Digital BW, The Print

This will be a bit long, but I find it very interesting-

Last week there was a digital "festival" sponsored by our local pro
Epson dealer. He does a very good job hosting each year and brings in
various stars to give presentations, etc.. We've had Bruce Fraser and
others, this year Greg Gorman was the major star, also John Panozzo
from Colorbyte (ImagePrint), Epson reps, Onyx reps, Chromix, the usual
suspects.
For the first time there was a print competition. Any antendee could
enter, and the winners were chosen by a completely open vote by all.
There was mostly color of course, everything from large fine art to
reproduction on canvas, a variety of surfaces and subject matter. Also
some B&W. Even a UC over platinum print. Quality of work was from
fairly accomplished amateur to internationally known fine artists.

And the winner was, apparently by an overwhelming margin...
A B&W print, made with 3rd party monochromatic inks, on 3rd party fine
art "matte" paper. Placement was by artist, not by print, so an
individual could not place more than once. Had it been by piece,
apparently the second entry by the same person, using the same
process, would have taken second place. In fact, that "second place"
print got three times more votes than any other print entered.

I find this amazing. The point, to me, is this- it's not about the
numbers, it's not about who has the power to squash smaller companies,
and not about presuppositions about technical superiority or what
photographs are "supposed" to look like.
Some of these processes have come to fruition, some of them, in the
right hands with the right images, can make beautiful art.

Obviously beautiful art. Not, sort of, or maybe, or
if-you-look-at-it-right...
But to the majority there by a huge margin, over color, over blacker
blacks, relatively unsophisticated eyes and critical eyes together. I
think we forget how far we have come.

"We" may get pushed out, may become marginalized, or evolve into
something else, but are significant in a larger sense. Some things are
just about the art, you know? Thank goodness for the innovators. Keep
pushing it, and support your 3rd party suppliers.
The votes are in, they are making it happen.
Tyler