Let's face it. Germs, bugs, and viruses have been on all of our minds lately, even in areas where you wouldn't generally expect to have to think about them.
I am (mostly) an outdoor photographer, meaning I spend a lot of time outside in the elements and dust. The only thing I've ever focused on keeping super clean was my lenses and equipment until Covid came rolling in on all of us.
I'm sure you can relate. I started carrying Clorox wipes for door handles and bathrooms on the road, gas pump handles, and ATMs. Always wiping everything down before and after I touched it. Thankfully, we know a little more about the virus today, and I can be less manic about wiping everything down and simply use basic precautions like not touching my face so much and washing my hands often.
It's got me thinking though. This new virus has affected every aspect of our lives. Restaurants and Bars have had to completely change how they serve their customers, adapting to new rules and procedures on how people can gather safely. Hospitals focusing on cleanliness and sterilization more than at any time in history. It's affecting Hotels and Air BNBs. Anywhere that people frequent or gather.
As you may or may not know, I have been printing my photography on metal for a while now. I use metal as a medium because the pictures have brilliant, vibrant colors, an almost luminescent quality about them. The colors don't fade, and it provides a tough scratch-resistant finish. Worthy to hang in a simple home or a fine museum.
"What does this have to do with Covid Jean?" I'll tell you.
Metal Prints use closed-cell technology. The ink is infused directly into the metal, creating a surface that is not only beautiful but also very easy to keep clean and sanitized. I had never thought about it, but Metal Prints are a perfect solution for businesses and locations where cleanliness and sanitation are of great importance. Many restaurants have changed seating areas and tables to accommodate the special cleaning procedures they have implemented. Moving away from cloth table cloths and upholstered chairs for easier to clean surfaces. Metal Prints can be easily sanitized daily without the risk of losing their color or brilliance. This quality makes them perfect for businesses and locations that have high traffic or have to focus on sanitation and safety for the people that visit.
Art brings people together. It provides a sense of well-being and connectedness. It has proven health benefits for both the mental and physical well being of caregivers and patients in hospitals and healthcare facilities. Metal Prints are a smart, safe way to keep art in our lives and on the walls of these types of businesses. Hopefully, new treatments and technologies bring relief for these types of issues that affect all of us so much. I'm happy that my art can be one small solution for these types of businesses. Not just for the beauty and enjoyment but the emotional and physical well being of all that encounter it.
So, in conclusion, I'm still getting quite dirty at times out on dusty photoshoots around tumbleweeds, mesas, and the occasional cow. I am still going to great lengths to keep my equipment clean and in top shape. I am washing my hands often and trying not to touch my face so much. I'm doing my best to be safe and to care about the safety of others.
If we all do our part, we will get past this and move on to greener pastures.
Stay safe out there, and I can't wait for you to see my new work!