Digital BW, The Print

on 9/17/02 4:39 PM, Wayne Harrison wrote:

> I am sure that everyone would agree that the print is
> not the subject, but is a representation of the same.


Actually, Wayne, not.  Or rather, in all cases, I would argue, both.
There's a lens pointed at a real thing, with more or less focus, more or
less ability to capture the dynamic range (DON'T GO THERE!!!, LOL), color or
B&W, etc., etc.

More importantly, however, some people (artist or viewer) want the photo to
"appear like" what was in front of the lens at that instant; some people
find that appearance itself to be distracting from the print.

For me, the beauty and interest of photography, like all visual arts, lies
precisely in the dialog, or contradiction, or tension, or conflict between
what was in front of the lens, and the print, which in the final analysis,
is the only "reality" of the photograph.

(Anybody know a good place where I could give this lecture ;^)

Bill Morse
PhotoProspect
Cambridge, MA 02139