Digital BW, The Print

>They are predominately large format >users
>which certainly has something to do with >it, while everyone on this list
>probably comes from the "miniature" or >35mm

I'm a large format user (4x5 and 8x10). I've seen several other people here
mention using large format cameras and others mention medium format as well
so not everyone here comes from 35mm.

I know John Sexton reasonably well from attending most of his workshops and
from spending a short amount of time photographing with him.  I think he's a
great instructor and a great photographer/printer. I also think he's a very 
honest guy and with a lot of personal integrity. I'm confident he wouldn't
make a statement such as the one quoted here unless he truly believed it and 
he certainly wouldn't shill for film (and indirectly for Kodak) just because 
of whatever financial arrangements he may have with them.

On the other hand, he's also human. His views of digital printing can't help
but be influenced by the fact that it's driving his materials out of 
existence (including his primary paper, Kodak
Polymax Fine Art).  I think he's also indirectly influenced by the fact that 
digital printing does allow some printers to come closer to his level of 
print quality than they likely could have in the
darkroom. And of course digital must be having a fairly big effect on his 
darkroom workshops.

So while I like and admire John and am sure he believes what he says without 
being directly influenced in any way by financial ties, if any, to Kodak I
wouldn't let his opinions about digital printing have the slightest effect
on my own.  In truth I don't even know what he means by referring to silver 
prints as "sensuous" and "tactile." Without having given it much thought, I 
would have said that with all the different kinds of papers on which prints 
can be made digitally they actually have a greater tactile quality than 
silver prints.

I don't share the opinion often expressed that monochrome ink jet prints and 
silver prints are two entirely different animals. I've exhbited both side by 
side and when they're under glass it's pretty much impossible for anyone 
except perhaps another digital printer to tell which is which.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Paul Aparycki" <tawow@...>
To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, August 20, 2005 8:57 AM
Subject: Re: [Digital BW] Re: John Sexton's comment on B&W print




>It might be worth remembering that John gets sponsorship from Kodak,
>has made a lot of his fame and income supporting film products, and
>just might be nudged by this relationship with Kodak to try and keep
>film products in demand.  Not a bad thing, just a business.

. . . and the high-end art printers using ink jet are as pure as the driven
snow???? I am sure what you suggest would have NEVER, NEVER ocurred to
Epson,  Hahnemule, and all the other digi-doers.

    John Sexton is not the only one who feels this way . . . many, many of
the "master" printers, those whose skills most of us couldn't approach in a
thousand years, feel the same way. They are predominately large format users
which certainly has something to do with it, while everyone on this list
probably comes from the "miniature" or 35mm (THAT name should be changed
now) format. While my b/w printing skills are no match for Sexton or an
Adams, I spent about twenty five years perfecting my abilities and I got to
be pretty good. I am no master in inkjet, still on that never-ending
learning curve we all seem to be on, but I have yet to see an ink based
print that has that mysterious "depth" that a silver or platinum print can
get (saw something approaching it in a piezo print) . . . am still wishing
for a 6x12 single shot back so I can save a lot of time and then get fat in
front of my screen twisting curves, etc. trying to get the near perfection I
had before.


Paul Aparycki





Please visit the Group Homepage to check the Files, and other resources as
they are often being updated.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint

If you wish to receive no emails or just a daily digest, or you wish to
unsubscribe, please edit your Membership preferences by visiting this same
page.

Please follow these basic guidelines:
- As threads develop, trim off excess portions of earlier messages to keep
them short.
- Good manners are required at all time. No personal attacks or flames.
Hostile, aggressive or argumentative users may be removed from the
membership without notice.
- Keep your posts and threads related to the group topic of digital B&W
printing. Users who persistently make off-topic posts may be removed from
the membership.
- By posting on this forum you agree to abide by the group rules and
guidelines, and to abide by the actions and decisions of the group Owner and
Moderators. See "Group Topic, Rules and Guidelines" in the Files section:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint/files/

BY PARTICIPATING IN AND/OR POSTING MESSAGES TO THE DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT
YAHOO! GROUP YOU EXPRESSLY UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT THE "OWNER" AND
"MODERATORS" OF DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU
FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR EXEMPLARY
DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS,
GOODWILL, USE, DATA OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES (EVEN IF THE  "OWNER" AND
"MODERATORS" OF DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES), RESULTING FROM: (i) THE USE OR THE INABILITY
TO USE THE DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP; (ii) UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO OR
ALTERATION OF YOUR TRANSMISSIONS OR DATA; (iii) STATEMENTS OR CONDUCT OF ANY
THIRD PARTY ON THE DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP; OR (iv) ANY OTHER
MATTER RELATING TO THE DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP.

Yahoo! Groups Links