The Making of ‘Precipice’: Fine Art Seascape Photography Commissioned Artwork

‘Precipice’ on display in Dental Affect, Geelong. Photo: Tal Lemmens

There is something special about seeing a photograph move beyond the screen and become a physical work of art. Precipice is one of my most recognisable seascape photographs, originally captured along the Victorian coastline and awarded a Special Prize at the Vienna International Photo Awards in 2021. Recently, the image was commissioned by Dental Affect in Highton, Geelong, and transformed into a 2.1-metre-wide fine art artwork for their space. The finished piece brought together photography, fine art printing and custom framing to create something designed specifically for its new home.

From Photograph to Fine Art Print

My work is centred around the ocean and the constantly changing nature of the Australian coastline. ‘Precipice’ captures a moment of immense energy and stillness. It is an image that has always lent itself to being experienced at scale, where the detail, movement and atmosphere within the photograph can really come to life. Creating a large-scale artwork, however, involves considerably more than simply enlarging a photograph. The quality of the original image, the printing process and the final presentation all play an important role in ensuring the finished piece retains the character of the photograph.

Photo: Tal Lemmens

Fine Art Printing: Aeterna Lab

For the final print, I worked with Aeterna Lab to produce the artwork at its substantial 2.1-metre scale. Large-format fine art printing requires careful attention to detail. At this size, subtle tonal transitions, texture and detail within the ocean become much more apparent, making the quality of the print particularly important. The aim was to create a finished print that remained faithful to the original photograph while giving ‘Precipice’ the physical presence required for such a large interior space. This is an important part of creating fine art seascape prints.

The photograph may begin as a digital file, but the finished artwork needs to be considered as a physical object, from the quality of the print through to how it is ultimately displayed.

Handmade Framing: Custom Tasmanian Oak Float

The final stage was the framing. The Frame Shop Geelong created a custom 2.1-metre Tasmanian oak float frame specifically for the artwork. I wanted something that would complement the photograph without competing with it. The natural timber brings warmth to the tones of the ocean, while the clean lines of the float frame give the finished piece a contemporary and understated feel. At this scale, the frame becomes part of the architecture of the space. It needed to provide a strong physical presence while allowing the photograph itself to remain the focus.

The result is a substantial piece of coastal artwork that feels considered, timeless and completely at home within its surroundings.

Custom Commissioned Artwork

One of the most rewarding aspects of creating fine art photography is seeing an image become part of someone's space. While my seascape photographs are available as fine art prints for private collectors, I also create custom commissioned artwork for businesses, interiors, offices, hospitality spaces and private homes. A commission can involve selecting an existing photograph from the collection and producing it at a particular scale, or discussing a piece that is specifically suited to the character and dimensions of a space.

For collectors, interior designers, architects and businesses across Geelong and Greater Melbourne, large-scale ocean photography can create a strong connection to the Australian coastline while providing a distinctive piece of artwork for an interior. ‘Precipice’ is a great example of this process: an existing photograph transformed into a bespoke artwork specifically for Dental Affect.

Bring the Ocean to your home…

For me, the appeal of seascape photography has always been the unpredictability of the ocean. Light, swell, weather and perspective continually change the coastline, creating fleeting moments that can never quite be recreated. ‘Precipice’ began as one of those moments. It has since become an award-winning photograph, a fine art print and now a 2.1-metre commissioned artwork installed at Dental Affect in Highton.

That journey, from a fleeting moment in the ocean to a finished piece of artwork, is what makes creating and collecting fine art photography so rewarding.

If you're looking for fine art seascape prints, ocean photography or custom commissioned artwork for your home, business or interior, you can explore the full collection of available works.