Images by Charles Salazar
Charles is a 2nd generation native New Mexican, born and raised in Albuquerque. He attended the University of New Mexico for both undergraduate and graduate studies, receiving a Master of Science degree in Audiology in 1976. Charles began a long year career with the Albuquerque Public Schools in 1977 as an Educational Audiologist, retiring from full time audiology work in July, 2006, to enjoy more time with family and further explore the world of photography, which had grown into a passion of his over the years.
Charles has enjoyed photographing a variety of subjects since purchasing my first 35mm camera in 1978. Until recently, his work was exclusively in color 35 mm, using slow speed, high saturation transparency film. Though never having space for a traditional wet darkroom, Charles experimented over the years having selected images printed by a variety of custom labs. He describes these early prints as always disappointing, as the prints almost never had the vibrancy or detail of the original slides. Advancements in digital technology have now changed this. Charles feels that today’s fine art printmaking processes using computer software and pigment ink printers produce the most satisfying color prints he has seen yet.
After years of monitoring the ever-changing advancements in digital technology, he is now shooting exclusively in digital capture, convinced finally that digital quality can equal, if not exceed what film can deliver. Charles’ prints are individually edited, with only traditional darkroom processes applied to render the highest quality display print. His focus is primarily on the great vistas, intimate landscapes, close-ups and cultural beauty of our natural world. These images are printed on a variety of photographic and fine art papers, using only the latest pigment ink technology to assure archival quality.
Charles's website
Charles has enjoyed photographing a variety of subjects since purchasing my first 35mm camera in 1978. Until recently, his work was exclusively in color 35 mm, using slow speed, high saturation transparency film. Though never having space for a traditional wet darkroom, Charles experimented over the years having selected images printed by a variety of custom labs. He describes these early prints as always disappointing, as the prints almost never had the vibrancy or detail of the original slides. Advancements in digital technology have now changed this. Charles feels that today’s fine art printmaking processes using computer software and pigment ink printers produce the most satisfying color prints he has seen yet.
After years of monitoring the ever-changing advancements in digital technology, he is now shooting exclusively in digital capture, convinced finally that digital quality can equal, if not exceed what film can deliver. Charles’ prints are individually edited, with only traditional darkroom processes applied to render the highest quality display print. His focus is primarily on the great vistas, intimate landscapes, close-ups and cultural beauty of our natural world. These images are printed on a variety of photographic and fine art papers, using only the latest pigment ink technology to assure archival quality.
Charles's website