def·i·ni·tion

This latest etching is composed of 12 stages. It’s the face of Abraham Lincoln obviously, and is based off of Alexander Gardener’s amazing photo which I love very much for it’s shallow depth of field. From here I’m going for a 20 stage image – I haven’t yet decided on whose face to do. I’m also anxious to get beyond just the face, so I think it’s time for a full body composition.

Click on the image to see the comparison between 9 and 12 stages.

The first attempt at Elizabeth Taylor was tiny in size and consisted of what is called “stage blasting”. It was a six stage blast, and because it was so small, that was more than enough to do the job. This next one is larger and is a nine stage blast. The enlargement allowed for more detail, but nine stages were not enough to maintain the softness. The result is an edgier look that in many cases is a fun way to go, but I think for a female face I like a softer look and so, I ‘ll do this one more time with more stages.

(click image to enlarge)

There’s been another improvement on how I approach photo-realism. This is not a photo-resist process. It’s really just traditional stage-blasting, but taken to an extreme level.

This example (based on Philippe Halsman’s photo “Elizabeth Taylor 1948”) is the first in a series I’m going to be posting. The ones to follow are going to be much more intense, more dynamic, and more detailed.