Knock, knock. It seems impossible to resist tapping the surface of a wood print when you hold it in your hands. Immediately, you'll notice that the piece feels solid and durable, though pleasantly light. When we custom-make a wood print for you, the image is transferred onto a board of engineered wood, laminated with a special UV-resistant coating, and mounted onto a solid wood frame with hand-painted black edges. The surface is smooth to the touch and can have either a matte finish (for a soft, natural look) or a resin-gloss finish (for an elegant shine).  For all of you art-hanging-o-phobes, for most sizes, the frame can simply be hooked onto wall with a single centered nail.

This week, you get to see what Olive Groves looks like when it is transformed into a wood mount and hung up on a wall. Olive Groves depicts the unforgettable peacefulness that can be found amongst the shadows of majestic olive trees in the countryside near Ostuni, Puglia – halfway down Italy's heart-stopping stiletto. 

It is a completely awe-inspiring sight to step into a seemingly endless field dotted with massively tall olive trees, their robust trunks in perfect contrast with their delicate silvery leaves, catching the light of a perfect Italian sky. Your instinct is to look up rather than straight ahead, much like a child glances up at his father, with curious eyes. How could you feel as though you even have an age when you stand at their feet? Face to face with twisted, gnarly, bumpy trunks, you realize that no two trees are even remotely alike. Each one seems as though it has its own story to tell, its own lineage to recount. One of the trunks was split into two, hollowed out and blackened in its core. It bore a plaque with the name Attilio and an inscription "Perché la vita rinasca" – a reminder (and wish) that life is continuously reborn.

Once you are in the grove, surrounded by these silent creatures, you forget what lies on the other side of this field – where you came from. The heat of the day brings the distinct smell of the dry, ochre-colored earth straight to your nose. If you could choke on a scent, it would be this one. The echo of your footsteps on the crackly carpet of earth and rock is lost in an air that is filled with the deafening sound of crickets and rustling leaves. You are overcome with the protective calm that is instilled by the ancient trees. You feel better in their presence, in their playful shade, sheltered from the unrelenting pugliese sun. You feel appeased in their company, touched by their wisdom, their stability and permanence. You suddenly feel closer to nature and feel a moving kinship towards those people who love their land and devote their life to preserving the cultural traditions that stem from these deeply entrenched roots. 

Olive Groves depicts that memorable moment of having stepped into a precious, uniquely breathtaking and perspective-changing landscape. The mood of the moment is captured in the deep shadows cast by the olive trees – especially the two that anchor the scene in the foreground. The leaves are in mid-flicker in the breeze the day creates when it slips into late afternoon. The bench, in the middle, is inviting: Come, sit a while, be one with nature. Feel lost in time, overwhelmed by your fleeting existence, but in utter peace. 

I love Olive Groves when it is printed on wood because it feels as though it is closer to its natural element, and especially to its natural color palette. The wood print brings out the warm colors and strong contrasts of an image, which I feel makes Olive Groves more evocative. The subtle pattern of the wood is integrated into the image and, together with the matte finish of the piece, makes it look more like a painting than a photograph. Other scenes that would look beautiful on wood are Elegance, Laguna Mia and Deity. Browse the store to see what may inspire you!

© This text is copyrighted by Kristina Kasparian. Reproduction is prohibited. 

Once I decided to share my photography with the world, I knew I needed to create an image for Veni Etiam – an image that, above all, conveyed how I envisioned it in my mind's eye, as well as one that would linger in the minds and memory of those who experienced the brand. 

I intuitively turned to a duet of talented designers – Santhi Thomaidi and Lefteris Protopapas, known as Alati design. We had met in Greece some years ago and I had continued to follow their creative projects from afar. I trusted them from the start, without a second thought. What I didn't know at that time, though, was how rewarding and how much fun our collaboration would be, and how much more than a logo I would gain from the experience.

When I first contacted them, I knew I needed to design a logo, a business card and some stationery. What I quickly learned through them is that what we needed to design, in fact, was so much more than those basic elements; we needed to create a visual identity for Veni Etiam – a consistent and recognizable look that would visually communicate the essence of the brand. What makes it special and engaging?

I approached them with a summary of what Veni Etiam stood for, and what I hoped it would embody. I had wanted a nostalgic, retro feel – a vintage camera, and classy fonts. I knew I wanted it to look streamlined and crisp, elegant and memorable - safely balanced on the spectrum between old-fashioned and modern. As a starting point, I sent them a few hues of blue, inspired by my love for the Sea and all things maritime, and mentioned that I also imagined a calm charcoal grey. I didn't need to say much else for them to get their design engines running! They absorbed everything I said, mixed it in with their own creative vision of the project, and added generous portions of their impressive talent.

Exactly a year ago, I had the (somewhat intimidating) idea to do something with my passion for photography and writing - something other than taking thousands of photographs a year and sharing them with close friends and family. A step up - a new experiment, a whole new adventure. 

Launching this project truly feels like I'm opening up a part of myself to the world, and nothing has ever felt as exciting and nerve-racking all at once! 

Strangers and non-strangers, I hope that you will like what you see, and that you will be part of this journey in one way or another. 

Thank you to those of you -- you know who you are -- who have always encouraged me to "do something" with this alter-ego to my scientific side. I know you'll find yourselves in many of the images that are part of the current collection, as well as those that are sure to be added to the collection over time. 

When you check the store, be sure to read up on the different kinds of wall-art you may choose from - not only a variety of dimensions, but a medium for every taste or style of decor. Photo previews of the various options will follow as soon as possible. Stay tuned for updates, stories behind my favorite photos, new pieces that get added to the collection, and new kinds of products. 

When you embark on a new chapter, you never know if it'll be BIG or not. All you can do is take a deep breath, carry your faith in your pocket, put your whole heart and soul into that moment, and jump. 

So, that's what I'm doing. This is me jumping. 

This is Veni Etiam Photography, from my heart to yours.