From Capture to Print
The creative process does not end when the shutter clicks, nor does it end when I am satisfied with the post capture editing - it only ever finishes when the ink and the paper come together and when the final product takes pride of place on the lobby, boardroom or living room wall. I handle the modern digital workflow with the exact same discipline, patience and meticulous oversight as was demanded in the darkroom.
To achieve an archival lifespan every limited edition print is executed across two strict studio tiers:
Collector’s Studio Edition (Up to 17” Short Side): Regular scale editions (such as the 16” x 32” Studio Panorama or the 24” x 16” Portrait format) are meticulously proofed and profiled and run personally by my own hands using a professional 12-color pigment ink process.
Grand Gallery Edition (Over 17” Up to 44” Short Side): For a larger installation (such as the 40” x 80” Grand Gallery Panorama), I proof and profile the photograph which is then sent to a master laboratory in Columbus, Ohio for final printing using the exact same paper and ink. The large format sheet is never shipped directly to the buyer without inspection; instead I travel to the lab for an exhaustive inspection and then add my authentication and signature. The print will never receive its authentication and signature until it has passed this inspection. I then pack and ship the print using my own system.
The Media
Fotospeed Natural Soft Textured Bright White 315gsm: Fotospeed Natural Soft Textured Bright White 315 paper is the studio’s signature paper for all standard Limited Editions. Crafted from a 100% acid- and lignin-free cotton rag base, this 18.3-mil thick fine art medium features a naturally high white point. This signature paper is fully approved and certified by the Fine Art Trade Guild’s rigorous “ArtSure” standard for fine art printing.
Canon LUCIA PRO 2 Ink: Images are rendered using professional Canon LUCIA PRO 2 Pigment Inks. This advanced ink matrix delivers a deep black separation (high D-Max) and an expansive color gamut.
Hand-Lettered Margin: To protect the visual flow of the scene, all physical gallery prints are delivered completely clean and devoid of digital watermarks or digital overlays. Every standard limited edition sheet features a traditional bottom-weighted white margin where Michael handwrites the unique limited edition fraction and the official artwork title, and signs his name in classic artist graphite pencil.
The Experience
A screen cannot represent the scale, surface, tonal character or presence of the finished print. Because of this collectors are given the opportunity to experience and enjoy the piece in person before finalizing their aquisition.
Edition Integrity
I operate under an uncompromised ethical framework regarding print scarcity. 100% transparency is essential and I reject all legal loopholes and other tricks that may compromise the integrity of the limited editions.
One Composition, One Edition:
The stated edition limit applies to the composition across all physical sizes and substrates. Changing dimensions, presentation or medium does not create a new edition.No Parallel Variants:
Near-identical exposures, alternate color treatments and monochrome interpretations are not used to create additional editions of the same composition.Proof Control:
Production and calibration proofs are permanently marked and are excluded from commercial circulation. Any retained archival proofs are documented at release.Physical Edition Exclusivity:
Images entering the Limited Edition Registry are not subsequently offered as downloadable files, NFTs or independent digital editions.Price Integrity:
Once publicly released, the acquisition price of a limited edition is never reduced. Pricing may progress as an edition is placed, but released work is never discounted, cleared or liquidated.
The Preservation Pledge
“A fine art print is an enduring physical heirloom. Because of this Michael Connell Photography guarantees a comprehensive 10-year replacement plan for all registered acquisitions. If an original sheet is stolen or accidentally damaged, stained, improperly framed or suffers environmental damage within ten years of purchase, the studio will completely reproduce, inspect and hand-sign an identical replacement print featuring your original sequence tracking for a standard fee of 25% of the original purchase price.”
To ensure absolute tactile consistency the studio maintains a dedicated, climate-controlled vault of original Fotospeed Natural Soft Textured Bright White 315gsm paper reserved exclusively for replacement editions.
If studio printing hardware or pigment ink matrices evolve over the 10-year term, replacements will be rendered onto the archived paper using the closest contemporary museum-grade equivalent technology (such as the successor to the Canon Lucia Pro 2 line) to meet or exceed the original print’s archival benchmarks.
To protect the integrity of our Limited Editions for all collectors, replacement remains strictly conditional upon the physical return and studio destruction of the damaged print and of the original Certificate of Authenticity, or of a notified statement and verified proof of complete destruction (for example insurance / fire / police reports). If the original print and Certificate of Authenticity cannot be returned the replacement will be issued under a secondary registry log within the Hahnemühle MyArtRegistry to reflect that it is a verified, non-circulating replacement edition of the original sequence.
In the event that Michael is no longer physically able to personally inspect, hand sign or execute a replacement edition over the 10-year term, the studio’s designated Artistic Estate will fulfill the reproduction using the archived master files, the original paper vault inventory and contemporary museum-grade technology. Instead of a live graphite signature, these specific archival requirements will be permanently stamped with a Michael Connell Estate Verification Seal, cross referenced and fully authenticated under a secondary security log within the Hahnemühle MyArtRegistry.