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Few people ever notice the unblemished perfection found in a newborn leaf. Every spring, if the conditions are just right, a new crop of leaves bursts forth and, for a few fleeting days, remains untainted by the elements.
It has been a goal of mine to capture this delicate purity for many years. However, each year, the possibility of finding this state of affairs in the natural world is incredibly slim. A number of factors have to come together for a perfect leaf to naturally form, beginning with an early-spring that is free from harsh frosts or driving rainstorms. Additionally, the leaves need to be in an area that is protected from adverse conditions such as falling debris, high insect activity, poor soil, or any other of a number of issues which could damage the developing foliage.
After spending years neurotically keeping an eye out for the perfect patch of newborn leaves, I finally found them one late-April day in 2017.
A light morning rain had just fallen and I was at the New York Botanical Garden with the aim of capturing a particular "Snowdrift" Crabapple tree. After a few hours spent creating that photo, I was walking through the Luce Herb Garden when I spotted a low-lying patch of hosta whose fresh leaves were still in the process of unfurling.
A few droplets of rain remained scattered across the foliage and the thinly overcast sky created a beautiful soft light that highlighted the leaves without casting them in too harsh an aesthetic. Furthermore, these lighting conditions enabled the white-rimmed leaves to "pop" out of the image, representing their upward climbing journey that had just begun.
Creating this VAST photo was particularly challenging because it needed to be shot directly downward. This required setting up the support structure in a unique fashion that enabled it to remain outside the field of view. Additionally, I had to shoot most of the frames used in the final photo blind, because I was unable to perch myself above the 6-feet-tall equipment to look through the viewfinder. I happily accepted these challenges because, after years hunting for the perfect patch of newborn leaves, I was going to do whatever it took to capture this VAST photo of nature in its most flawless state.
Date & Time | April 27, 2017: 3:13pm |
Location | New York Botanical Garden, New York City |
Coordinates | 40.863810, -73.881280 |
Focal Length | 148mm |
Aperture | f/22 |
Shutter | 1/60 |
ISO | 1600 |
Num of Exposures | 36 |
VAST photos are the highest resolution photos ever made.
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Its resolution is 1,540% greater than a typical photo. Click on the boxes below to zoom in.
Our ready-to-hang canvas prints are created using a specialty printer that carefully lays pigment inks down onto archival-quality fine art canvas material. The canvas is then stretched around a 1.5-inch-deep wood support structure to provide depth and elegance. Our canvas material has a delightfully matte finish that looks spectacular in any lighting conditions while retaining maximum vibrancy and contrast. Click here to learn more.
A VAST Print™ represents the pinnacle of the photographic medium. Each print is a true photograph created specifically for you using light-sensitive paper exposed in a darkroom with the industry's highest precision exposure technique. Your print is then sealed with a shine-enhancing protective glossy coating*, adhered to a sturdy aluminum composite backing, and finished in one of two ready-to-hang formats:
*Note: a non-glossy, satin matte coating is alternatively available on request.
Due to their record-setting resolutions, VAST photos are the most versatile images ever created, with the quality necessary to look great at any size and in any project. Purchasing one of our standard royalty-free licenses provides you with the digital file at your choice of resolution and a permit to use it for most types of projects. Click here to learn more.
For a premium license that gives exclusivity, glass-related use in North America, or use in merchandise for sale, contact us.
Total Pixels | 344,085,144 px |
Width | 26,234 px |
Height | 13,116 px |
Aspect Ratio | 2 : 1 |
Date & Time | April 27, 2017: 3:13pm |
Location | New York Botanical Garden, New York City |
Coordinates | 40.863810, -73.881280 |
Focal Length | 148mm |
Aperture | f/22 |
Shutter | 1/60 |
ISO | 1600 |
Num of Exposures | 36 |
Here are some rough guidelines for this specific photo: