“The main quality of a contemporary platinum palladium print is the absolute matte quality of the print surface. Nothing comes between the viewer and the subject, creating a perfect experience to observe the textures and dimensional shape of the subject. The prints, because they are created with inert platinum and palladium metals, are the most stable of any photographic print created with light.”

By 1990 most papers had become unusable for printing due to the high alkaline buffering used.
I was offered the opportunity to collaborate with the Arches Mill in France to design a paper for 
Platinum printing. In 1992 the first Arches  Platine was released. This paper is used now by photographers
around the world, seeking to make the highest quality platinum print. Arches Platine paper for many reasons is the paper I choose to print on, follow this link to see why. Check the gallery page on same site.
https://arches-papers.com/arches-range-of-papers/art-photography-publishing-2/alternative-processes/arches-platine/​

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                                                 Howard Read
                                                www.cheimread.com
"I have worked with Martin Axon on behalf of many artists since the mid 1980s including Robert Mapplethorpe and Adam Fuss among others. Martin Axon has a sensitivity and awareness in working with artists that results in a platinum print of the highest quality. In my opinion he is singular, there is no one working at this level in the art and photography world today."  Example: https://www.cheimread.com/exhibitions/2012-06-28_alex-van-gelder/gallery/installation-images
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                                                James Danziger
                                               www.danzigergallery.com
"I have known and worked with Martin Axon for over 20 years and I have always appreciated the commitment and artistry he brings to every print. Working with the most delicate material he coaxes life out of the platinum material to make the most beautiful and visceral prints that will not only stand the test of time but will transcend the very notion of time."    Example: Hans Breeder on Platinum Palladium canvas.

                                                Howard Greenberg
                                                              www.howardgreenberg.com
"I love the medium of platinum printing for photography. It's rich, textual, full of depth, and immersed in the history. There are very few masters of this method of printing which requires an extremely elevated level of technical proficiency along with a sixth sense of what makes a photographic print work. Martin Axon is one of the rare. Gifted, confident, and reliable, he is superb at what he does!"
​Example: William Klein Platinum Palladium Edition

                                               Robert Mapplethorpe
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"The blacks are blacker, the whites are whiter. It's photographically the most beautifull photographic object I have seen. I haven't seen a better process, I think it's perfection in a certain way."
A new film Mapplethorpe had it's world premier at The Tribeca Film Festival. As Robert's Platinum printer and being a charcter in the film I accepted the role of playing myself in the film. Follow this link to get more information.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/mapplethorpe-a-biopic-film-starring-matt-smith#/
Listen Below, a tape conversation between Martin Axon and Robert Mapplethorpe in the 1980's

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Greg Gorman:  https://gormanphotography.com
"When making my PlatinumPrints, I always turn to Martin  Axon because, not only  is     he the  quintessential professional, but he is able to interpret  my vision on paper.
 That is the key element for any photographer!"    
 Andy Warhol © Greg Gorman. Platinum Palladium       ​

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Timothy White   http://timothywhite.com/
"Martin Axon is a master printer.  His platinum printing is the benchmark for this process.  He is a great professional...and a pleasure to work with!"
Robert Mitchum ©Timothy White  Platinum Palladium
                                                        
Denis Piel: www.denispiel.com   
"Knowledgeable helpful and supportive with excellent results. A true collaborator."    

Kurt Markus:  www.kurtmarkus.com
“If you love not just the craft of platinum print making but the transformation of a photograph from a document to something else, Martin is your man.  When Martin lays his hands on a print, the eyes that guide him are rich with discovery, with passion, with caring; this is why we go to him, to bring that special extra something to bear. Like the print Martin makes, we hold our breath and attempt to re-see what we think we knew, to trust that he will take us with him as the photograph is reborn.”

Marianna Rothen: www.mariannarothen.com
"I approached Martin with what seemed like an impossible print. To make a grid of ten square images on one page in the shape of a cross. No only did he produce a perfect print in very little time (this is an intricate process as each image has to be exposed independently) but I was struck by his attention to detail, especially in subtle shade variations. His patience and ease to get the print exactly where I wanted it is what I appreciate most. I see Martin as the only Platinum printer.”

Brigitte Carnochan: www.brigittecarnochan.com
"When I began doing my own platinum printing I admired the perfection of Martin Axon’s work even more. His prints have a depth and richness that is difficult to achieve.”

Christopher Makos:   http://www.makostudio.com
"Martin Axon's platinum prints are of the highest quality. The prints have a deep and rich tonality, while maintaining a strong fidelity to the original image. His professionalism and sensitivity to the needs of his clients make him a pleasure to work with."
       
                                                                                             

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