Episode 63: Printing, Calibration, and Craft with Gary Ashton of Photo Prints
In episode 63 of the Photo Country Podcast, Rajeev records a face-to-face video conversation in Auckland with returning guest Gary Ashton, who runs the Photo Prints printing and framing business. Gary describes starting Photo Prints about 10 years ago after learning from family in Australia, running it alongside a long-time shoe repair shop in Ponsonby, and moving to printing full time after COVID reduced shoe repair demand. They discuss Epson wide-format printers, RIP software, paper/ink profiling, monitor calibration tools like Spyder devices, and how uncalibrated screens affect print results. Gary compares phone vs mirrorless/DSLR prints, explains paper choices (luster, matte, cotton rag), and shares experiments with metal sublimation printing. He talks about his own photography interests (birds, landscapes, Milky Way), editing in RAW, AI-assisted denoise/removal versus AI image generation, film’s renewed interest, photography costs, and travel photo goals like the South Island and Iceland for northern lights.
00:00 Live Podcast Kickoff
00:59 Reuniting With Gary
01:51 Inside Photo Prints Shop
02:02 From Shoe Repair to Prints
03:15 Color Accuracy and Calibration
05:43 Who Prints and Why
06:53 Gary's Photography Journey
09:28 Paper Choices and Cotton Rag
10:53 Metal Prints Experiment
12:11 Value of Printed Art
13:52 AI Tools and Editing Taste
15:43 Film Profiles and Revival
17:22 Gear Costs and Bucket List
19:11 Final Thanks and Sign Off
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