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FoRcE oF NATuRE
I’m very inspired by painting and specifically the
Hudson River School of painters, who celebrated
nature and the Hudson more than 150 years ago.
Their use of allegory and symbolism is something
who lives here, my challenge was to capture
something that goes beyond the ordinary and
inspires someone to see winter differently.
As a nature photographer, I live for that
experience of being totally present and in
perfect balance with the moment, when I forget
how cold I am or how difficult is was to get to a
particular location. Nature inspires gratitude
in me, and sharing that is really a passion that
Robert Rodriguez Jr.
exceeds all others. I want others to appreciate
what truly extraordinary moments happen
around us each day and how, if we just stop and
look, they can have a positive effect on our lives.
The paper I print on is a crucial component
of translating what I see and feel. I use Canson
Infinity papers because they’re extremely
consistent in both color and tonal accuracy,
which means every print from a box or roll will
be identical, and because there’s a wide variety
to choose from. My favorites include Baryta
Photographique, which I love for my black-and-white prints, and Platine Fibre Rag, which is
particularly good at preserving deep shadows
with incredible Dmax. I printed “River of Ice”
on Rag Photographique 310, which always yields
vivid colors; I also love its matte feel and texture.
I teach fine-art printing workshops, and at
the end of each one, the students get to take
home a print of their work printed on a Canson
Infinity paper of their choice. This experience
helps them understand the difference paper can
make in producing prints that are true to their
vision. In my own work, when I’m determining
which paper to use, I always go back to how I
want to interpret the photo. Sometimes a matte
paper will take the edge off of an image, for
example, focusing the attention on another
part of the composition that conveys warmth or
emotion. The great thing about Canson papers
is that I can create these subtle changes without
worrying about the overall quality of the print.
Ultimately, the medium must be second to the
message, and with Canson, I can present my
photographs knowing the message will be direct
and clear.
www.cansoninfinity.com
