I Want to be a Better Printer, Too!

Alpine Lake and Shadows, by Reed A. George

 

I just read a post by Pascal on the blog Dear Susan, about how he really wants to become a better printer. Importantly, Pascal interviews Ctein, a master printer, to get some advice. Ctein's best advice is to go ahead and print your image once you think you have it close on the monitor. It won't print the same, but don't worry about that. Live with the print a while, making notes on it where and how you want to improve it. Don't focus on how it looks on the monitor any more; make the changes that will improve the print. Over time, you'll learn how to do this more automatically.

 

Okay. I can give that a try. Simple - no big focus on calibration, paper types, lighting, etc. Just print, live with it, adjust it for the paper instead of the monitor.

 

(Click Here) to read the full post on Dear Susan.

 

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Impossible Project Magazine - Rooster Brennan Documents African Safari with Instant Film

I am still thinking about how equipment and creativity interact to tell a story. Just yesterday, I met with my photographic friends and mentors, and got some feedback on the Smithsonian Folklife Festival images that I've been posting here recently. I got comments ranging from something like "See, if you control the background, you can't tell that these shots weren't made in Lima, Peru, as opposed to DC," which I loved, to "Not really sharp. That's the problem with flatbed scanning of 35mm film." All of the comments were useful to me, and were correct.

 

So, how does one share an African safari on instant film?

 

Image Source: https://magazine.the-impossible-project.com/wandering-man/

 

Well, you can check out the Impossible Project's magazine to see how Rooster Brennan did it, using the Impossible Lab to print his images on instant film. The article focuses on storytelling, more than equipment. I think he's done a fine job. (Click Here) to read the story and see the pictures.

 

I think that I still need to work on my storytelling with pictures. If the storytelling were strong enough, the technical details would become much less important. That's my goal.

 

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"Engineer" (Low-Fi Large Format) Prints from Photojojo

I have a couple of images that I want to print very large. I posted one of them yesterday, which I shot at Audubon Park in New Orleans. I have a very large square frame that I rescued from the trash can, waiting for that shot. Another is a pinhole image that I recently made, which I have not yet shared. It's a much less sharp (obviously, having come from a pinhole camera), more interpretive image that I want to print as large as possible to see if the effect scales.

 

Large prints are very expensive to make. At least photographic quality prints. This morning, I found a post about "Engineer" prints from Photojojo.

 

Image Source: http://photojojo.com/engineerprints/img/tutorial_photos/Engineer-Prints-457_Full1600new.jpg

 

These are apparently made on printers designed for architectural drawings, and on rather lightweight paper. They are 3' x 4' in size, and only in black and white. The description includes this statement about what to expect:

 

"Streaked, striated and wacky black and gray tones combine to create a super unique look that’s no ordinary photo print."

 

So, don't expect a perfect print. However, at $25, and with free shipping, it may just be worth a try with my pinhole image. That shot is made on 4x5 film, so I can make a very large scan of it to send for printing. Yes, I think I'll give it a go. I'll let you know how it turns out.

 

(Click Here) to read more about Engineer Prints from Photojojo.

 

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Silver Gelatin B&W Prints Direct From Digital Files

Led Zeppelin Portraits by Herb Greene

Image Source: http://ledzeppelinportfolio.com/

 

I love to make monochrome images. I enjoy shooting black and white film, but I also really like doing digital conversions to black and white.

 

Digital Silver Imaging uses a laser enlarging system to produce real wet chemical silver gelatin prints directly from digital files. They can currently produce these prints up to 20" wide.

 

(Click Here) to go to Digital Silver's website.

 

Well, Digital Silver is using a Kickstarter campaign to increase their maximum print size to 48". This requires a significant investment in new equipment. If you contribute to the campaign (many levels of contribution available, from $15 to over $10,000, you can claim rewards varying from a small print from one of their existing images, to a limited edition set of portraits of the rock band Led Zeppelin, signed by photographer Herb Greene. Importantly, you can also contribute at levels that get you prints of your own images, or even high quality scans of your own negatives.

 

I like this campaign because it's not fighting the battle between film and digital. It's using the best technologies available to provide the highest quality traditional chemistry prints from digital files.

 

(Click Here) to go to the Kickstarter page for more information. The campaign ends on May 17, so hurry!

 

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Disclaimer: I have no relationship or interest in Digital Silver Imaging. In fact, I've never even seen one of their prints. So, I'm trusting the descriptions they provide at the links I've provided above.

 

 

 

Well, Here's a Funny Twist... Impossible? Yes. The Impossible Project, That Is.

 

The Impossible Project's Instant Lab

Image Source: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/impossible/impossible-instant-lab-turn-iphone-images-into-rea

 

So let me get this right. People want to snap pictures on their iPhones and turn them into Polaroid-style instant prints? Apparently so.

 

(Click Here) to read more.

 

This gadget allows you to shoot with your iPhone camera, bring the image up on your display, then lay it on top, expose instant film below, and print. I have to admit, I don't get it.

 

First off, I'm not an iPhone user (crowd gasps)...
 
I can understand why you'd want to be able to give iPhone pics to your friends. Here are a couple of things I don't understand:

1. They're digital pictures - can't you give them all to your iPhone-carrying friends digitally? Of course you can.
2. If someone wants to give ME one (without an iPhone), they can email it. I do have that.
3. Let's say I just love to have photos on real paper - wouldn't I rather print it out directly? Something like this?

(Click Here) to see the Polaroid instant printer for iPhones, as reported by Chase Jarvis.
 
Why in the world would I want it to go through the instant film process and cost?
 
I've been wrong about things like this before. But I think this appeals to the very rare person who loves analog prints, along with the very analog process of making a Polaroid print, yet loves digital technology, and uses an iPhone camera. I'm in the first class of people, who still love analog photography. But, I just shoot with an analog camera. I can't imagine wanting the convenience of shooting with an iPhone (which is considerable), and still planning to carry the Instant Lab with me to make prints for my friends. So I can carry the iPhone in my pocket, pull it out and shoot anytime - that's cool. What, I also wear a backpack with my Instant Lab and pack film, sit down, expose, and wait a few minutes for a print of an image that's gone through the lossy process of exposing an LCD representation onto instant film? And have yet another battery to charge? Unlikely. Impossible? Well, that's their name.
 
I think these guys are very creative. I love that they're around. I love the idea that instant film is still available. I don't get why 8X10 film is available, while 4X5 is not. But, I'm sure there's a good reason.
 
Keeping working on it, Impossible. I'd almost buy one just to keep your creative gears turning.
 
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