Printing on Awagami washi paper

“The print is an idea made visible. For my process, a photograph isn’t a photograph until it’s a print. I love the physical presence of a print, from beginning to end. For me it’s a tactile, sensual experience. I want it to be an object of beauty, whether the subject moves you or not.” – Tillman Crane

I mentioned my passion for making prints at home. One of the perks of printing my images is there are a lot of papers that can be used with home inkjet photo printers. I love to experiment with printing on different paper with different qualities that suit the subjects I am printing. When I first started printing, it took me a while until I find one or more paper with a look and finish that I like. Being able to experiement on a variety of papers at my own choosing is a definite plus for taking up the challenge of printing at home. Each change does entail some changes, ranging from small to significant changes to my overall printing routine. Nevertheless, I see it as a gift to have so many different paper options out there. I find that once I settle on a few favorites, the process to produce a satisfactory print does become easier.

I recently started experimenting with a handmade paper from a Japanese paper manufacturer called Awagami. It is the most expensive printing paper I use to date, but I find Awagami’s handmade process has resulted in paper with such exquisite and tactile feel that when pairing with the right image, the complexity of the paper raises the image to a whole different level. I printed this image of a waterlily bud on Awagami’s bizan white medium handmade paper. The paper is infused with visible plant fibers. The texture, look and feel of the paper simply made the image soar to another level in terms of a fine art photographic print. Seeing the image coming out of the printer as a piece of art reminds me why I fell in love with photography years ago. There is simply no greater satisfaction than to see one’s image coming to fruition as a final print.

As a photographer, I want to inspect my image up close to determine the quality of the initial capture and to appreciate (or critique) my skills. I also want to view the image at a distance to see how it interacts with the ambient light and whether it draws me in for a closer look. I also like to feel tactile qualities of some papers and admire the surface finishes as they give off different perceptions towards my images. When it comes to photography, I want to interact with something that is real. While it is commonplace nowadays to consume loads of images through our smartphones, I still feel strongly a print is the photographer’s ultimate expression of their art, and it tells me things about the artist that I cannot see on a small screen, or even on a good size computer monitor. At some point, to truly appreciate photographs and the people who made them, prints are required.

Owning an inkjet photo printer is a great way to improve your photography. It allows you to see your images in a different light and to find additional ways to improve them. There will be some new skills to learn to be consistently successful at printing, but once you understand and control the different variables, the process is truly rewarding. Having a home printer lets you explore new paper and image options. After you get past the initial costs, the price for printing at home is very economical. Any photographers who are serious with their craft should see a home printer as a crucial creative tool. I cannot say enough about the pride and joy of holding one’s own prints, and it motivates me to continue to further my skills in photography.