A vibrant Japanese Maple tree in fall in the Portland Japanese Garden.

Shoshin Zen (2014)

Japanese Garden - Portland, Oregon

When I went to the Portland Japanese Garden for the 2nd time, I set out to free my expectations and keep an open mind as to what I may discover there. Utilizing a zen concept known as Shoshin, I was able to discover this particularly sublime tree with fallen leaves around it. The classic tree that everyone photographs was looking OK, albeit minus a lot of leaves, but this tree was looking quite sublime in the soft light of the fog-filled sky during this eerie November morning. I think this tree is a bit more interesting than the classically shot one, but you can be the judge.

Shoshin is a really great approach to life, in general, and this image will always remind me of that practice. Shoshin is the concept of the beginner's mind. Derived from Zen Buddhism, it is the quintessential mindset for learning. It is openness, eagerness, and the lack of preconceptions, no matter the level of expertise you may have regarding a particular subject.

The mind is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master. Left to its own devices, it gets distracted and cluttered. To discard the clutter, one must surrender their ego and their self-identity. To become less than special, formless. Surrendering of oneself does not mean the loss of autonomy, it means being challenged to grow — growing through humility, learning through service, becoming a student and figuratively (sometimes literally) bowing to another. To keep the clutter ("monkey mind") at bay, one must replace it with Shoshin.

Photo © copyright by Matt Payne.

ChromaLuxe Fine Art Metal Print

Shoshin Zen (2014) print

ChromaLuxe Metal Prints are a fantastic budget-conscious fine art print option that preserves high details and color-rendition without sacrificing on quality. Each print's edges are finished to provide a smooth presentation and all four edges are rounded to prevent snags and cuts. Metal prints come in two varieties - glossy and matte. Glossy metal prints are very glossy and can reflect ambient light. They are ideal in locations with low natural light and good directional light from above and have a bit of extra pop in color. Matte metal prints do not reflect nearly as much ambient light and have slightly less "pop." By default, I print using matte metal. If you prefer glossy, please indicate it as such after you place your order.

My ChromaLuxe metal prints are ready to hang upon arrival.

ChromaLuxe’s archival qualities, image brilliance, and durability make it an excellent all-around choice.

* Free shipping for all U.S. orders! Please contact me for international shipping fees. Please allow 2-4 weeks for production and delivery.

Have more questions? Check out my prints FAQ!

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Acrylic Fine Art Masterpiece

Acrylic Fine Art Masterpiece

Your fine photography art is printed on a fine art paper which creates stunning gallery-quality color prints. This medium shows the full depth and color range as I experienced and looks absolutely stunning.

Once printed, the fine art print is placed behind Anti-Reflective acrylic and on top of another acrylic archival substrate. A special adhesive is used to bond the fine art print to the acrylic. This mounting method prevents bowing of the print which is caused by expansion and contraction of the acrylic.

Your fine art is Face Mounted on lens-grade optically clear 1/8″ Anti-Reflective acrylic. This revolutionary product delivers the highest-resolution viewing experience of photographic artwork available today. Our acrylic is 99% UV resistant, helping preserve the life of the print.

Ambient and directed light that shines through the face of these prints is accentuated by the acrylic glass, creating a 3-D or back-lit feel that will absolutely astonish you. To fully enjoy the benefits of an acrylic print, it should be properly lit.

The Acrylic Face Mount comes ready to hang with a Wall Buddies hanging system. An acrylic face mount piece of art will look great against most any wall type.

Have more questions? Check out my prints FAQ!

* Free shipping for all U.S. orders! Please contact me for international shipping fees. Due to the meticulous production process and availability of the high quality materials used in this acrylic artwork, please allow 4-6 weeks for production and delivery.

I also offer discounts for bulk orders!

  • 2 Prints: 5% off using the code "2prints5"
  • 3 Prints: 10% off using the code "3prints10off"
  • 4 Prints: 15% off using the code "4prints15yes"
  • 5+ Prints: 20% off using the code "5prints20woot"
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Fine Art Paper Print

Shoshin Zen (2014) print

Your fine art photography artwork is printed on beautiful Canson Infinity Platine Fibre Rag Paper. This is by far my favorite paper print to use for fine art printing. It has a really nice rag texture and presents details in a stunning way. This paper is 100% cotton, has a beautiful platinum finish for that classic darkroom look. This paper is 310 gsm with a thickness of 15.6 mil and is rated with a whiteness of 89.12%. Prints are shipped rolled in a tube and should be taken directly to your framer to prevent unintentional damage. Please note, I typically do not offer loose paper prints larger than 24" x 36" because they are much more easily damaged in transit and because your overall cost to hang the print on the wall greatly increases due to custom framing. If you still would like a larger loose print, please contact me.

* Free shipping for all U.S. orders! Please contact me for international shipping fees. Please allow 2-3 weeks for production and delivery.

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