Digital BW, The Print

Many, possibly the majority of photographers are exhibiting digital
inkjet prints now, so it's only the galleries that don't want to come
into the new century that are holding back, just as they have always
done. Perhaps you want to try art galleries instead of photo galleries.
It shouldn't make a damn bit of difference what media you use to make a
fine art print. A digital print isn't and cannot every be a darkroom
print. It will never be mistaken for one. Most think digital is better.
I certainly know it's better. There are a lot of people out there making
inkjet prints now, but most of them are nowhere near fine art quality,
just like any other media. It takes a few years to be able to turn out
consistantly good fine art prints, and lots of experimentation of papers
and inks. It isn't nearly as hard today as it was 6 or 7 years ago. A
lot of the hard work has been done. The epson 1280, 5500, 7000, 7500,
9000, etc printers are capable of surpassing Iris prints in quality.
There are now a few archival inksets that are tested to over a hundred
years. (MIS Archival, and Generations Microbrite Pigments come to mind).

Good Luck

> Recently.... I am faced with wide array of objection to these prints
> as fine art.  Some people agree that the resolution and tonal range
> are divine, still, it is not 'a photograph', pe

They will never look EXACTLY like a photographic darkroom print. Why on
earth should they?

Thus, I am having
> difficulty getting into galleries, exhibits, or shows, nor can I
> obtain representation by dealers.

Try some more progressive galleries.
> 
> Hey, if people were telling me that my images were the issue: blah,
> unrefined, lacking composition, flat, downright boring, so on and so
> on, then I would understand that I need to do more work before
> attempting to market and sell my work.  On the contrary, I get a lot
> of excitement, but, still, there is a limited market.

All the photo studios in our town are now shooting portraits digitally.
I think most studios in the country are doing so, or will be doing so
soon. There of course will ALWAYS be those who will never change.
 
> So, are you having the same experience, or do I need to wake up and
> smell the coffee?  What do you suggest?

I sell at 4 galleries in town, and on my website, and nobody has ever
refused to buy one because it was digitally produced. 

John Q Public hears digital and thinks 'Heck, my
> son can do this with his Fuji digital camera and the HP printer we
> bought him for Christmas'.  

And Elephants at the San Diego Zoo are painting abstracts and people are
buying them. Some art critics have even praised them highly before they
knew an elephant painted it.

I am beginning to think that I
> may have to surrender to the wet darkroom, argh!  

Most are going from the wet darkroom to digital.


> now live in the country (read septic) and building a darkroom will
> present plenty of challenges and cost, plus, I don't want to be in
> the darkroom.
> 
> Lastly, I find a slightly higher awareness and acceptance to IRIS
> prints, even though the tools most of us are using (i.e., PiezoBW)
> surpass IRIS.
> 
> So, tell me that you are having other experiences, more promising and
> positive one, and give me some guidance.  I would really appreciate
> it. 

There is a lot of competition out there, especially on the web. I have
yet to meet anyone who is making a living just selling fine art prints
on the web. Too many photographers with good pictures!
> 

Cheers!

Jerry