Information Page – History of Photography – Terms and Conditions

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HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY

We owe the name "Photography" to Sir John Herschel, who first used the term in 1839, the year the photographic process became public. The word comes from the Greek words for light and writing. The innovations which would lead to the development of photography existed long before the first photograph. The camera obscura ( Latin for "dark room") had been in existence for at least 400 years, but its use was limited to its purpose as an aid to drawing. It was discovered that if a room was completely darkened, with a single hole in one wall, an inverted image was upside down (stimulating the way that images actually enter our eyes) The earliest record of the uses of camera obscura can be found in the writings of Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), who may have used it as an aid to understanding perspective. In the 17th and 18th centuries a table top method was developed. By adding a focused lens and a mirror, it was possible for a person outside of the box to trace the image which was reflected through it.

It was a French man, Nicephore Niepce who produced the first photograph in June/July 1827. By using chemicals on a metal plate, placed inside of a camera obscura, he was able to to record an obscura image of the view outside of his window. he called this process "heliography" (after the Greek "of the sun") The image was not all that clear, a building on the left, a tree, and a barn immediately in front. The exposure lasted eight hours, so the sun had time to move from east to west, appearing to shine both sides of the building. Fixing the image proved also to be a problem for him, so that it would not darken on exposure to light.

Daguerre is the most is the most famous of several people who invented more successful and commercially applicable forms of photography. He regularly used a camera obscura as an aid to painting in perspective, and this lead him to seek to freeze the image. In 1826 he learned of the work of Niepce, and in January of 1829 signed up a partnership with him. The partnership was a short one as the French man died in 1833, but Daguerre continued to experiment. He was able to reduce the exposure time to thirty minutes, and in 1837 he discovered a process he called Daguerreotype. Drawbacks at this time included the fact that exposure times were to long for portraiture; the image was laterally reversed (as onwe sees one self in a mirror); and that the image was very fragile. Another drawback was that it was a "once only" system (since it was fixed to metal). Soon exposure times were reduced to a matter of seconds meaning that portraiture became more commercially viable. In 1884 George Eastman introduced flexible film, allowing multiple images to to be produced on light-sensitized paper. Four years later he introduced the box camera, and photography could now reach a much greater number of people. The slogan "You press the button, we do the rest" he was responsible for bringing photography to the masses.

PRIVACY POLICY

Patrick Donald Galleries is pleased to provide you with the privacy you would expect regarding any personal information you enclose on this site. We do not sell, trade, or give away our mailing list ever.

We would like include you on our internal mailing list for updates, notifications, or specific information occasionally. Our mailing list system is a double opt-in. When you sign up, you will be sent a notice to confirm your registration. You may opt out at any time. We do not send a lot of newsletters, so do not worry about being swamped with emails from us.

SECURITY POLICY

Patrick Donald Galleries has a SSL (secure socket layer) e-commerce capability. While we are protected, and our credit card processing vendors are some of the most secure institutions available, the Plain English version of the fine print is that we cannot provide a 100% guarantee against the most dedicated attacks. If we become aware of a security breach that may compromise your credit card information, we will notify you of that via email as soon as possible.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

It has on occasions happened that people have received the wrong item or damage has occurred to the item on its way to you. In these instances we have a return policy and are happy to make things right.

RETURN FOR WRONG ITEM If you decide that your purchase simply isn't right, you may return the item within 30 days of receipt. The Patrick Donald Photography Gallery will issue refunds or store credit for goods returned in the original packaging in sale-able condition. Please contact us in advance and use the original packing when shipping. All other situations will be handled individually.

After 15 days, goods may be refunded with gallery credit.

RETURN FOR DAMAGE IN SHIPPING All orders are handled and packaged to ensure their safe and sound arrival. If your package is received with obvious external damage, please refuse shipment unopened citing damage. This will ensure immediate replacement of your order or refund. If, upon opening your package, you find the contents damaged, please keep all of the original packaging and notify us immediately via email. Please have the following information included: order number, item description, shipping details.

CONTACT FOR RETURNS: info@patrickdonald.com

RIGHT OF CANCELLATION OF THE CONTRACT:
You are given seven working days ( Monday to Friday ) from the day on which the goods are received in order to cancel a purchase made through this site. Cancellation must be made in writing ie. E-mail info@patrickdonald.com

NB. Go to contact us for more information.

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ORDERING AND TRACKING ORDERS

Ordering

To order photographs framed or otherwise using our secure online payment facilities, follow these steps:

1. From one of the galleries choose an image that you are interested in by clicking on it.

2. The image will open up on the purchase page.

3. If you would like to see what the photograph will look like framed please select View Framed.

4. To view other sizes and formats of the same image use the scroll bar in the purchase section.

5. If you are happy with the image and your selection of size and format press the Add to Cart button

6. When you have finished shopping on the site fill in your details in the shopping cart and process your order.

7. We will look after the rest.

Tracking Orders

To track orders that have already been processed please send an email to info@patrickdonald.com with the following details …..Order number, Item description and shipping address.

POSTAGE AND PACKAGING

We have structured our shipping methods so as to give you value for money and can ship to your door any where in the world.

The expected times of delivery are as follows:

IRELAND 5 - 8 days

UNITED KINGDOM 8 - 12 Days

EUROPE 10 - 14 Days

THE REST OF THE WORLD 13 - 18 Days

ABOUT THE PRINTS

Patrick Donald's Black and White Ireland and the World Series of photographs are produced using the very latest digital technologies using archival inks to give longevity and quality to the finished pictures.

If you are interested in puchasing a collectors edition Patrick Donald photograph it would be our pleasure to inform you as to the other methods Patrick reproduces his works, please do so be emailing info@patrickdonald.com Silver gelatin prints start at €350 and go up depending on size.

COMMISSIONED WORK

If you are interested in having either an area or object photographed weather it be a garden in the full bloom of summer or the most bizarre personal object you posses, Patrick will be happy to quote a price. For further details on availability and cost please email him at info@patrickdonald.com The details he will need to put a price together are location, the nature of the assignment, how many prints you had in mind and for what purpose.

Glossary

Term	Definition
Aperture	The size of the opening of the lens, measured in "f-stops". The lens aperture or f-stop is simply the diameter of the lens opening expressed as a fraction of its focal length. The aperture controls how much light is transmitted to the film, which, in conjunction with the film speed, determines the length of the exposure. The aperture also establishes the depth of field and the range of focus. A small aperture will result in a greater depth of field and generally a sharper image than a larger aperture.
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Archival	A feature of some materials used in presenting or storing fine art work. Acids in paper, cotton, cardboard, wood and other materials will, over time, cause deterioration in the artwork. Archival materials are acid-free, and sometimes include a buffer to prevent acidic penetration of material. The term archival is sometimes used with respect to certain color photographic techniques to describe their longevity or color fastness.
Archival Processing	A generic term for multiple types of processes that have the intent of reducing as much as practicable, or stabilizing, the quantity of materials and chemicals that can lead to deterioration.
Copyright	Copyright – This applies to the Irish Copyright & Related Rights Act 2000. Title to all photographs, transparencies and digital or electronic images, and other material whether analogue or digital hereafter called (‘The Works’) delivered to the client remain the property of the photographer Patrick Donald Photography. The client shall not be permitted to sell any of The Works without the prior agreement of the photographer, or pass these Works to any third party. In addition - these Works cannot be cropped in any manner, including any composite or distorted representation of these Works, without the prior agreement of the photographer.
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Edition	General term for a grouping or classification of any grade of artwork, be it exhibition prints, reproductions, posters, books, etc. The term is so general, with so many different types of classifications, that it is, by itself, meaningless. Always ask the seller what the edition means.
Edition, Limited	Every photographer has different ways of selling and editioning there work, although the most important thing to consider is weather the work is of a high quality. Most of Patrick Donald's photographs are unlimited edition prints
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Grain	Grain is the smallest unit of color or tone in film, the digital equivalent is pixel.
Image	The artist"s rendition of the scene which seeks to convey or evoke a particular emotion. Sometimes the term is confused with the meaning of "Print", which is the tangible object.
Image Quality	Image quality consists of luminosity, tonality, sharpness, and grain of the image of a print. It does not refer to the composition of the image, which is a subjective determination and generality will not vary from print to print.
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Image Quality, Sharpness	Sharpness refers to the focus or clarity of lines and gradations of tone.
Image Quality, Tonality	Tonality refers to both the hue of a black and white photograph and the gradation of black to white throughout the photograph.
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Longevity / Stability	Photographic prints are typically archivally processed to enhance their permanence. Platinum, palladium and cyanotypes are considered permanent. Most silver prints, properly washed and fixed, are generally permanent as well. Not all color processes are as stable, however, recent advances in archival papers such as FujColor Crystal Archive paper have significantly extended the life of color prints. Inks and pigments are being developed that have a greater longevity all the time.
Media Type, Photograph	Photograph can and does mean both the tangible paper based result and the image as it is created in the camera and on film. We generally refer to the tangible final result as a 'print', and the film negative or positive as the negative. We sometimes refer to photograph as a print, but never use print to refer to poster.
Mount	Also called "mount board", the photograph is mounted, either "tipped", "dry mounted", "hinged" or "wet mounted" on to a paper, cotton, or foam core "board" that is stiff enough to support the print. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages. The most important thing to know is whether it is archival or not.
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Mount, Corner	Process of attaching a photograph to a mount board using corner "sheaths" which are adhered to the mount. The photograph is not permanently affixed, and the tips of the photograph slide into the corners. Usually the overmat covers the corners, and the artist may sign the overmat and/or the photograph edge.
Mount, Dry	Process of adhering a photograph to a mount board using a thin heat-sensitive paper. Most photographers use an archival dry mount tissue. Dry mounting is, for the most part, permanent, and flaws, dust and grit in the mount process can ruin the photograph.
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Original	General usage means a print made by the artist. Historically, some photographers were not interested in working in the darkroom, but prints signed by them are considered to be originals. With digital processes, originals are not handcrafted but are approved and signed by the artist.
Over-mat	A cotton or fiber "board" that rests on top of the mount in which a window is cut to reveal the photograph. The over-mat will provide some protection (eliminate contact) from the surface of the glass or plexi-glass when the photograph is framed. It can also protect the edges of the print. Some photographers sign the over-mat as well as the print or mount.
Photograph	As a noun, photograph can and does mean both the tangible paper based result and the image as it is created in the camera and on film. We generally refer to the tangible final result as a 'print', and the film negative or positive as the negative. As a verb, it is a great occupation, avocation, hobby, or pastime.
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Photograph, Original	Photographs are, by nature of the art form, two steps removed from the subject. The first step is the negative (or positive transparency), the second is the photograph. The generally accepted definition of "Original Photograph" is a photograph printed by the photographer from the original negative. With caveats.
Ply	A measure of the stiffness or thickness of mount and over-mat
Portfolio	A group of photographs published together, usually with some unifying concept, such as artist, subject matter, composition, theme, or interpretation.
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Print	Term that is used widely and loosely to refer to the physical object of any number of photographic or other paper-based media. Not to be confused with the term "Image", which is the artist"s rendition of the scene. Print can also mean photograph, poster, lithograph, linotype, woodblock, etc
Print Quality	Print quality consists of tangible aspects, such as the papers used, the original presentation of the print, and the subsequent condition. See condition.
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Print, Bromide or Bromoil	A gelatin silver paper which uses a bromide salt instead of the more typical chloride salt. The chemical difference provides a different tonal quality, a brownish hue to the blacks.
Print, Chromogenic	General term for a color print. Includes print categories color negative (c-print and crystal archive), color positive (silver dye), and ink (pigment and dye).
Print, Contact	A photographic print made by placing the negative in direct contact with the paper rather than projecting the image onto the paper through an enlarger lens. Contact prints are always the same size as the negative. They typically show the least amount of grain of any photograph made from that negative.
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Print, Crystal Archive	A new generation of color negative photographic paper. Designed for use in large, digitally controlled laser 'enlargers'. The lasers expose the emulsion on the paper in microscopic increments. When completely exposed, the paper is then processed with traditional photographic chemicals. This photographic paper is expected to remain color stable for more than 60 years.
Print, Exhibition	Refers to the highest quality of photographic print. The printed Image reflects not just the vision of the artist, but the craftsmanship, with tonality and luminosity as the artist intends. Exhibition Prints are processed archivally, usually on a fiber based paper. Almost all original photographs signed by the artist are considered Exhibition Prints. The term is interchangeable with Fine Print or Fine Art Print.
Print, Fine	Term used refer to the highest quality of photographic print. The printed Image reflects not just the vision of the artist, but the craftsmanship with tonality and luminosity as the artist intends. Fine Prints are processed archivally, usually on a fiber based paper. Almost all original photographs signed by the artist are considered Fine Prints. The term is interchangeable with Exhibition Print.
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Print, Gelatin Silver	A gelatin silver print, or just "silver print" refers to prints made on paper having silver chloride emulsion. Most contemporary black and white photographs are gelatin silver prints.
Print, Inkjet	An inkjet print can be created on an inexpensive home printer from a digital image file or on high quality commercial printer at high resolution. Ink is applied on paper or other material by spraying tiny droplets of ink from nozzles in the printer head. Iris and Giclee prints are examples of high quality inkjet applications. The newest inks and pigments formulated for this process have archival qualities similar to photographic prints.
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Print, Modern	A photograph printed substantially later than the when the negative was made.
Print, Period	A photograph printed near the time the negative was made, but not early enough to be considered vintage.
Print, Pigment	A color print made using digital technologies with a pigment ink as the color base instead of dye. The first digital print-making process to combine archival stability with small droplet size. The most common digital print making technology uses Epson printers and inks. Independent of paper selection, archival stability is expected for over 70 years.
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Print, Reproduction	Photograph made for the specific purpose of reproducing a photograph in a newspaper, book, or magazine. Because of the limitations of these media, photographers typically print the image without the full range of tones. The magazine, for example, usually prints black and white images in half-tones, which adds contrast to the image. Until very recently, the photographer would have to compensate for the press by printing a muted, low contrast photograph specifically for reproduction purposes. Also called "repro print". Not to be confused with "Reproduction".
Print, Straight	A photograph made without manipulation such as burning or dodging which shows exactly the densities inherent in the negative.
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Print, Type 'C'	A color printing process replaced in 1958 primarily by Ektacolor RC Prints. Photographs are printed on resin-coated paper from color negatives. Less stable than most color processes, this is the type of print most people get from their local film processor.
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Print, Vintage	A photograph printed within a very few years of the date when the negative was made. Collectors typically place a higher value on a vintage print than a later print.
Print, Work	Achieving the visualized image is a difficult process, with a multitude of factors that need to be aligned. Such factors include: size of print, developer temperature and time, type of paper, dry-down, burning and dodging, etc. A work print is an intermediate step which is not exhibition quality.
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Provenance	Term for the history of a particular work of art. In photography, the history of a unique print. Often includes ownership, exhibits, and references. The provenance of a fine print can have a very significant impact on its value to a collector.
Quality	In the context of this glossary, quality refers to both the print and the image. Image quality consists of luminosity, tonality, sharpness, and grain to name a few aspects. Print quality consists of tangible aspects, such as the papers used, the original presentation of the print, and the subsequent condition.
Reproduction	In the photographic sense, rather than biological sense. A reproduction is a second or further generation from the original photograph. A reproduction can be photographic (an example is the Best Studio Edition) or ink-based, such as a poster, lithograph, card, or calendar.
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Sharpness	Sharpness refers to the focus or clarity of lines and gradations of tone.
Stamp	Artist"s typically use a rubber stamp to identify themselves as the artist, sometimes their contact information, and that the image is copyrighted. The title and specific identification is usually handwritten.
Tonality	Tonality refers to both the hue of a black and white photograph and the gradation of black to white throughout the photograph.
Toning, Selenium	This is a chemical process used to both harden the surface of a gelatin silver print and to intensify the tonalities.
Toning, Sepia	This is a chemical process that is used to create a warmer hue to a gelatin silver print.
Zone System	A scientific system for exposing film, developing negatives, and printing photographs to achieve the range of tonality desired. Developed and mastered by Ansel Adams

NEWS

24th Feb 2009

Currently working on an on going series of work of Dublin people and there environment, developing the film I take through a range of film cameras that I have.

I am heading to China and Australia and USA for one month from the 11th March, on this trip I will be intent on immersing myself in the cultures that I find, with the view to capturing meaningful pictures that I would hope will go some way to inhance the viewers perspective and meaning relative to there own existance.

1st November 2008

Patrick Donald Photography will be showing his work in the 2008 November Art Ireland Show in the RDS from the 14th to the 16th November. At this show Patrick will be exibiting a variety of his work including some of his more popular Cuban images from a trip he made there in January of this year as well as Landscape photographs of Ireland and street photographs of Dublin. Any one interested should contact him by sending an email requesting tickets, and we will send them to you free of charge in the post.

Patrick is proud to announce that he has been awarded the Bank of Scotland (Ireland) Portrait Prize in conjunction with the Royal Hibernian Academy in Ely Place, where two of his pieces are on show.

News..................."SIGNIFICANT NEW PORTRAIT AWARD"

(As Quoted by the latest edition of Irish Arts Review)

2008 WINNER PATRICK DONALD

Winning Image: Fairground Scene, Cuba 2008

Patrick is proud to announce that at the 178th Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition where all art forms are submitted, that he was awarded The Inaugral Bank of Scotland (Ireland) and Irish Arts Review Photographic Portrait Prize, for the image above taken in Cuba when he was there in January 2008. The image also features on the front cover of the Irish Arts Review in the current Winter issue, and features prominantly in the article on how photography has taken centre stage at this years Annual RHA. This is a welcome and timely feature for those practicing in photography not only as a means of expression but its acceptance as a valid art form within what I consider as to be the most interesting part of the artical, and that is portraying the scene as it was taken. Representing the image in an honest light unmanipulated by software advances.

"In classic documentary style, a girl and a boy set astride their fairground horses. The girl looks directly at Donald's camera, in the present tense as it were, while the boy's gaze is decidedly elsewhere, 'elsewhen'. The conventional site of fairground fun is here curiously undermined by the girls sullen scowl, the oblivious people in the background, and the hobby horses arificial, wooden and static gaiety, in all contrast to the boy's searching gaze towards something outside this world and beyond the frame"

Series 1 Cuba 2008 - Images of the People

This was an exhibition of Patrick's work that was held in the Monster Truck Gallery on Francis Street in Dublin in April 2008 consisting of images that were taken in Cuba in Jan 2008. The next series of these images will be in ten years time when he will have returned to make similar style street photographs in order to see if there has been much change over that time frame.

For more information, please contact us directly at info@patrickdonald.com

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