Digital BW, The Print

In a message dated 6/19/2003 1:15:20 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com writes:

> Oh, I have no doubt about that. Buyers are usually much _more_ willing to 
> buy on the spot rather than order later. My point was that an 8x10 camera 
> is not especially suited to immediate production of images. Think how many 
> more he could have sold had he been using digital technology. But then he 
> probably wouldn't have invented the Zone VI and that would have been a 
> great loss.
> 
> Stan
> 

It would have been. The Zone VI was my third 4x5, right after Calumet, and 
before Sinars, because of the interchangeable bag bellows feature and the double 
rack for long lenses.

I bought just about everything Zone VI made because Paul Howowitz was a 
genius and their stuff was the best. Describing Fred Picker as irascible would be 
an understatment. It saved tons of time in the darkroom.

Since Piezography, the darkroom was sold after years of inactivity. The only 
pieces I have kept are the Tim/Temp compensated timer and Phil Davis' 4x5 film 
tubes (no more 8x10 for me). The only reason that was kept is in case I ever 
felt the need to shoot B&W film, soup, and scan Tech Pan or Tmax 100  for 
greater resolution.............so far, I have been able to sign out my favorite 
chimp every week from the Detroit Zoo (not far from my studio). I have trained 
to take his rent-a-mule and hike up Half Dome as the Sinar is pre-focused to 
infinity with a custom long bellows and a 600mm Apo Artar. All he does is rotate 
the tripod and click the self cocking shutter, pre set for "sunny 16, on a 
perfect day. The mounains are so beautiful out there, that anyone can get a good 
pano-able series with the right equipment.

After watching me easkily develop his negatives only once in the darkroom, he 
has done it himself ever since. He is able to scan those negs pretty well, 
too, using Vuescan is a breeze for him. just 2 buttons and a save. His favorite 
paper is still Photograg with the Piezotone Selenium. His images are extremely 
sharp, detailed, and full scale. They are also selling well at the local 
gallery. I hope he doesn't hire the zoo's lawyer as I'm only giving him bananas 
for his hard work and keeping all the cash for myself as I need to buy more 
digital gear.

Claude


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