Welcome to Photograbee!

Tag: printing

  • Proud to bee AI-Free in 2026

    Photograbee is proud to bee… AI-FREE in 2026. It should go without saying, but ALL of my photography is original, taken by me, Jan Groh, the Photograbee. I do NOT use any AI or stock images in the making of my photos or prints. The only AI I have ever used in this business were the 3D models of a camera and a honeybee from Envato Elements that you can see in my composited logo I created last year (2025) using Photoshop. That’s it.

    Everything else is from either my Nikon D60, Nikon Z50, or now my Google Pixel 8. (I formerly used a Samsung Galaxy S10 which did a decent job as well.)

    I try to get my shots as close to final in-camera as I can (framed well, use two-footed zoom to get a close shot when possible, shoot manually to get good focus on the bees).

    I hate sitting at a computer editing. But I do use Lightroom to adjust white balance, color, exposure and to crop a little as needed to make the final image appealing in print. I do not use Photoshop on my photos presently – I don’t need to. And I do not use AI. I don’t need nor wish to. I’m proud of the images I capture with Gaia’s help. (She sends me bees and other beautiful scenes all the time.)

    A colorful square graphic using a purple to green gradient background from left to right. All text is in goldenrod. 2025 upper left. 2026 upper right. Photograbee logo center top. Text: "is proud to bee..." above several colorful images including California poppies against a vivid blue sky next to two shots of upper and lower Multnomah Falls frozen. Then text: "AI-FREE!" bottom left. Bottom center: "I come by my work honestly. The only software I use is Lightroom."

    That’s it. I’m 100% organic, and bleed when you stick me. And currently do ALL my own printing at the moment as well. I am still trying to get some files over to my buddy Jim Dittmer at JDA Creative Color to get some larger prints and posters out some day. (Coming!) Just don’t hold your breath. I keep getting waylaid. But… I’m starting to come up for air again. And think it’ll happen this year at least. Maybe in time for the holidays… wouldn’t that be great!

    Okay, back to bees-ness. Just wanted to set the record straight. No one has accused me of this yet, but the question has arisen twice now in passing, so I figured I’d get out ahead of it. Yes, what I do is labor-intensive and a lot of work. And I’m proud of it. – Jan G, Photograbee June 17, 2026

  • A teaser of prints to come…March 2026

    Although my new customers love the prints I’ve been offering for the last six months, I’m getting a few repeat customers now. And thought I’d freshen things up a bit by adding a few new images.

    Including my first new Scenic shot that is not Multnomah Falls, smile. (Yes, we love my frozen falls shots but variety is nice too!)

    Photo of a print of a close-up photo of Mt St Helens in the summer 2024. It's partly snow-covered in soft sunlight. View is south into the dome.
    Mt St Helens close

    I have many many more where these came from, I just lack the time to process and produce everything yet. But I’m squeezing it in as I can.

    These will first be available to buy in person at the April Radical Harvest Market in SE Portland. And on eBay if I can get my stuff together!

    Dueling coneflower prints in salmon, peach and orange hues.
    Colorful coneflowers 2025

    I’m also breaking in a new printer as my trusty old one finally spit out her parts, forcing my hand. And am back in touch with my old friend, fine art printer Jim Dittmer of JDA Creative Color. (He came to see me at the last Spot Market 3/14-15.) He hasn’t retired, he just closed his storefront in inner southeast Portland making me think so! Nope! Still going strong out in Gresham, just east of Portland. Check him out if you need any fine art scanning or printing done. He really knows his stuff, along with his son Matt.

    I’m printing up to 8×10 myself still at home, but hope to have larger fine art prints and posters with Jim’s help soon. (No dates set yet, but for sure by this Christmas.)

    Shot of a colorful mix of joyful prints - a due of bright orange california poppies on top of a macro of a honey bee in a yellow flower on top of a black printer.
    Colorful mix coming

    Ciao for now – Jan 3/23/26

  • The sleeping bees are coming to eBay and more! 11/1/25

    The sleeping bees are coming to eBay and more! 11/1/25

    I’m going to start listing the Sleeping Bees duo of cards I just shared in my last post on eBay starting November 1st too! (I was just working out shipping details.)

    ETA 6/23/26: I just finally managed to get some video uploaded and working in the blog, so I’m adding it in below! And I plan to refresh things on eBay soon too. (I’ve neglected them in favor of craft markets, for better or worse.) Now back to the original post…

    Their origin story is so hilarious! I dragged myself to my community garden on July 16th, 2025 (it was around 97 degrees F that day – too hot for me and the garden) to water my poor thirsty plot, and slid over to the Gaillardia (red and yellow blanket flower) patch as per usual. But I only had my phone camera on me, as it was so hot. (I live in the same range as butter: when it melts, I melt.)

    Anyway, that’s when I encountered the FIRST image below, where no less than six longhorn bees were snoozing sweetly away in a perfect circle around the center of a single Gaillardia flower blossom, swaying peacefully in the breeze. Totally unbothered. Bums up. Shown here:

    Photo of a notecard made with a photo of six longhorn bees sleeping neatly and sweetly away around the center of a red and yellow Gaillardia flower.
    Sleeping sweetly July 16th

    I snapped several shots and took a little video to prove this was NOT Photoshop nor AI! (I rarely use either, honestly.) Here’s a small snip:

    Dreamy sleepy bees

    So I swore I’d return the next day with my Nikon Z50 to see if I got as lucky again. Well, the laugh was on me! Because there was not one single bee sleeping sweetly away in any fresh fully open Gaillardia blossoms like the day before – oh no. That would be too easy, Jan. You had your chance yesterday!

    No – they were all clustered up twerking while clinging to the tattered petals of a bedraggled, spent (mature) Gaillardia blossom, also swaying gently in the breeze, looking like a biker gang after a bender! LOL! Here you go:

    Ahh… I laughed so hard! That’ll teach me – ALWAYS have your camera on you, silly! But, if you don’t, the best camera (as always) is whatever you have on hand at the time the image presents itself. (Yay for quick reflexes.) Here’s that image I’m calling “The After Party”:

    Photo of a large notecard with a photo of a gang of longhorn bees dangling from the tattered petals of a bedraggled Gaillardia flower. Looking like they were on a bender.
    The After Party 7/17.

    Ahhh… people love both images separately for different reasons I’m finding. As well as the pair together, for the contrast. (I have all three sizes available now.)

    Update: Get them from me live at markets, else on eBay for now 4/23/26.

    PS I’m lining up multiple holiday markets, but not all are confirmed yet. Some may get confirmed at the last minute so stay tuned on my socials (see links below) for late-breaking updates. (I try to keep this up to date, but don’t always succeed.) Cheers.

    Jan and the Sleepy Bees October 29th, 2025.

  • Why the limited catalog?

    Why the limited catalog?

    So I know you, Jan, and you’ve taken thousands of shots since you picked up your first DSLR (your beloved trusty old Nikon D60) in 2008. I KNOW you have many more cool images up your sleeve. Why the limited catalog here?

    Photo showing a green-hued hummingbird feeding from a deep red lucifer crocosmia flower in the sun.

    Well, first off, dear follower, you’re absolutely right, I have thousands of other images. But, barely 1% of those are worth sharing. And yes, I constantly take more, every chance I get. However, yes, that leaves at least 100 worth sharing. So why don’t I show them all here yet?

    Because, if someone buys a set of my cards, and then gets back in touch and says “Could I get another 4-pack of the one with the flowers and bees?” – uhm, well, I’d need help figuring out exactly WHICH flower, and WHICH bees, as I have so many! (Pro-tip: you can see lots of my most recent shots on my social media accounts, especially X and BlueSky. Links down below.)

    So. To make my aging life easier, I’ve established a limited catalog here to start. BUT… I am steadily expanding it as time and energy permit. (I just added a new fourth category – SUNDRY – this weekend!) But again, this way, if anyone wants more of one or another image, they can peek on my website, and say “B1 please“. (This literally just happened the other day.) Boom! Easy! Done!

    This keeps things more manageable for both of us. Enjoy! And don’t forget to leave me feedback on eBay – thank you!! xo – Jan

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