Digital BW, The Print

Tyler Boley wrote:

>I've heard from 3 or 4 big name (very) west coast silver printer
>photographers that they "hate" platinum prints, the density range is
>"inferior". Too bad, some of the most beautiful prints I've ever seen
>are platinum, some of the deadest flat prints I've seen are platinum.
>Some of the most beautiful prints I've seen are silver, some of the
>harshest ugly prints I've seen are silver. I don't get the dogma, I
>just don't get it. You'd think these people would know how to look at art.
>Also, I've said it before, I didn't say the Turner blacks appeared as
>dark as the gloss placks, I said the Turner prints were richer in
>impression, and the blacks "felt" as black.
>I realize some will have a lot of trouble with that kind of talk, all
>I can say is that these decisions are the individual artist's and
>these kinds of comparisions, with real prints not numbers, have to be
>done by those interested in nailing down a personal materials preference.
>Tyler
>
Let me try again. Different analogy: writing.

Pigment inks on matte paper has a limited range because of the Dmax 
issue, as we've discussed into the ground. Think of this restriction in 
the same way that iambic pentameter is a restriction in poetry. 
Shakespeare didn't have any trouble expressing what he had to say in 
iambic pentameter. Clearly, you can say a lot in a restricted medium. 
However, not many people will disagree with the idea that you can 
express an even wider range of ideas in free verse. Some will argue 
instead that free verse is actually more difficult precisely because of 
the lack of restriction. [apologies to Robert Adams]

I think some people are looking for more Dmax simply because they don't 
like working inside the restricted range of what we now have with 
pigment inks on matte papers. To get the increase of Dmax, they are 
willing to give up matte and go to glossy.

This is OK with me. I'm not doing it (yet) and don't feel any pressing 
need to, with the notable exception of a few images that I just can't 
make look right with the current media restrictions. I'll get to them 
later maybe. But if other people have to get there now, I'm not going to 
impede their efforts.

I've always been an advocate of people using the tools with which they 
feel most comfortable. I don't know how you can do your best by your 
vision any other way. So if people want glossy stock, more power to 
them. If I am willing to accept the restrictions of matte stock, more 
power to me.
--
Bruce Watson