Catfish and turtles, Roper River, Northern Territory2011
This photograph shows catfish and turtles swimming at night in the Roper River in the Northern Territory. Also in the water are small phosphorescent insects that look like stars, giving the impression that the turtles and catfish are swimming in the Milky Way. The work forms part of The black rose, a project Parke began in 2007 and exhibited at the Art Gallery of South Australia in 2015. The black rose project represents Parke’s attempt to explore his own past. It is an autobiographical meditation on the cycles of life, death and family. This work is typical of Parke’s broader practice in that it highlights the unique qualities of black-and-white photography and illustrates the important role light plays in his images. It was taken during one of the two road trips Parke took as part of the The black rose project and highlights the importance of being close to nature and photographing at night.
(2015)
Also known as Giclee prints or bubble-jet prints, pigment ink-jet prints are generated by computer printers from digital or scanned files using dye-based or pigment-based inks. A series of nozzles spray tiny droplets of ink onto the paper surface in a precise pattern that corresponds to the digital image file. In dye-based prints the ink soaks into the paper, whereas in pigment-based prints the ink rests and dries on top of the paper surface.
Whilst the term is broad, pigment ink-jet prints have come to be associated with prints produced on fine art papers. They are the most versatile and archival method of printing available to photographers today. A wide variety of material on which an image can be printed with such inks are available, including various textures and finishes such as matte photo paper, watercolour paper, cotton canvas or pre-coated canvas.
