Re: 3 questions (one of them dumb)
I'm in complete agreement with you, Judy. That's certainly how I
view "alternative" prints. So I'm really very curious to know why
chromogenic prints are considered "alternative." That's two
"alternative process" exhibits that I've now seen (or heard about) in
the last 6 months that included chromogenic prints. There must be
some way to make them that's different from the way I've always known
them to be done. ? I can't wait for Margery's reply to Bob.
Diana
On Nov 17, 2008, at 10:09 PM, Judy Seigel wrote:
On Mon, 17 Nov 2008, Diana Bloomfield wrote:
..... an image made in cyanotype or platinum sure isn't going to
look the same if digitally printed-- so the final print-making
choice does also make a difference to how that image is ultimately
presented and viewed.
To quote the lady coining phrases all over the US landscape these
past several months: YOU BETCHA ! But that's the least of it.
Whoever can't see the difference between a gum print, for instance,
and a "C-print," or even an unmodified digital print, is either
wearing dark glasses, or hasn't ever seen the media except in repro
(or both).
Aside from the "look" of, for instance a gum print, which tends to
a tactility, texture, or call it dimensionality, not seen in a
print that's essentially buried under a layer of gelatin, is the
way it's constructed: A "C-print" is set in concrete, with at best
a few modifications in development, from the moment of clicking the
shutter. A gum print, is built up in layers, interactively, or make
that INTERACTIVELY -- you see the first coat and create/construct
the next coat accordingly and so on, able to wipe out all or part
of a layer, and add pieces or entire layers.
(I use a gum print as example because the possibilities are so wide
and extreme, tho additions & alterations of other media and various
modifications in VDB, cyano, et al, are familiar and fruitful.)
To repeat, a C-print is more or less finished at the click of the
shutter; the gum (and other processes made in stages by hand) can
be created, altered, changed, invented, amplified, modified and
reacted to indefinitely. Which is not to say the result is better
"art" than a C-print -- that depends on the gods and the artist,
but to allege that there is no difference is... let's say, to
misunderstand the nature of both operations.
In sum, there's much more flexibility and variation possible in the
FACTURE of "alternative" processes... Whether the CONCEPT, or the
"eye" which chooses or composes the scene or the series is thereby
eclipsed, may or may not be a point worth arguing. My own guess
would be, um : circumstances alter cases. Which is to say, "It
depends."
Judy
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