‘Apex’ Finds a Unique Home with Ernest Studios, Melbourne
In the world of fine art seascape photography, Tal Lemmens continues to forge meaningful collaborations that extend far beyond the image. His internationally acclaimed photograph, ‘Apex’, recently found a remarkable new expression through a bespoke framing project with Craig from Ernest Studios in Melbourne, commissioned by the team at New Ethic Electrical.
The project was no ordinary frame job — it was a shared vision that merged sustainable design, ocean-inspired artistry, and craftsmanship at its finest.
Craig, the skilled artisan behind Ernest Studios, hand-built a one-of-a-kind frame using reclaimed messmate timber, salvaged from the streets of Footscray, Melbourne. The timber, rich with history and oxidation, carries its own narrative — bearing marks of age and exposure, adding warmth, authenticity, and gravitas to the final piece.
Complementing the earthy textures of the messmate wood are Craig’s signature mirror sidewalls, which reflect the ‘Apex’ image and extend its sense of depth. The result is a framing solution that doesn't merely surround the artwork but enhances and echoes its essence — the illusion of infinity, the sculptural presence of the wave, the silence beneath the surface.
This collaboration speaks deeply to Tal’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and local craftsmanship, while also celebrating the storytelling potential of materials. It’s a project that connects the tactile world with the photographic — where timber once discarded is transformed into a vessel for fine art, and the ocean’s power is both contained and liberated within the frame.
“Craig’s framing brought a new depth to ‘Apex’ — one that honours the photograph’s quiet intensity, and reinforces its environmental message,” said Tal. “Collaborating with makers like Craig and businesses like New Ethic Electrical shows how meaningful art can become when it connects with thoughtful design.”
You can view ‘Apex’ as part of Tal’s Sustainable Limited Edition Series, alongside other large-scale seascape artworks. Each is created in collaboration with Aeterna Lab, printed on archival museum-grade paper, and available to Australian collectors.
To explore more artist collaborations and seascape photography collections, visit tallemmensphoto.com or follow along on Instagram.
Contacting Craig at Ernest Studios:
Craig can be contacted through his website at www.erneststudio.com.au for custom bespoke. framing.