kauai".

Robin prepares the acid-free, archival 8 ply beveled cut exhibition mat.

Robin cleans the conservation glass.

Head Framer Robin Herbert and Owner Tom Sandler.

FINE ART PHOTOGRAPH OF THE WEEK: ONOMEA BAY TRAIL - II, HAWAII

©Kelly Fitzgerald.  Onomea Bay Trail - II, Hawaii
Silver Gelatin Archival Fiber Base Print
30" H x 40" W
Limited Edition of 30
$2,000 Unframed

Along the Hamakua Coast on the Big Island of Hawai'i is the scenic Onomea Bay Road.  The 4 mile road twists and snakes through a lush tropical rain forest lined with streams, several one-lane bridges and breathtaking views of the ocean, coast and the collapsed Onomea Arch.  Along this scenic drive is the Onomea Bay Trail, otherwise known as the old Donkey Trail.  This delightful and short hike takes you through a lush forest of palms, ferns and other plants and descends 600 feet from the scenic drive to Onomea Bay.

The Bay was used by the early Hawaiians as a fishing village known as Kahali'i because of its natural landing area for ships.  In the early 1800's the village became a fishing port and was used to bring in materials for the construction of the Onomea sugar mill and export of sugar.  The trail was used to ferry the goods from the boats by donkey.

Professional matting and framing is available for an additional charge.

This work was created by using an old manual SLR film camera and Kodak Professional High-Speed HIE Black-and-White Infrared Negative Film.  Sadly, the film is no longer being manufactured.  The traditional negative is scanned on a drum scanner to create a 300 megabyte digital file which serves as a vehicle for the color balancing, lighting, and darkening that was formerly done in the darkroom.  Once the aesthetic interpretation is realized in the computer and matched with the artist proof print created in the traditional "wet" darkroom, the image is then printed on fully archival paper.  This piece is part of an award-winning series called "A New Discovery".

A fine art photographic print by Kelly Fitzgerald
will beautify your home or enhance your place of business.

If you are interested in purchasing an original fine art print, please contact Kelly Fitzgerald at KelFitzPhoto@gmail.com or call (760) 670-6616.  A range of print sizes are available.  For more information, please visit the print information page on her website.

A percentage of sales from this print will be donated to a Hawaii non-profit conservation organization.

Mahalo nui loa.

To learn more about this award-winning body of work, please click here.
To learn more about Kodak HIE black-and-white infrared film, please click here.

ABSOLUTE HAWAI'I

I am absolutely thrilled to be featured in this months Absolute Hawaii online magazine.  The article, titled "Photographer Kelly Fitzgerald: Capturing Vanishing Hawaiian Landscapes" features two of my works from the island of Oahu.

FINE ART PHOTOGRAPH OF THE WEEK: HANALEI PIER, KAUAI

©Kelly Fitzgerald.  Hanalei Pier, Kauai
Silver Gelatin Archival Fiber Base Print
30" H x 40" W
Limited Edition of 30
$2,000 Unframed

The historic pier in Hanalei Bay, Kauai was first originally built in 1892 to serve the region's thriving rice industry.  The pier was rebuilt in 1912 and again after Hurricane 'Iniki damaged the structure in 1992.  Today, the pier is a popular place to fish, swim, and enjoy views of the bay's sparkling blue waters and the towering picturesque mountains lined with waterfalls.  When I lived on beautiful Kauai, I spent many days surfing at Pavilions Break which is right next to the pier.

Professional matting and framing is available for an additional charge.

This work was created by using an old manual SLR film camera and Kodak Professional High-Speed HIE Black-and-White Infrared Negative Film.  Sadly, the film is no longer being manufactured.  The traditional negative is scanned on a drum scanner to create a 300 megabyte digital file which serves as a vehicle for the color balancing, lighting, and darkening that was formerly done in the darkroom.  Once the aesthetic interpretation is realized in the computer and matched with the artist proof print created in the traditional "wet" darkroom, the image is then printed on fully archival paper.  This piece is part of an award-winning series called "A New Discovery".

A fine art photographic print by Kelly Fitzgerald
will beautify your home or enhance your place of business.

If you are interested in purchasing an original fine art print, please contact Kelly Fitzgerald at KelFitzPhoto@gmail.com or call (760) 670-6616.  A range of print sizes are available.  For more information, please visit the print information page on her website.

A percentage of sales from this print will be donated to a Hawaii non-profit conservation organization.

Mahalo nui loa.

To learn more about this award-winning body of work, please click here.
To learn more about Kodak HIE black-and-white infrared film, please click here.

FINE ART PHOTOGRAPH OF THE WEEK: KAPUAIWA COCONUT GROVE - III, MOLOKAI

©Kelly Fitzgerald.  Kapuaiwa Coconut Grove - III, Molokai
Silver Gelatin Archival Fiber Base Print
20" H x 24" W
Limited Edition of 30
$1,400 Unframed

On the island of Molokai, there is an ancient Hawaiian coconut grove planted in the 1860's during the reign of King Kamehameha V.  The King, nicknamed Kapuaiwa, selected this particular site because of the seven sacred ponds located there.

The King ordered 1,000 tall, royal coconut palm trees to be planted on Molokai to represent each individual warrior in his mighty army, in addition to shading his sacred bathing pools of the ali's (royalty).

Unfortunately, not many of the original coconut palm trees still stand today.  The original one thousand coconut trees covered about an area of ten acres.  Now only a few hundred of these beautiful palms are still there.

Professional matting and framing is available for an additional charge.

This work was created by using an old manual SLR film camera and Kodak Professional High-Speed HIE Black-and-White Infrared Negative Film.  Sadly, the film is no longer being manufactured.  The traditional negative is scanned on a drum scanner to create a 300 megabyte digital file which serves as a vehicle for the color balancing, lighting, and darkening that was formerly done in the darkroom.  Once the aesthetic interpretation is realized in the computer and matched with the artist proof print created in the traditional "wet" darkroom, the image is then printed on fully archival paper.  This piece is part of an award-winning series called "A New Discovery".

A fine art photographic print by Kelly Fitzgerald
will beautify your home or enhance your place of business.

If you are interested in purchasing an original fine art print, please contact Kelly Fitzgerald at KelFitzPhoto@gmail.com or call (760) 670-6616.  A range of print sizes are available.  For more information, please visit the print information page on her website.  

A percentage of sales from this print will be donated to a Hawaii non-profit conservation organization. 

Mahalo nui loa.

To learn more about this award-winning body of work, please click here.
To learn more about Kodak HIE black-and-white infrared film, please click here.

FINE ART PHOTOGRAPH OF THE WEEK: BALI HAI, KAUAI

©Kelly Fitzgerald.  Bali Hai, Kauai
Silver Gelatin Archival Fiber Base Print
11" H x 14" W
Limited Edition of 50
$750 Unframed.

Bali Hai, also known as the Makana Mountain, is a part of a National Tropical Botanical Garden at the beginning of the Na Pali Coast on the north shore of Kauai. The Hawaiian name for this pyramid-shaped mountain peak is Makana or Mount Makana, which means a reward or “gift from heaven” in the Hawaiian language. The movie South Pacific released in 1960 featured this mountain as a forbidden but exotic island called Bali Hai. From then onwards, the name “Bali Hai” has stuck and most people forgot its original name.  Bali Hai is the north shore's canvas for the last sunset in the United States each evening.

Professional matting and framing is available for an additional charge.

Makana Mountain is the place where the renowned ceremony related to fire-throwing “ohai” took place in ancient Hawaii. This was a special ceremony performed to celebrate special occasions like students’ graduations or a high chief’s visit. The skilled fire throwers used to climb the peak of the mountain, which had dry, light logs of hau (Hibiscus tiliaceus) and papala (Charpentiera spp.).

At night time, the logs were set on fire and hurled into the ocean. The ridge lifts, which were created by the tradewinds that hit the Makana cliff, were successful in keeping the firebands aloft, rising to one mile (1.6 km) out on the sea. As a result, the night sky was illuminated with fiery torches and sparks that traced long arc lights.

A fine art photographic print by Kelly Fitzgerald
will beautify your home or enhance your place of business.

This work was created by using an old manual SLR film camera and Kodak Professional High-Speed HIE Black-and-White Infrared Negative Film.  Sadly, the film is no longer being manufactured.  The fiber base print is printed in the traditional darkroom by a master printer with an enlarger, conventional chemistry and trays.  Made by hand, the old fashioned way.  This piece is part of an award-winning series called "A New Discovery".

If you are interested in purchasing an original fine art print, please contact Kelly Fitzgerald at KelFitzPhoto@gmail.com or call (760) 670-6616.  A range of print sizes are available.  For more information, please visit the print information page on her website.  

A percentage of sales from this print will be donated to a Hawaii non-profit conservation organization.  

Mahalo nui loa.

To learn more about this award-winning body of work, please click here.
To learn more about Kodak HIE black-and-white infrared film, please click here.  

BWGALLERIST INTERVIEW

You can catch my recent interview with BWGallerist where I discuss my work and future projects.

SHUTTERBUG MAGAZINE

I am absolutely thrilled to announce that my work was profiled in the March issue of Shutterbug Magazine, which hits newsstands on Tuesday, February 8th.  The article "Fine Art Photography ~ Art is in the Eye of the Beholder" was written by Joe Farace.  Click on image to get a peek at what was said about my work!

THE HAWAII SERIES

While working on the project "A New Discovery ~ Black & White Infrared Film Landscapes of the Hawaiian Islands", I also photographed other areas and landmarks of the Hawaiian Islands using an old medium format camera and traditional black & white 120mm film.  Like "A New Discovery", I began this project largely out of the desire to preserve a beauty still largely unhampered by commercial development.

For example, I created the piece "Banyan Tree, Oahu" because this ancient tree was under threat of being destroyed by a developer that wanted to build a resort on the land the tree inhabited.  I'll never forget seeing the giant Banyan tree for the first time.  The sheer size of it was mind blowing.  I feel blessed to have experienced these amazing places first hand and to have had the opportunity to document them.

This body of work is offered as limited edition, warm toned archival pigment ink prints.  To see more of my work from this series, please visit my website.  Enjoy!

©Kelly Fitzgerald.  Banyon Tree, Oahu
Warm Toned Archival Pigment Ink Print
30"H x 40"W
Limited Edition of 5

©Kelly Fitzgerald.  Old Stone Posts, Oahu
Warm Toned Archival Pigment Ink Print
30"H x 40"W
Limited Edition of 5

©Kelly Fitzgerald.  Shipwreck Beach - III, Lanai
Warm Toned Archival Pigment Ink Print
30"H x 40"W
Limited Edition of 5

©Kelly Fitzgerald.  Waianae Coast - I, Oahu
Warm Toned Archival Pigment Ink Print
30"H x 40"W
Limited Edition of 5

VIVIAN MAIER - STREET PHOTOGRAPHER

This is an amazing story of Vivian Maier, a Chicago nanny who took more than 100,000 photos during her lifetime but never showed them to anyone.  Now that she's gone and her photos have been discovered, some say she may rank among the top street photographers of the 20th century.  I find her work to be brilliant!

HOW FILM IS MADE: BEHIND THE SCENES AT A KODAK FACTORY IN 1958

This fascinating short documentary created back in 1958 documents the production process and birth of photographic and cinematic film, was initially uncovered as part of a heritage in the Netherlands.  Although its exact source and purpose are as of yet still unknown, it may have been an instructional film for new employees at Kodak's factories worldwide or used as a promotional film for the general public.  The narration is in Dutch with English subtitles.

PHOTO L.A. 2011

Attention all fine art photography enthusiasts and collectors!  It is that time of year again ... photo l.a. 2011 is back at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.

Photo l.a. has earned a reputation as one of the foremost art fairs and the leading photo-based events in the country.  Presenting the finest galleries from around the globe, this 20th edition of photo l.a. promises to be the best ever.

January 13 - 17, 2011

FEATURED ARTIST OF THE WEEK

I am thrilled to be the featured artist on the Fine-Art-Photographers blog this week. It is a place to discuss photography from a fine art point of view.

THE COLORADO SERIES

Photographing Colorado has been a dream of mine for over 25 years. The first time I was inspired was when I looked through a black and white landscape photography book that had been given to me as a gift. I saw these gorgeous landscapes of nature that had been taken by the photographer Ansel Adams. From that moment, I knew that I wanted to experience Colorado first hand and explore its scenic beauty and history.

Dreams do come true. With 3 camera bodies in tow, along with the very last of the discontinued Kodak Infrared High-Speed Film, I got to travel to Colorado this past September of 2010.

As an artist, I strive to create works that capture and preserve the beauty in nature and in vanishing places. The body of work includes the mining town of Silver Plume, Rocky Mountain National Park, Red Rocks Park, the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range and parts of Southern Colorado.

To see more work from the Colorado series, please visit my website.

©Kelly Fitzgerald.  The Road, CO
Archival Pigment Ink Print. 40"H x 60"W
Limited Edition of 5

©Kelly Fitzgerald.  Buffalo, CO
Archival Pigment Ink Print. 30"H x 40"W
Limited Edition of 5

©Kelly Fitzgerald.  Bear Lake, CO
Archival Pigment Ink Print. 16"H x 20"W
Limited Edition of 10

©Kelly Fitzgerald.  Old House and Barn, CO
Archival Pigment Ink Print. 20"H x 24"W
Limited Edition of 5

©Kelly Fitzgerald.  Rocky Mountain Nat. Pk. - III, CO
Archival Pigment Ink Print. 24"H x 36"W
Limited Edition of 5

INFRARED LIGHT - A SOLO SHOW

A second artist reception has been added. Sharp Gallery and Ray Street Custom Framing is proud to present Infrared Light - A Solo Show. The exhibit will feature black and white infrared film landscapes of Kauai and the Eastern Sierras from fine art photographer Kelly Fitzgerald.

Artist Reception: Saturday, September 11, 2010 - 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The reception is held concurrently with Ray-at-Night, a monthly art walk of North Park.

Exhibition Dates: August 14 - October 6, 2010

Sharp Gallery and Ray Street Custom Framing
3807 Ray Street
San Diego CA 92104
(619) 255-2022

SAN DIEGO ARTISTS: A CAUSE FOR P.A.W.S.

Spa Velia Art Gallery is proud to present San Diego Artists: A Cause for P.A.W.S. - A Group Art Exhibition Benefiting the Pets Are Wonderful Support Org. The exhibit will feature original artwork by San Diego artists Mia DelCasino, H. Montgomery-Drysdale, Kelly Fitzgerald, Michelle Robinson, Susan E. Roden and Rich Walker.

A percentage of sales from this exhibition will be donated to the Pets Are Wonderful Support Org. For more information, please call the gallery at (760) 670-6616.

Artist Reception: Saturday, August 21, 2010 - 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Featuring a live performance from singer/songwriter George Wit.

Exhibition Dates: July 27 - September 25, 2010

INFRARED LIGHT - A SOLO SHOW

Sharp Gallery and Ray Street Custom Framing is proud to present Infrared Light - A Solo Show. The exhibit will feature black and white infrared film landscapes of Kauai and the Eastern Sierras from San Diego fine art photographer Kelly Fitzgerald.

Artist Reception: Saturday, August 14, 2010 - 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The reception is held concurrently with Ray-at-Night, a monthly art walk of North Park.

Exhibition Dates: August 14 - October 6, 2010

Sharp Gallery and Ray Street Custom Framing
3807 Ray Street
San Diego CA 92104
(619) 255-2022

APUG.ORG

Utah large format photographer, Jason Brunner talks about The Analog Photography Users Group, a web forum devoted to film and darkroom.

LECTURE 07.07.10

This coming Wednesday, I will be giving a lecture at The Darkroomers Photographic Club in Balboa Park - San Diego CA. For a full description, please click on newsletter to enlarge.

Photo Arts Building in Balboa Park
1780 Village Place
San Diego CA
Located next door to the Spanish Village Art Center

Presentation starts at 7:30pm.
Seating is limited. Admission is free.

Hope to see you there!