Digital BW, The Print

Twice a year I attend an antique photo show in central London and the place 
is full of American buyers.

The best I can say is that some of the product on sale have a quaintness 
that normally one would associate with anything that is old - but absolute 
technical quality? you must be kidding.

They invariably show some elements of fading, staining and surface 
abraision, and some show a lot more than those imperfections. The real 
attraction to the collector, as far as one can acertain from overheard 
snatches of conversation, is much the same as one experienced as an early 
teenager swapping cigarette playing cards.

Asthetics? oh come now, your looking at early examples of work produced by 
individuals feeling their way into a new medium of expression and non too 
sure about how to do it.

Only ocassionally will you see something that reflects a slight element of 
mature creativity and that was probably the result of considerable luck.

The technology was not there and the know-how certainly was not there, 
therefore it is safe to claim - and I do - that the 19th century 
photographer had to make do with inadequate technical options and therefore 
made the best of a bad job.

Give me the 1930's and upwards every time.

Richard


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "john dean" <deanwork2003@...>
To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, August 20, 2005 7:50 PM
Subject: Re: [Digital BW] John Sexton's comment on B&W print


I still say 19th century.  I recently saw a show of work from all over
the world done in the late 1800's and those albumen prints were the
equal of anything the F64 group or since has produced. 

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