Knowing the value of nature photography prints when buying landscape images is important whether one is a seasoned art collector or a first time buyer. But how does one measure something that goes beyond a price tag? What are the considerations to think about? What are the factors that determine how much a photo print is worth to you personally? In this article I discuss 3 types of print value: extrinsic, intrinsic and personal.
When discussing the value of nature photography prints, it is important to understand what “value” of anything really means. One definition is: “The regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something”. In addition, I would argue that value also means – what others are willing to pay for something.
Okay, but how do you put a price on a creative work? You pay to show it has a value to you. ~ Philip Lacasse, The Upside (Movie)
I believe that the value of nature photography prints is often subjective. Why do I say that? Because everyone perceives nature art differently. If I show one of my prints to 5 people and ask: “How much money are you willing to pay for this?”, I will most likely get 5 different answers. Let me give you a personal example.
I used to sell some of my images on a fine art gallery wall in downtown Breckenridge, Colorado. One day I finished processing my (then) latest image – Burning Snow. Curious about my wife’s opinion I asked her if the image should be added to the gallery artwork in Breckenridge. She politely shrugged her shoulders and said that it was probably not worth spending the money. However, I really liked my new photo and decided to invest in printing it. Therefore, I ordered a 5 foot long, high gloss chromaluxe metal print and took it to Breckenridge. Minutes after I hung the wall art, a customer walked in. Soon he noticed the new print and seemed interested. We had a brief conversation, after which he called his wife, and then placed an order on the spot.
The brand name is one form of extrinsic value of nature photography prints. It is the value that others attribute to the brand. Who is the artist? Is he/she well known? Who else owns prints from this photographer? Where is their artwork exhibited? Is the artist known for offering high quality prints? How much do their prints sell for? Are the prints limited or open edition? Is the artist still alive? The answers to questions like these will play a large role on the monetary value of a photographic print.
High quality print and mount materials increase the value of nature photography prints. All prints are not created equal as it matters a great deal what the print medium is, what the medium is mounted on, whether or not it is framed, what frame type is used, and so on. The visual presentation of an image makes a world of difference in the final look and feel. Just like an unintentionally blurry photo can ruin the art, a poor print format can make even a masterpiece look cheap or amateurish. Even the unsophisticated viewer can tell the difference between a high and a low quality photo print. Things like color rendition, color vibrancy, clarity and detail, light reflection, make an immediate and obvious impression. Again, when I used to sell prints in Breckenridge, I started out with framed canvas. After introducing high-gloss metal prints, it was as if the canvas ones became invisible to the customers. All they could see was the metal artwork. Needless to say, I replaced all the canvas images with metal ones. If you are curious to know more, I have written extensively on What Makes High Quality Nature Photo Prints.
When you buy a printed nature photograph you are buying more than the physical materials composing the product. Although important, they are just the conduit to present the final product.
The value of nature photography prints is determined by much more than the print paper and the mount and/or frame materials. The real intrinsic value is brought by the unique qualities the artist brings into his/her art. Understanding that intrinsic value is important in order to fully appreciate what the individual photographer is offering.
For example, one aspect of the intrinsic value of nature photography prints is that they represent the unique vision of the artist. Nature photographers have one thing in common – they all enjoy the outdoors and have an immense appreciation for the beauty of nature. However, everyone sees and captures the physical world differently. For example, on a recent fall colors photo trip in Colorado I met another photographer and we decided to go and shoot together. After hours of hiking, talking, photographing, I got to know Tim quite well. We also compared images and found out that our individual approach to photography was very different. We literally stood next to each other, while shooting, only to capture the scene in a very distinctive way.
Another aspect of the intrinsic value of nature photography prints is determined by the unique photographer and nature encounter. Different artists may capture the same location/object but the rendered art will be often different. Weather seasons and light throughout the day will change the look of a place. Also, different photographers are drawn to different parts of the same location. Some like to zoom in. Others like to zoom out and capture wide scenes, etc. My main point is that different photographers can have exclusive experiences in the same location, leading to exclusive final results. Here is a personal example. I was recently impressed with the beauty of a location in the San Juan Mountains through someone else’s image. I went to check out the place myself and returned with a completely different photograph. If I showed you both images you might never guess that they were shot in the same area.
And this leads me to my final point about the intrinsic value of nature photography prints. This most important consideration is that a serious photographer pours their heart and soul into the work. When you buy a fine art nature photo print, you are buying the artist’s visual and emotional expression of nature. An artist who diligently strives to perfect his/her craft puts a tremendous amount of effort both out in the field and at home. The self discipline and diligence required (read the next section) can be very taxing. Nevertheless, those of us who spend countless hours and effort to capture a magnificent nature moment, do it with a heart and soul. And that heart and soul is permanently ingrained into the artwork. Now, how do you put a price on that?
Church of St. John in Ranui | Villnöss, Italy | LIMITED EDITION FINE ART PHOTOGRAPH 100
A photographer whose nature photography prints have high value is usually backed by a strong portfolio body of work. Commonly it showcases the result of years of hard work. The part that often remains invisible however, is all of the unsuccessful attempts. The times when lots of effort was poured in, but little or nothing came out. Such as traveling to Italy with specific goals to capture the Dolomite Mountains, but returning with a single image (Mountain Sanctuary) to show for. Why? Because it mostly rained and the clouds obscured the magnificent mountains I had been dreaming of capturing, for months.
In order to bring real value to his/her nature photography prints an artist has to regularly prepare for an outdoors photo-shoot. Depending on the location and goals, this could mean different things. Travel is often required, which is an investment of both time and money. Sometimes it is a few hours drive, other times it involves crossing the ocean and going to a different continent. The problem is that there is never a guarantee that nature will cooperate and you will return with a prized photograph. Furthermore, additional travel is regularly needed on location. I have hiked on trails, bushwhacked without a trail, traveled by mountain bike, snowshoed, and climbed with skis in the pursuit of capturing the moment.
Another part that adds value to nature photography prints, is the frequent necessity of sacrifices. Landscape photographers often have to get up very early in the morning in order to capture a special moment. I woke up at 2am after a snowstorm on a winter morning. Thirty minutes later I was on touring skis with gear on my back, at the base of Vail Ski Resort. The task? Climb up for 3 hours in pitch back darkness, and race to reach the top of Vail Mountain – 11,570 Feet (3,527 M) before sunrise. In the process, ascend 3,450 Feet (1,052 M) and cover a distance of 3 miles. While doing it, dodge the occasional grooming snowcats, so that you don’t get run over. When I arrived at my target location it was 1 degree F (-17C). While photographing I had to take off my gloves briefly several times. It was so freezing that my hands felt pain more than cold. During the entire exercise I sustained damage on my toes, which took a full year to heal.
Finally, the art of post-processing nature photography adds value to the prints, and is a serious effort on its own. Some images are easier to process and bring out their best, but that is the less common scenario. I have spent some 40 hours processing Moonlight Dreaming. I processed Placid Sunrise 3 times over the span of several weeks, before I achieved the image quality I wanted. In most cases I will work on an image and then let it sit for a day or two. After that I go back and fine tune. The process repeats until I am satisfied.
Stars & Moonlight | Crested Butte, Colorado | LIMITED EDITION FINE ART PHOTOGRAPH 200
I believe that personal value is the most important aspect when buying nature photography prints. Is the image speaking to you? Is it drawing you in? Is it evoking positive emotions and making you want to visit that location? Is it impacting your mood in a way that you really like? In my opinion, if at least some of the above are not true, the extrinsic and intrinsic value matters very little. Maybe you buy a print for its monetary worth and brand reputation, but you don’t really care for the art itself. Well, what good is that? Wouldn’t you rather look at something every day, which completely transforms your interior and makes you feel good on the inside? Below are several examples of personal value.
Some art-buyers place a high personal value on nature photography prints because of the particular location of the image. Maybe they had a family vacation in that region and want to have a reminder on their wall at home. Maybe the location is a favorite place for them to visit on a regular basis. Or, maybe they own a vacation home in that area and want to decorate it with an art piece displaying the local beauty.
A specific life experience can also cause a person to place personal value in nature photography prints. Someone going through a difficult season of life can be reminded of hope by having a certain print on their wall. Another, might be at the beginning of a big life change and can be encouraged by the change and beauty of a nature season. Yet another could have met their spouse by the ocean and always reminisce fondly about that experience.
Another reason, possibly the biggest, why people purchase nature photography is because of the positive value of nature photography prints on their emotions. A powerful nature print can evoke many valuable emotions in a person, because of its capability to transform an interior space. It can draw the viewer in and virtually transport them to a beautiful place. Such a window to nature may bring a sense of peace, calm, awe, admiration, hope, inspiration, name your own.
Hopefully this article helps you understand how to better understand the value of nature photography prints? Regardless of whether you are a long-time collector or a first time art-buyer you have to know what is important to you. You have to know what you value and what types of nature prints personally move you. I strive to bring out the best in my artwork and strive to add the most value for my customers. If you are curious I invite you to have a look at my online galleries. Feel free to contact me and let me know how I can help transform your home or office interior.
Gintchin Fine Art offers exclusive limited edition fine art photography by Lazar Gintchin, a nature and landscape photographer specializing in large format size prints. Each image in Gintchin’s portfolio is a unique and limited edition print. The gallery includes high-quality wall art prints in acrylic and metal mediums, providing a luxurious fine art presentation. With a diverse range of genres to choose from, art enthusiasts can curate a collection that reflects their aesthetic preferences.
