Mary Martin Gallery of Fine Art

Underwater Fine Art Photography

Acrylic Image Technique

After extensive underwater photography sessions with specialized photography equipment, careful editing, and selection of the perfect image, fine art techniques are added and the image is then committed to a special metallic substrate for display with an archival mount.

The archival "C-Type" image is made by exposing light onto a special metallic substrate (which has a metallic sheen or "pearl-essence), giving the image an extra "pop". 

The image is then face mounted to acrylic of the highest specifications of purity and clarity (manufactured in the US for Commercial Aircraft windows). Once cut to size, the acrylic is flame polished on all sides before the image is face mounted.

Face mounting is a difficult and expensive process, but it creates greater "pop" and color vibrancy. The face mount takes full advantage of the reflective quality of this high-grade diamond- polished acrylic. Acrylic has the unusual property of keeping a beam of light reflection within it's surface which creates the "WOW" factor. It attains great color vibrancy with a near 3-D effect!  No other display technique can match a high grade acrylic face mount.    

Dye-Sublimation on Aluminum with Resin 

Dye-sublimation on Aluminum is a" heat under pressure transfer" of the image onto the substrate. The image becomes a "part of the aluminum" and is not an image bonded onto to the aluminum. This produces a permanent, high resolution, full color image. The hand poured resin over the aluminum image creates depth and "brings the image to life".

 After intensive underwater sessions with specialized equipment, Suzanne carefully selects the perfect image, and adds fine art embellishments. The images are then committed to metal by Archival, Dye-sublimation process and then Suzanne hand pours resin which is a very tricky, exacting, tedious process.  The resin gives the pieces a wonderful translucency with added depth while adding a protective layer- It serves to bring the pieces to life!  The use of Resin is a well-respected in the art world. 

All of Suzanne's images are custom made and can be sized to accomodate any dimension.

Artist Statement

 

My preferential interest, as an artist, is creativity through Photographic Art. Although I am looking through a lens, it is what I see "intuitively" that controls the "decisive moment" of the shutter release. I am an "old school photographer" who has embraced the digital era and it's tools to create unique combinations of color, design and imagination!

My "Tiny Dancer Underwater Art Series" began as a yearning to experience underwater photography. The grace and fluidity of movement, the soothing quiet and calm beneath the surface, along with the weightless suspension, as my subject floated to the surface, left me transformed. I witnessed the perfect communion between a dancer's heart and the "inspirational wisdom of water": "Water takes the form in which it is held and moves in the path of least resistance."

Water is vital to life as we know it-without it, no life exists. It supports us in the womb, it energizes, purifies and cleanses. It symbolizes life, clarity, growth, illumination and transformation. I celebrate IT'S beauty as a gentle reminder to all, that WE are the caretakers of this precious life force.