Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., sdmey4@a... wrote:
> Terry, Its funny, the "tone" people get from messages! I know I had 
no 
> intention implying unprofessionals had less taste or standards in 
quality.
> I'am myself am not a professional Photographer! I do not earn my 
living from 
> photography! I'am however fourtunate enough to have a large body of 
work
> That has been selling very well for 3 years. I've sold almost 75k 
in prints 
> those 3 years(spent it all) Its not the big leagues but an 
accomplishment 
> thats a milestone in my life
> after being a 30year photo enthusiast.

Steve,

I am glad to hear you have done so well with your work. You are doing 
some really wonderful images. That amount of sales may not be a 
living wage but it's a real good start. If you didn't have any 
expenses you would be up to the poverty level. ;-)

> One thing I've learned, is that 
> professional photographers those that make a living from there 
work, are a 
> step above the rest of us.

Ouch! Can't go there with you. I have seen way too much poor 
photography turned out by pros and way too much brilliant work done 
by non-professionals and lots of mediocre non-professional work and 
stunning professional work to make me believe there is any strong 
relationship between image quality and professional status.

> Because of Tyler I've gotten a glimpse of the life of a commercial 
> photographer and the enormous overhead and obsticles they face. I 
have a new 
> found respect for Pro's, and because of it I've raised the bar on 
my own work 
> much higher. If your not a pro, hang around and see the work of as 
many of 
> them as you can. Its real depressing sometimes, but inspiration is 
right 
> around the corner.

I think you have had the fortune to connect with some really great 
photographers who just so happen to be professionals. I salute all 
the pros out there. It is not an easy path to take. You not only have 
to know your art and craft you have to be good at marketing and 
business as well. No small feat.

> I think I'am the only one using Standard MIS hextones on the 7000 
I'am not 
> using the VM inks. Not interested! I can vary my tone enough with 
just paper 
> changes.

I went with the VM but I really only want one ink tone. Something 
closer to neutral than the FS. I want my work to have a consistent 
look. Making cold, cool, warm, prints all at the same time definitely 
isn't my goal. Just wanted the ability to get that exact print tone. 
The VM has gotten me pretty close. 

> I got into this 7000 about 3 months before I was ready(fell into a 
good 
> deal)I had every intention of buying piezo pro and probably still 
will! I Can 
> afford it, my business hat said put a few hundred into MIS and see 
what you 
> get before spending 3k on piezo pro!I I have 2 3000's to do my work 
while I 
> FOOL with the 7000. 
> Problems, well, there ink kind of mottles in the dark tones 
especiallly on 
> Sumerset enhanced! I like this paper and I like warm! Warm sells!  
It Mottled 
> 3 years ago and it still does
> but not as bad. I'am using the FS black. Tyler has written curves 
for me and 
> he can fix the mottle to as good as its gonna get.
> The other thing that bothers me about this ink! I have several  3 
year old 
> MIS quadtone ink prints on a variety of papers! Some don't look so 
good, some 
> look horrible.They where beutiful when first printed. This bothers 
me more 
> than anything, Now I can only hope the coatings are better, I do 
think the 
> inks are better now even though MIS says they have not changed 
them. The 
> original quad set turned redddish Pink. And much more to choose 
from in the 
> paper department. On summerset E I prefer a reddish brown vs, the 
Piezo 
> golden brown. 
> I'am trying MIS again to to see the tone with new papers! Its 
really making 
> my life difficult going back and forth between two inksets, varible 
tone 
> would drive me nuts and I would never get a complete body of workl 
done that 
> had a consistant look to it.Vaible would be fun! but I don't thinkI 
could 
> produce !

Switching back and forth must be a pain. I think you get an intuitive 
feel for a particular set of materials after you work with them a 
while.

> I'am putting 8 MIS prints in an exhibit comming up, along with some 
of my 
> silver and 2 piezos. The Silver and the MIS prints were too much 
work :) I 
> got a day job remember?

You aren't still sleeping at night are you? ;-) With all the work 
behind you, how do you feel about the final results comparing the MIS 
prints to the Piezo prints?

> The MIS prints would have never made it to exhibit without Tylers 
curve work: 
> )

You are very lucky in your friends.
 
> Keep in mind, the piezo list has its clogger posts and we have alot 
of curves 
> need work posts here! 

YEP! Plus there may be problems with the MIS sets that haven't had 
time to come to light yet.

> I really hope there will be home light jet printers next year!

I hope you're right. I know you did a lot of your work by having 
negatives made with an LVT. Are you still using that workflow for 
your silver prints?

Martin 


(snip)