I'm Ctein, and I'm not your average photographer.
I have a double-degree from Caltech in English and Physics, and I've written over 250 articles and manuals on photographic topics. I've done research in everything from solar astronomy to computer screens and from the seventy-year-old dye transfer printmaking process to state-of-the-art electronic color displays. I've made new discoveries about ordinary black-and-white photographic printing and new designs for computer printers.
I'm also a crack technical writer. I've written manuals for (among others) Be, Inc. on hardware and Electric Communities on software. Along with word-processing I can do illustration, page layout (I designed and laid out my book POST EXPOSURE), and HTML (obviously). If you're in need of a contract technical writer take a gander at my resume. I'm always interested in new clients!
But, in my heart of hearts, I'm an artist. Kodak made me their PPA Featured Photographer in 1983, and everyone who has seen my work declares it unparalleled. The editor of the magazine PHOTO Techniques wrote of my work, "Ctein may well be one of America's most accomplished unknown photographers." That's very flattering, but I'd like to do something about that second-to-last word. Hence, this modest effort at self-promotion.
I do have an international reputation as one of the premier photographic printers alive; in fact, experts at Kodak at one time declared me to be the finest color printer, bar none. For many years my printing skills have been in great demand by others.
I'm currently one of a handful of photographers in the world who can still make dye transfer prints. When Kodak stopped making dye transfer printing materials (read What are Dye Transfers? for details), I installed deep-freezers in my home and took the unprecedented step of purchasing a multi-year supply of the necessary films, dyes, papers and chemicals. I am one of the few people left who can create these wonderful photographs.
My portfolio of dye transfer photographs now numbers about 300. My style has been described as "landscape", but the subject matter is as diverse as my interests. There is the traditional western scenery, of course, but it happily coexists with subject matter ranging from nighttime urban architecture to the Space Shuttle, from the interiors of caves to the aurora borealis, from comets and eclipses to animals in zoos and aquariums.
What ties my work together is a consistent and coherent artistic vision. I've managed to build up a growing following among collectors and lovers of fine photography, despite very little gallery or professional representation. (I'm always interested in new representation. Anyone out there want me?)
"But," you ask, "will I think it's good art"?
The whole point of the many hundreds of hours I put in preparing this gallery was so that you could judge for yourselves. Go to The Gallery. Look at my work! Let me know what you think.
Last, but hardly least...
If you'd like to see the actual dye transfer prints, read How to See the Original Prints.
Ctein