| Artist Biography
Michael Fain grew up in Chicago and attended the University of Chicago. He worked for over twenty years as an optical and mechanical engineer in Chicago, and in high-tech companies in Maryland, Colorado, and Canada. In 1980 he began a fiction writing collaboration with his wife, Judith Barnard, that has resulted in the publication of eleven novels under the name "Judith Michael."
Michael Fain has been a photographer for over sixty years, with photographs published in the Chicago Tribune Sunday Magazine, Chicago Magazine, and scientific journals. In 2000 he began studying digital imaging.
Artist Statement
The sophistication of digital imaging has opened new horizons for me over the past few years. As a photographer for many years I was especially intrigued by the emotions that could be elicited in viewers by using a full range of tones in black and white photographs. Now, by using digital imaging techniques, I am able to explore the use of tones, contrast, detail, montage, and duplication to a degree that was not previously feasible. Photography can never completely "capture" an image in the same ways as the human eye, because of the limitations of camera and film. Since a photographic print, however carefully executed, is only an approximation of the original image, I am willing to greatly increase the range of that approximation by the use of digital imaging techniques so that my printed images reflect my imagination, as well as emotions that were stimulated by the subject matter.
About the images
The images on this web site span a period of over 60 years. Until 2000, all images were captured on 35mm black and white film, and printed in a conventional manner on silver gelatin paper. Starting in 2000 the original negatives were re-examined, and those of interest were scanned by a high resolution scanner. The images were then processed by using Adobe Photoshop. Images made after 2002 were captured digitally. Additionally, some recent images have been created by using Photoshop only.
Printing
All images have been printed by Epson inkjet printers. Several ink and paper combinations, selected for tonal range and long term stability, have been used. The longevity of these papers and ink combinations has been rated by Wilheim Imaging Research, and others, from 76 to over 268 years.
All images have been limited to editions of six, regardless of size. Many are available in several sizes, including 11x14 inches (16x20 framed), 16x20 inches (22x28 framed), and 24x30 inches (30x36 framed). Triptyches are 14x35(20x40 framed).
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