Digital BW, The Print

Djon wrote:



> Many of Ansel's images could look better, more to his vision, printed
> digitally than they on silver, imo, though I don't know if that'd be
> the case with Weston's.  Opinions? Anybody have opinions? 

Sure I do. I don't know why my opinions would be of wide interest, but 
Adams speculated that the "electronic image" would be the next big thing 
in a later edition of "The Print," and seemed to suggest that this was 
something he welcomed and would have made use of. It is obvious to me 
that the sort of output being produced by many on this list would be 
just as you say - better than silver for Adams' work. And probably more 
straightforward/more efficient to get the look he wanted.

I think Weston would be in the same boat. This is the originator of the 
"bathmat print" remark amongst many other similar comments in his 
articles over the years; I suppose he was about as free of media 
snobbery as any photographer in the last century. I don't know if inkjet 
could improve on his prints or not, but I don't think it would be any 
worse, and I do think he'd be using the medium if he were alive.

No, I've never seen inkjet output of either of these artists, nor of any 
of the famous straight photographers. Pity. I think several of Imogen 
Cunningham's photos are practically tailor-made for scanning and inkjet 
printing; I'd love to see if I'm right someday.

--
Jeff Medkeff
Eagle River, Alaska