Digital BW, The Print

Mark,

An excellent idea!  I have often wished there was a way for someone 
besides my wife and friends to critique my work.  I have a some good 
scans of the Sierras I'd offer.

Bob Marsolais


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "mccarvill" 
<mark_mccarvill@...> wrote:
>
> I did a quick search on this topic but didn't find anything, so I 
> thought I'd post this suggestion. 
> 
> I've participated in print exchanges before and would like to do 
so 
> again. But I think it would be fascinating to see what 
photographers 
> would do with each other's digital files. In other words, let's 
say 
> there are 5 participants. Each makes available a high quality scan 
> (via e-mail or ftp, etc.), which is uploaded by the other 4 
> participants. The 4 "receivers" then edit the files in Photoshop 
> using their own visualization and technique. These finished files 
are 
> then returned to the original photographer, ideally with some 
notes 
> on what was done. The original "senders" can then print the files 
and 
> compare the results if they choose. 
> 
> I think this would be a fascinating learning experience from both 
> points of view. The sending photographer will almost certainly 
learn 
> new techniques or ways of seeing the image, from the variations 
> produced. The receiving photographers also will learn something. I 
> think we sometimes get too close to our own images and by 
practicing 
> on the work of others, we somehow will get liberated to experiment 
> more. I expect we also learn when we start articulating what we 
did 
> and why, in terms of workflow.
> 
> In addition to the above benefits, there are no postage costs and 
no 
> onerous work for whoever coordinates the exchange. If the 
> photographers wish to take things further and return the finished 
> files as prints, that's up to them. But my real interest is the 
> workflow aspect.
> 
> What do people think? Any suggestions to refine this and make it 
more 
> interesting or useful?
> 
> Mark
>