Digital BW, The Print

Tyler,

>Not Emmet Gowan, but have seen a number of beautiful contact prints
>over the years (Morley Baer, Edward and Brett Weston and Laura 
>Gilpin come to mind).  

I also saw some original 18x22 gold toned contact prints of Yosemite
from glass plate negs by Carleton Watkins and Eadweard Muybridge. 
They were stunning beyond words and I must have looked like the
village idiot standing there with my mouth hanging open as I stared at
them.  They were in "A Gallery" in the French Quarter (322 Royal St.,
New Orleans) - if anyone ever has the opportunity to visit this rare
vintage photography dealer, don't miss it - 
 
    http://www.agallery.com 

It was in 1994 and as I recall the prices began at $17,000.  No
telling what they would be today.  There was also on the 2nd floor a
traveling exhibit of about 40 Bresson 11x14s, beautifully printed and
containing many of his most famous pics.  I was in the French Quarter
for five days at a computer conference, at a hotel just 4 blocks
from A Gallery, so I made several trips (even skipped out on a
few seminars to sneak over there).  I discovered it on one of my dawn
photo excursions and went back later during business hours.  The
prices were beyond my meager budget, so to show some support for the
free photo viewing experience of a lifetime I purchased a book of
Kertesz photos.

They had prints from all the major names (Adams, Weston, Gilpen,
Karsh, Cunningham, Bresson, you name it).  Some breathtaking original
Edward Curtis photogravures.  An early Fox-Talbot.  I'll never forget
it.  I have a photo I took of the store front hanging on the wall here
in my home where I see it every day - incredible memories.


Regards,
Clayton


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