New York July NYC Meet Up Date

[Particular]

I'll be working in the morning, but should roll in at my usual time.

 

[JMQ]

I'll have some photos from our day in Philly in a 7" book... that is if you size snobs can handle looking at small prints.

Fantastic John.

 

[Calzone]

John,

Jeff Schwalbe who helped develop Lightroom had all these Ax-E-ums: If you can't print good: print high-contrast; If you can't print good: print big...

If you can't print good: print small was another one of them. LOL.

Anyways back in art school these expressions were used to make fun of each other's work.

Anyways there does seem to be an optimum size to present one's work. Not all my work scales up to 20x30 image size. Most times it makes no sense.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Print Bubble Alert: As you know I have been printing a lot. To compound all this I also have been printing large format and using thousands of dollars worth of ink and paper.

My idea is like the housing bubble: make big prints and some rich guy will buy it.

Anyways it seems to be working. I made it through the first cull at this Fresh Out Of Storage opportunity. I just got the August appointment for the hour long videotape interview that is part of this process. Currently I an one of 18 that have been selected for storage visits and interviewing. The next cull down is to be one of the ten artists chosen to be exhibited at the Manhattan Mini Storage on Spring Street in SoHo.

WWW.freshoutofstorage.com

Anyways the show opens on October 6th and runs for 10 days. This non-profit is well suited for my work because they do these pop-up exhibitions in empty spaces all over the city.

Cal

 

[jsrockit]

If you can't print good: print small was another one of them. LOL.

Jesus, do you really think I can't make my photos larger because I choose to make books? It's not that hard to make a print larger in digital these days. Let's not confuse this with darkroom printing where printing large actually was very hard.

 

[Calzone]

Jesus, do you really think I can't make my photos larger because I choose to make books? It's not that hard to make a print larger in digital these days. Let's not confuse this with darkroom printing where printing large actually was very hard.

John,

No insult intended.

I thought it was funny on how Jeff spun things back in art school decades ago. Today's world everything is spun.

Don't forget that I own a 20x30 of yours that I love.

I agree that I can print larger digitally, and that printing wet prints large is particularly hard.

In the end it is the image and the content that counts the most.

Cal

 

[jsrockit]

Don't forget that I own a 20x30 of yours that I love.

Cal, ok, I was sensitive. 😱 That particular print doesn't really support much... 12mp APSC camera and Adorama printing didn't hold up well if I remember correctly.

 

[Particular]

Jesus, do you really think I can't make my photos larger because I choose to make books? It's not that hard to make a print larger in digital these days. Let's not confuse this with darkroom printing where printing large actually was very hard.

Clearly you need to make books like those giant ones Salgado had at his exhibit. Anything less just won't cut it.

 

[jsrockit]

Funny Christian.

 

[Calzone]

Cal, ok, I was sensitive. 😱 That particular print doesn't really support much... 12mp APSC camera and Adorama printing didn't hold up well if I remember correctly.

John,

I think the content overides the IQ.

To me so what that the colors are a bit muted and things are a little fuzzy. That shot to me has iconic memory which means I really can't forget the image. This is hard to do, to make a photograph that has an image that persists in memory.

I know I'm a jerk about image quality, but understand that is one reason I don't really engage high ISO, and also am compelled to print big. Digital surely speeds up the process, but decades ago in the darkroom I use to be a really good printer, mostly because I made good negatives that were easy to print.

Anyways I try to identify as a fine art printer.

Another thing is the scale and size make that image look like a poster. I don't think this is easy to do either. We talked about this. I find great irony that I have a shot that resembles a poster and the image is of a tiny barbershop set into a slope of a steep hill with a local girl walking downhill in the perfect location to support a perfect composition. Somehow the ghetto I live in just a block away is captured. It sums up the neighborhood: bleak, but colorful.

The tenement housing that surrounds the ghetto storefront has mucho desaturated color, except for the tiny , a bit garish, tiny storefront. It almost looks like a shot that was imagined in photoshop because of the use of desaturated color in the suroundings, with the small patch of sky and the storefront standing out boldly. Then there are the strong suggestive shadows that add an exclaimation point.

I know you to be a prolific shooter, I just know as an artist you do a lot of work, so much so that you should not disregard the power of this old image. I think printed smaller or at higher IQ this image might suffer and would be less powerful for me. I'm glad that we went to the hairy edge. It seems that's where we both want to be.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Funny Christian.

John,

Not so funny. Likely something I want to do. LOL.

Cal

 

[jsrockit]

John,

Not so funny. Likely something I want to do. LOL.

Cal

Nothing wrong with doing it... but it is funny to me. Sometimes there is, despite us being in the US, such a thing as too big. That doesn;t mean it isn't worth exploring.

 

[jsrockit]

I think the content overides the IQ.

Well, we all know where I stand on this.

To me so what that the colors are a bit muted and things are a little fuzzy. That shot to me has iconic memory which means I really can't forget the image. This is hard to do, to make a photograph that has an image that persists in memory.

Well, it's an older digital, I wasn't as good at PP, Adorama prints aren't the best, and its printed too large. PP it again and making it 12" x 18" would make a nice photo. It's a good one for you to have later once you move since it'll always remind you of your current neighborhood (of course with your own photos).

I know I'm a jerk about image quality, but understand that is one reason I don't really engage high ISO, and also am compelled to print big. Digital surely speeds up the process, but decades ago in the darkroom I use to be a really good printer, mostly because I made good negatives that were easy to print.

To each his own. I guess I've feel in love with the book form over individual prints. Of course the books I make are not the best quality, but I'm working towards making a real high quality book one day (hopefully). However, I use all different ISOs and all different types of cameras. I'd rather get the shot than miss it. I have files that can be printed ridiculously large (36 and 42 MP at ISO 100) and some that I probably shouldn't (16mp at 12,800 ISO). Both of these types of shots are ones that I couldn't have made with film.

Regarding size, I see prints that are blurry, soft, and huge (and even not so big) that are still successful in many galleries and museums. I see prints that sell are the same. I see small prints by great photographers. This all leads me to think that content and framing matter most. Of course there's nothing wrong with making great prints and it can only help the image generally.

Another thing is the scale and size make that image look like a poster. I don't think this is easy to do either. We talked about this. I find great irony that I have a shot that resembles a poster and the image is of a tiny barbershop set into a slope of a steep hill with a local girl walking downhill in the perfect location to support a perfect composition. Somehow the ghetto I live in just a block away is captured. It sums up the neighborhood: bleak, but colorful.

I'm pretty sure its the quality (or lack of) that makes it look like a poster. I do like the photo since it's one, lone, colorful store in the midst of a typical, brick apartment building. I agree.

I know you to be a prolific shooter, I just know as an artist you do a lot of work, so much so that you should not disregard the power of this old image. I think printed smaller or at higher IQ this image might suffer and would be less powerful for me.

Yes, I think it is a good idea to shoot a lot, let time pass, and then really edit down to the best of the best once you've forgotten what you have. I haven't forgot about that photo... 🙂

 

[Calzone]

So last night I laid down the 7 shades of black on 7 more prints. I lately have been obsessed with contrast, and have been struggling with how best to render contrast: via slider, exposure, or what I think is the best: tone curve.

In talking with Joe it seems I do things in odd ways that is mucho counterintuitive.

Anyways it seems that night shooting is my new obsession because it presents some challenges that are making me step further out from the box. I think the 13x19.5 images printed on 17x23.5 paper hold up well to 800 ISO shots. I have one image that I have "proofed-out" that I want to print 20x30 on 24x36 paper. Basically I don't know if this will be good or bad, but I want to find out. Anyways it will be interesting if you think a big print will scale up. My guess is that the dreamy rendering that is kinda painterly will carry through, and the scale will add an exclaimation point to the dreamy light I captured.

I was walking down Madison Avenue, and across the street stood a bulding with steps and tall collums. It is night and lights lite the landing. A homeless person is milling about and I take two landscape shots to capture the building.

I just was photographing the lighting, almost like a test shot, but in one of the shots the homeless man sits against the one door reading a newspaper taking advantage of the bright light, meanwhile in the shadows is this soft dimness of a lone woman walking uptown alone and on the other side of the shot a man and a woman waking towards each other where it almost looks like they are going to embrace. Anyways a very lucky shot where everything fell in place like magic.

I have two prints of this magic shot: the first print is impressive but a little low contrast; but the second print has added contrast and pops because of this 3-D depth. Anyways very subtle change, but a dramatic difference. Hard to say which print is better because both speak.

You wouldn't know that I'm shooting at 1/15th second except for the motion blur in some shots.

Anyways it seems a healthy does of contrast creates a lot of depth. This seems to be of exaggerated importance in night shots due to the compression of midrange that happens when shooting at night.

Anyways it seems the best prints utilize rather huge "S" curves and establishing a true black is mucho important.

The gloss overcoat goes on tonight. I have a few images to display the development and evolution of the contrast that will be rather informative.

I also think that the night shooting makes a point that I am very-very glad that I have so many 35mm film cameras to utilize with Tri-X at 800 ISO. I wonder about your opinions of the grain displayed by my Monochrom and how it compares to film. I know that I likely would loose some resolution with film, but is the beauty of the grain worth it? Hmmm...

Cal

 

[Calzone]

John,

Crazy is good. That is why you are my friend. LOL

A different kinda crazy is I am a bit skitzo in that I want to be known as a crazy photographer as well as a crazy printer. Double crazy I say is better than just being plain crazy.

I think the most important thing an artist can be is not be like everyone else. Too much mediocrity in the world, but I hope I am not really crazy like some of our Presidential candidates. LOL.

Cal

 

[dshfoto]

Going

Going

I should be able to make the meet up, see you tomorrow.
Loreley Restaurant & Biergarten

7 Rivington Street


(between Bowery & Chrystie)
New York, NY 10002
Lower East Side
(212)253-7077
Google Map
Steve

This Sunday at Lorelie's.

I'll be there before 1:00 PM to reserve a table.

I'll also have some prints to show. Jean Marc wants to see the prints from Eastern State Penitentiary, and I have some new work which is night shooting with the 35/1.8 Nikkor on my Monochrom using 800 ISO.

Cal

 

[jsrockit]

See you then Steve.

 

[jsrockit]

Great meet-up. I had too many beers, but it was good to see photos from Jean-Marc, Cal, and I loved Philippe's (sorry if I misspelled) work from Cuba. Thanks to Joe for the Nikon F2. Very cool. A good meet-up.

 

[Calzone]

John gets a free retro camera. Mighty cool.

I got a lot out of the feedback of educated eyes on the varying opinions on nailing just the right amount of contrast.

Sorry to hear how cyclists are being ticketed with steep fines for doing the usual free-for-all that makes cycling in NYC fun, dangerous and exciting.
$180.00 for riding through a red light; $270.00 for the second red light. Ouch. Know that when I was younger I always could outrun the cops. LOL.

I liked that the rain subdued the crowds and noise. Our group really got to talk.

Cal

 

[jsrockit]

Sorry to hear how cyclists are being ticketed with steep fines for doing the usual free-for-all that makes cycling in NYC fun, dangerous and exciting. $180.00 for riding through a red light; $270.00 for the second red light. Ouch. Know that when I was younger I always could outrun the cops. LOL.

Cal, I think it is $278 for the first one. My friends got it recently... but went to court and they got out of it. $278, the second $463, and the third $1,028 is what I've heard.