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The Gate is Open

The Gate is Open

I had had an idea for an image for some years: where a winding path would lead through overgrown, lush foliage. One day while on a walk not far from my home in Chicago, I saw this open gate with a winding path leading through overgrown, lush foliage. I took a photo with my phone, noted the address and went on my way. And then I more or less forgot all about it. Sometimes an obvious photo is not obvious at all, even when you've been imagining that very thing!
Months later I walked by the same location. The gate was again open and again I stared at the winding path. There were little to no flowers in the image, and really that was the problem. I wanted a lush and colorful garden. 
Many months passed, again, when I found myself standing in front of this place. The gate was still open! Who leaves their gate open like this? ...all the time!? In a big city like Chicago! 
This time I started imagining how I could create the photo. I'd have to bring in lots of flowers for starters. But before all this, I would need to contact the home owners on the other side of the path. I couldn't even see the house from here. Since the owners with the gate permanently open were clearly kooks, I didn't want to risk walking through the path and getting shot. So I mailed a letter to the address, explaining that I was interested in taking a photo of their yard at night. Nothing strange here.
I had planned to go knocking on their door a couple of weeks after mailing the letter but there was no need because a week later the owners contacted me and were interested!
When I finally met the retired couple, they weren't kooks at all, but the most lovely husband and wife. They always leave the gate open, they said, because they like the feel of it. It's simply a friendly, welcoming neighborhood gesture. This was inspiring to say the least.
Soon after, I got to work, buying nearly every flower you see in the photo. Placing them and decorating their garden was not easy, but it was a labor of love. In order to keep everything looking fresh, the shoot was planned for that same evening. My wife Nikki was there with her indispensable help in getting exactly what I had imagined those years earlier.

 

 

 

"In none of his photos does Nuez exploit the obvious" 

Montreal Gazette

"Seductive ... Nuez's photos do not leave one indifferent"

Ciel Variable - Contemporary Photography magazine

 

Light Paintings series

 

I sometimes fantasize that with the snap of a finger, I can escape reality ... in a moment, be transported to a dream world free of life's demands, a child's playground where magic exists and all is right with the world.My Light Paintings are that portal. Through them I can transcend reality and escape into these beautiful, vibrant yet peaceful realms.

 

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Although there is some digital manipulation in this series, the unusual lighting and surreal quality in the Light Painting series is achieved by using colored lights during long exposures. They are not digital effects.

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    FINISHES
    Our unique and vibrant photographs will add depth and stunning color to any home, office or public space. They are offered in two main finishes

     

    1. Metal float mount
    Our Metal prints have a magical luminescence. Their vibrant, saturated colors jump off the wall, and will last for generations. They are created by infusing dyes directly into specially coated aluminum sheets making them incredibly durable and scratch resistant. The ready-to-hang finished piece is float mounted, so they float one inch off the wall.

     

    2. Archival prints
    We print on premium quality Sunset eSatin paper, using archival Ultrachrome inks for incredible endurance and color saturation. These prints will last for generations.

    11x14 and 16x20 sizes are available with or without a window mat. If you are unsure which is best for you, feel free to contact us. Most clients seem to purchase without the window mat.

     

    Prints larger than 16X20 are available as full-frame prints, without a white border or a window mat. If you want a white border, just let us know!


    CUSTOM SIZES
    If you have a specific size requirement, that's no problem! Maybe the perfect size is somewhere between two of the sizes in the drop down list. In that case, the price would be the proportional difference. We?ve also stretched and cropped pieces for customers to fit precise spaces. Give us the dimensions and we'll email you image options for you to choose from. There is no charge for the extra labor in custom sizing pieces.

     

    LIMITED EDITIONS
    Metal prints in the following sizes include a Certificate of Authenticity, which will be mailed to you:

    48X65 or 48X72: edition of 15

    43X57 or 40X60: edition of 25

    32X40 or 30X45: edition of 50

    24X30 or 22X33: edition of 100

    16X20 or 16X24: edition of 200


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    We want you to be happy with your art purchase. If a piece arrives damaged or defective, please contact us and a replacement will be shipped. All of my finished pieces are created using the highest quality archival processes. They come with a lifetime guarantee against fading or color shift.

PriceFrom $59.00
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