Digital BW, The Print

Hello Stephen,

>>You may have no patience for opinion, but every print I have 
>>ever sold was purchased by someone who in their opinion just 
>>liked the image. I have never had a discussion about DMAX 
>>with any collector.

>I don't think it's daft at all.  As much as I value the technical
>information that is exchanged on this post, it is my understanding
>that it is also quite legitimate to talk about esthetic concerns 
>as well.

Add my vote to this.  He was making a point that, while subtle, was
relevent to the tone of the thread.  Unfortunately it seemed to go
over the heads of some readers.

 
>I think it's important to appreciate that (for better or for worse) 
>some people use technical matters as a means to an end, and that 
>others use them as an end in and of itself.
> 
>It's just like the Zone System with film.  There were some
>photographers who did a lot of exposure and development testing 
>in order to make good prints.  There were others who got so caught 
>up in the testing that they never had time to do creative work.  
>And there were others who did none of the technical stuff, but who 
>still managed to make some really interesting
> images and even some beautiful prints.

Well said, thank you.

A few days ago Tyler described the visual effect of the White Velvet
blacks that go "beyond the numbers".  I thought it was an important
observation because there are observable phenonema that can't be (or
at least aren't) quantified.  I don't recall anyone jumping all over
him for that.  Discussions of the aesthetic side of things are as
valid and relevent as the technical.  After all, the technical things
are supposed to serve the aesthetic end result.

Let's not forget that there are some thousands of readers of this
forum eagerly (and sometimes desperately) searching for information to
help them get started or make make decisions.  Aesthetic observations,
such as the visual effect of blacks on White Velvet, can be an
important contribution.

Regards,
Clayton


Info on black and white digital printing at    
http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm