[alt-photo] Re: Alt-photo-process-list Digest, Vol 26, Issue 1

Susan Huber shuber1 at telus.net
Thu Dec 31 17:31:58 GMT 2009


Hello Diana,

I am in agreement with your thoughts.... because my fave paper is out of commission- P.O.P, I have been unable to find some process that I really like...I have been pressured to have some negs. made into scans to make digital prints and I was was amazed at the quality... but; I felt that I lost contact with the process because I did not actually make the print.

However, most of the negs that are scanned , have been done on the drum scanner but then most of the negs have been of 8 by 10 inch size. Unfortunately, the person who did the drum scanner has quit his work and become a truck driver....so; no drum scanner is in use. All work is done on the flatbed scanner and I am told that the scans are not as good...

I have never considered a digital camera for use because I do not want to sit in front a computer and play "delete". There is nothing like playing in the magic of a darkroom.

I can see the difference of a digital print to a "handmade" print. But then maybe the printer was not a good printer and yes, the prints are flat and without soul.

My guess, if someone makes a digital back to a LF camera that us mortals can afford... it might be neat to see what happens... but for me, MF and LF are the way to go.

Have fun everyone and have a quiet one!

Susan
www.susanhuber.com 
On 2009-12-30, at 9:07 PM, alt-photo-process-list-request at lists.altphotolist.org wrote:

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> Today's Topics:
> 
>   1. .. Restarting and new decisions... Need advice (Don Bryant)
>   2. Re: .. Restarting and new decisions... Need advice
>      (joachim oppenheimer)
>   3. Re: AUUGGHH... Restarting and new decisions... Need	advise.
>      (Diana Bloomfield)
>   4. Printmaking Workshop near Denver (Jon Lybrook)
>   5. Re: AUUGGHH... Restarting and new decisions... Need advise.
>      (Judy Seigel)
>   6. Re: AUUGGHH... Restarting and new decisions... Need advise.
>      (Trevor Cunningham)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 11:18:01 -0500
> From: Don Bryant <donsbryant at gmail.com>
> To: <alt-photo-process-list at lists.altphotolist.org>
> Subject: [alt-photo] .. Restarting and new decisions... Need advice
> Message-ID: <2C40C9639A30481290B84A252AFD7C57 at austinpowers>
> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="US-ASCII"
> 
> Hello David,
> 
> 
> 
> 1)     If your P/N55 is frozen then the chem. Pods are probably toast. I
> have little hope for the P/N 55 product being resurrected, I can only hope
> that a true SX-70 replacement can be made.
> 
> 2)    Is the quality of a good drum scan from a 4x5 negative still so much
> better than a digital camera?
> 
> 
> 
> David, IMO a good drum scan trumps digital sources, though at 11x14 sized
> prints it might be hard to see. A digital back on a 4x5 camera can produce a
> very high quality image though. A good flat bed scanner won't compete with a
> drum scan either. Since you mentioned Leica S2 then I would recommend
> Getdpi.com as a really good forum to discuss that camera as well as digital
> backs. Those guys are very serious experienced users there and know what
> they are talking about as well as being a nice rational forum to hang out.
> 
> 
> 
> If I could afford the M9 I would be very tempted. 
> 
> 
> 
> Join us at Hybridphoto.com for discussions about these topics including
> creation of digital negatives for alternative printing, scanning, scanners,
> and scanner accessories.
> 
> 
> 
> Stay plugged in to this list for core discussions of alt. processes.
> 
> 
> 
> Don Bryant
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:18:53 -0500
> From: joachim oppenheimer <joachim2 at optonline.net>
> To: alt-photo-process-list at lists.altphotolist.org
> Subject: [alt-photo] Re: .. Restarting and new decisions... Need
> 	advice
> Message-ID: <000001ca898d$4f357d20$eda07760$@net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
> 
> I would like to add to your cogent observations that "Photo Technique"
> (Jan/Feb 2010) the News section on page 5, is entitled "Instant film is
> back." It refers to the production of Type 52 (Unfortunately not P/N55) and
> mentions Fujifilm FP-100B Instant black & white film in current production
> especially for the Japanese market, but available in the US as well. I have
> no experience with these Polaroid anlagen since I laid my last box of type
> 55 films to rest, and with it buried a beloved line of work. For better or
> worse, or both, photography is in a new irreversible age. Joachim   
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: alt-photo-process-list-bounces at lists.altphotolist.org
> [mailto:alt-photo-process-list-bounces at lists.altphotolist.org] On Behalf Of
> Don Bryant
> Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2009 11:18 AM
> To: alt-photo-process-list at lists.altphotolist.org
> Subject: [alt-photo] .. Restarting and new decisions... Need advice
> 
> Hello David,
> 
> 
> 
> 1)     If your P/N55 is frozen then the chem. Pods are probably toast. I
> have little hope for the P/N 55 product being resurrected, I can only hope
> that a true SX-70 replacement can be made.
> 
> 2)    Is the quality of a good drum scan from a 4x5 negative still so much
> better than a digital camera?
> 
> 
> 
> David, IMO a good drum scan trumps digital sources, though at 11x14 sized
> prints it might be hard to see. A digital back on a 4x5 camera can produce a
> very high quality image though. A good flat bed scanner won't compete with a
> drum scan either. Since you mentioned Leica S2 then I would recommend
> Getdpi.com as a really good forum to discuss that camera as well as digital
> backs. Those guys are very serious experienced users there and know what
> they are talking about as well as being a nice rational forum to hang out.
> 
> 
> 
> If I could afford the M9 I would be very tempted. 
> 
> 
> 
> Join us at Hybridphoto.com for discussions about these topics including
> creation of digital negatives for alternative printing, scanning, scanners,
> and scanner accessories.
> 
> 
> 
> Stay plugged in to this list for core discussions of alt. processes.
> 
> 
> 
> Don Bryant
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Alt-photo-process-list | http://altphotolist.org/listinfo
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 3
> Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:45:22 -0500
> From: Diana Bloomfield <dhbloomfield at bellsouth.net>
> To: alt-photo-process-list at lists.altphotolist.org
> Subject: [alt-photo] Re: AUUGGHH... Restarting and new decisions...
> 	Need	advise.
> Message-ID: <43E715E2-93A4-4640-BD86-DB5CF0C2CB8C at bellsouth.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
> 
> Hey David,
> 
> I'm intrigued with your questions and only wish I could seriously  
> contemplate whether to buy a Leica M9 or a medium format digital camera.
> 
> I have a Canon 5D, which has been terrific for when I'm being paid to  
> photograph people.  It's fast, does the job well enough, and-- in the  
> end-- everybody seems satisfied and happy.  I recently rented the  
> Canon 85mm 1.2 lens for a job, and it was a dream.  I really loved it  
> and loved the results.  Honestly, it made me like the camera better--  
> which makes me think I just haven't been using the right lens.
> 
> For my own artwork, though, I rarely use that camera-- mainly,  
> because-- in the end-- I just don't like the format. I find myself  
> cropping to square, or something close to it, all the time.  (I never  
> actually liked the 35mm format, either, though I have had an M6 for  
> years and love it).   I tend to still use 4x5 film for my 4x5 pinhole  
> cameras-- and medium format film for my other cameras-- In fact, I  
> recently purchased (from a guy who went all digital all the time) a  
> Mamiya 6, with a couple of the lenses that accompanied it, and it is  
> one amazing camera (and the lenses give spectacular results).  I  
> really love using that camera. I scan my negatives and make larger  
> digital negatives for alt process work.   I do believe that a great  
> flat-bed scanner (and they are out there) works really well, at least  
> for my purposes.  I think a drum scanner would be serious overkill--  
> at least for what I do.
> 
> I'm not at all averse to making digital prints, either.  (I probably  
> shouldn't say that, as one could possibly go to hell for making that  
> statement on this list).  But I do believe that the digital prints  
> made from scanned negatives are often more impressive than digital  
> prints made from a digital camera.  The digital prints made from  
> actual film don't seem to have that flat 'digital look.'  The owner/ 
> manager of my local photo lab here told me a long story once about why  
> digital prints look so flat, compared to images made with film--  His  
> reasoning was way too technical for me, so I forgot most of what he  
> said as it went way over my head-- but it seemed to make sense at the  
> time.  I have actually seen quite beautiful digital prints, but I have  
> found that those who learned how to make prints the old-fashioned way  
> (in the wet darkroom) tend to also know how to make prints on the  
> computer.   An excellent printer and scanner-- as well as superb  
> paper-- surely helps.  Mostly, though, what we tend to see, I think,  
> are the results of enormous numbers of people who never learned how to  
> make a print, either the old-fashioned way, or the digital way-- and  
> they seem to be overly enamored with Photoshop (especially the over- 
> sharpen and saturation tools).   But I've made some digital prints  
> that I think are gorgeous (if I do say so myself!), and I've certainly  
> seen some that are amazing-- compelling and impressive, both image-  
> and print-wise.
> 
> I understand that Canon's latest digital camera (still too expensive  
> for me) now produces the 'look' of film in the print (not offering  
> that flat digital look), and lot of folks think you'd be hard-pressed  
> to see the difference as to whether the print was made from film, or  
> straight from the digital camera.  My issue is-- several thousand  
> dollars later, and upwards to $10K  or more if you're talking an M9--  
> and you're STILL essentially working with a 35mm, or small format  
> camera.  That makes no sense to me.   If I had the money, I'd be  
> getting a medium format digital camera, for sure, but I would never  
> pay thousands for a small format camera, and a format I really don't  
> like.
> 
> I still use (color) film and have an Epson flat-bed scanner which is  
> wonderful and works really well.  Maybe I'm too easily impressed, but  
> I don't think so.
> 
> Anyway, not much help here-- but given that you seem to have the  
> available funds-- and, by your own admission, an arm that doesn't work  
> as well as it used to--  my free advice is to buy a medium format  
> digital camera.  You'd still have to make digital negatives, but they  
> would be first generation negatives.  I'm sticking with film, but only  
> because I can't afford what I'd like.  :)   I just hope they keep  
> making it.
> 
> That's my 2 cents.  Good luck!
> 
> Diana
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>> Ok all... The basic story here is that I'm taking a bit of a  
>> sabbatical from my day job (in high tech) and going to devote much  
>> of the next year to various pursuits, most of them photographic.
>> 
>> I haven't photographed much at all in the last 8-10 years... And I  
>> hate even to admit that. I shot some 8x10, but mostly 4x5... 80%+  
>> Polaroid type 55 which I dearly love, but also ready-loads (and  
>> occasionally film holders, always for the 8x10 and rarely for the  
>> 4x5) because while I'm more contemplative than the typical 35mm  
>> photographer (and ALWAYS use a tripod) I did like to work lite (and  
>> my favorite of 2 4x5s is my Polaroid 110 conversion). I'd process  
>> all of the film myself, and had all but abandoned Silver for  
>> Platinum printing. I was starting to get into digital negatives so I  
>> could standardize on 11x14 prints, but hadn't gotten very far. I did  
>> however scan every negative for cataloging and for my website.
>> 
>> Jump ahead to late 2009 and I have the same basic desire for my  
>> work, if not wanting to work even a bit lighter (part of the reason  
>> for my time off is due to being on disability from almost having  
>> lost my right arm and shoulder.. I've still got it, but it doesn't  
>> worn near as well as it used to).
>> 
>> So I start thinking.... I prefer ready-loads and Type 55 even  
>> more... There ARE no B&W ready-loads available anymore, and until  
>> The Impossible Project ( http://www.the-impossible-project.com/)  
>> gets Type 55 revived, I'm limited to a very small stash I have in my  
>> deep freezer.
>> 
>> My workflow was analog, with a side of digital, but was and will  
>> likely move to at least analog-digital-analog. I want to print Pt at  
>> 11x14 for the most part so there'll have to be a digital (negative)  
>> before the print... Hence the digital step in the workflow.
>> 
>> Maybe it's time for a change.
>> 
>> Is the quality of a good drum scan from a 4x5 negative still so much  
>> better than a digital camera when printing negatives at 11x14 as to  
>> make it worth hauling film holders or a couple or three Grafmatic  
>> holders, a changing bag... And still processing the negatives myself?
>> 
>> Or is it time to consider a Digital Camera-Analog print workflow?
>> 
>> I'm one of those people who can tell an analog print from a digital  
>> print... At least anytime I've called it out in a gallery or  
>> photography exhibition I haven't been told I'm wrong (I'm usually  
>> asked how I knew). From personal experience of my (and other's work)  
>> I can't seem to see it in an analog print from a well made digital  
>> negative (but all were from scanned negatives).  I don't really know  
>> if I'd see it in a digital capture.
>> 
>> If I did move to a digital camera, I'd probably go higher-end... And  
>> likely medium format.  Something like a medium format digital  
>> solution (Phase One, Hassy, or Leica S2) or a Phase One, Leaf, or  
>> Hassy back on an Arca-swiss or other "technical camera" platform  
>> (then I don't have to give up movements).  Either way, that would  
>> require a significant investment (somewhere in the $13k - $25k  
>> range.) I might also consider a Leica M9 and get a couple of those  
>> sensuous lenses, which would cut the price down to around $10K or  
>> $11K with a couple of lenses, give up some quality due to the  
>> smaller sensor (still 35mm Full Frame), but again lose movements for  
>> the ultimate in lightness and portability.
>> 
>> AAUUGGHH....
>> Thoughts???
>> _______________________________________________
>> Alt-photo-process-list | http://altphotolist.org/listinfo
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 4
> Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:13:38 -0700
> From: Jon Lybrook <jon at intaglioeditions.com>
> To: alt-photo-process-list at lists.altphotolist.org
> Subject: [alt-photo] Printmaking Workshop near Denver
> Message-ID: <4B3BFAC2.5040007 at intaglioeditions.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
> 
> Hi All,
> 
> Colorado University at Boulder's master printmaking instructor, Clinton 
> Cline, will be teaching several printmaking workshops in January and 
> February in his studio near Denver.  Please pass on to anyone who may be 
> interested:
> 
> Viscosity Monotype: January 16-17
> Createx Water-based Monotype: February 6-7
> Photopolymer Plates: February 20-21
> 
> See : http://www.clintoncline.com/category/blog
> 
> 
> -- 
> Jon Lybrook
> Intaglio Editions
> http://intaglioeditions.com
> 303-818-5187
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 5
> Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 23:18:08 -0500 (EST)
> From: Judy Seigel <jseigel at panix.com>
> To: alt-photo-process-list at lists.altphotolist.org
> Subject: [alt-photo] Re: AUUGGHH... Restarting and new decisions...
> 	Need advise.
> Message-ID: <Pine.NEB.4.64.0912302208200.10780 at panix2.panix.com>
> Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
> 
> 
> On Wed, 30 Dec 2009, Diana Bloomfield wrote:
> 
>> Hey David,
>> 
>> I'm intrigued with your questions and only wish I could seriously contemplate 
>> whether to buy a Leica M9 or a medium format digital camera.
>> 
>> I have a Canon 5D, which has been terrific for when I'm being paid to 
>> photograph people.  It's fast, does the job well enough, and-- in the end-- 
>> everybody seems satisfied and happy.  I recently rented the Canon 85mm 1.2 
>> lens for a job, and it was a dream.  I really loved it and loved the results. 
>> Honestly, it made me like the camera better-- which makes me think I just 
>> haven't been using the right lens.
>> 
>> For my own artwork, though, I rarely use that camera-- mainly, because-- in 
>> the end-- I just don't like the format. I find myself cropping to square, or 
>> something close to it, all the time.
> 
> I've been reading this thread, and (as it were) biting my tongue to not 
> say what I'm thinking -- then I figured, oh hell, say it -- what will they 
> do, fly out on their 85mm xp-1 and sneer at me? (Which I've been assured
> is rarely fatal.)
> 
> Maybe it's just because I don't know a lot of what they're talking about, 
> so I figure all the tergiversation (real word) about camera x or y to 
> print d or f in format box or canoe, is useless, because.... it assumes 
> digital (or whichever) prints aimed at utmost advanced printness of the 
> moment, with a mandate for perfect whichever.  Does/will anyone next year 
> or next decade give a damn?  They could sneer at today's format & every 
> one of our digitons and its mother, no matter how perfectly "correct" our 
> set-up as conceived & executed by (our/their/someone's current 
> standards.... next year will probably be full of something else.
> 
> So permit me to suggest -- print the damn thing in gum: Then add 3 or 4 
> coats and colors and washes and inventions and.... however it comes out: 
> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU INTENDED !  And defy the world to match the glory 
> of your (fake) lens and magic (added) color. Because, as we know, there's 
> always something new in technical perfection or advanced digitation or 
> bicameron lens or aesthetic imperative of correctness to keep a 
> photographer so preoccupied and distracted s/he forgets what transfixed 
> him/her in the first place (whatever it was, I forget now).  Anyway, the 
> next generation will probably sneer because we were so off the mark about 
> telepathy.
> 
> (Though, now that you mention it, I had the perfect oatmeal box last week 
> -- too bad I threw it out... but I'll definitely save the next one.)
> 
> J.
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 6
> Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 08:07:10 +0300
> From: Trevor Cunningham <trevor at chalkjockeys.com>
> To: alt-photo-process-list at lists.altphotolist.org
> Subject: [alt-photo] Re: AUUGGHH... Restarting and new decisions...
> 	Need advise.
> Message-ID: <4B3C317E.9090506 at chalkjockeys.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
> 
> Diana,
> 
> Your post was a breath of fresh air! I've recently put my Mamiya up on a 
> shelf in lieu of Nikon digital gear (although I have had a Sekor lens in 
> my bag which has more recently been replaced by a Tamron 90mm 2.8 
> [amazing lens]). I went digital due to a high volume of travel and the 
> lack of medium format film in the places I live...over the past eight 
> years, I've had to do without a really professional shop/lab. But, your 
> post gives me hope. I'm interested to know which scanner/printer combo 
> you're using. I'm currently in the printer market and have had my eyes 
> on the HP b9180. From everything I've read, it does a great job with 
> both prints and digital negatives.
> 
> Trevor
> 
> Diana Bloomfield wrote:
>> Hey David,
>> 
>> I'm intrigued with your questions and only wish I could seriously 
>> contemplate whether to buy a Leica M9 or a medium format digital camera.
>> 
>> I have a Canon 5D, which has been terrific for when I'm being paid to 
>> photograph people.  It's fast, does the job well enough, and-- in the 
>> end-- everybody seems satisfied and happy.  I recently rented the 
>> Canon 85mm 1.2 lens for a job, and it was a dream.  I really loved it 
>> and loved the results.  Honestly, it made me like the camera better-- 
>> which makes me think I just haven't been using the right lens.
>> 
>> For my own artwork, though, I rarely use that camera-- mainly, 
>> because-- in the end-- I just don't like the format. I find myself 
>> cropping to square, or something close to it, all the time.  (I never 
>> actually liked the 35mm format, either, though I have had an M6 for 
>> years and love it).   I tend to still use 4x5 film for my 4x5 pinhole 
>> cameras-- and medium format film for my other cameras-- In fact, I 
>> recently purchased (from a guy who went all digital all the time) a 
>> Mamiya 6, with a couple of the lenses that accompanied it, and it is 
>> one amazing camera (and the lenses give spectacular results).  I 
>> really love using that camera. I scan my negatives and make larger 
>> digital negatives for alt process work.   I do believe that a great 
>> flat-bed scanner (and they are out there) works really well, at least 
>> for my purposes.  I think a drum scanner would be serious overkill-- 
>> at least for what I do.
>> 
>> I'm not at all averse to making digital prints, either.  (I probably 
>> shouldn't say that, as one could possibly go to hell for making that 
>> statement on this list).  But I do believe that the digital prints 
>> made from scanned negatives are often more impressive than digital 
>> prints made from a digital camera.  The digital prints made from 
>> actual film don't seem to have that flat 'digital look.'  The 
>> owner/manager of my local photo lab here told me a long story once 
>> about why digital prints look so flat, compared to images made with 
>> film--  His reasoning was way too technical for me, so I forgot most 
>> of what he said as it went way over my head-- but it seemed to make 
>> sense at the time.  I have actually seen quite beautiful digital 
>> prints, but I have found that those who learned how to make prints the 
>> old-fashioned way (in the wet darkroom) tend to also know how to make 
>> prints on the computer.   An excellent printer and scanner-- as well 
>> as superb paper-- surely helps.  Mostly, though, what we tend to see, 
>> I think, are the results of enormous numbers of people who never 
>> learned how to make a print, either the old-fashioned way, or the 
>> digital way-- and they seem to be overly enamored with Photoshop 
>> (especially the over-sharpen and saturation tools).   But I've made 
>> some digital prints that I think are gorgeous (if I do say so 
>> myself!), and I've certainly seen some that are amazing-- compelling 
>> and impressive, both image- and print-wise.
>> 
>> I understand that Canon's latest digital camera (still too expensive 
>> for me) now produces the 'look' of film in the print (not offering 
>> that flat digital look), and lot of folks think you'd be hard-pressed 
>> to see the difference as to whether the print was made from film, or 
>> straight from the digital camera.  My issue is-- several thousand 
>> dollars later, and upwards to $10K  or more if you're talking an M9-- 
>> and you're STILL essentially working with a 35mm, or small format 
>> camera.  That makes no sense to me.   If I had the money, I'd be 
>> getting a medium format digital camera, for sure, but I would never 
>> pay thousands for a small format camera, and a format I really don't 
>> like.
>> 
>> I still use (color) film and have an Epson flat-bed scanner which is 
>> wonderful and works really well.  Maybe I'm too easily impressed, but 
>> I don't think so.
>> 
>> Anyway, not much help here-- but given that you seem to have the 
>> available funds-- and, by your own admission, an arm that doesn't work 
>> as well as it used to--  my free advice is to buy a medium format 
>> digital camera.  You'd still have to make digital negatives, but they 
>> would be first generation negatives.  I'm sticking with film, but only 
>> because I can't afford what I'd like.  :)   I just hope they keep 
>> making it.
>> 
>> That's my 2 cents.  Good luck!
>> 
>> Diana
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>> Ok all... The basic story here is that I'm taking a bit of a 
>>> sabbatical from my day job (in high tech) and going to devote much of 
>>> the next year to various pursuits, most of them photographic.
>>> 
>>> I haven't photographed much at all in the last 8-10 years... And I 
>>> hate even to admit that. I shot some 8x10, but mostly 4x5... 80%+ 
>>> Polaroid type 55 which I dearly love, but also ready-loads (and 
>>> occasionally film holders, always for the 8x10 and rarely for the 
>>> 4x5) because while I'm more contemplative than the typical 35mm 
>>> photographer (and ALWAYS use a tripod) I did like to work lite (and 
>>> my favorite of 2 4x5s is my Polaroid 110 conversion). I'd process all 
>>> of the film myself, and had all but abandoned Silver for Platinum 
>>> printing. I was starting to get into digital negatives so I could 
>>> standardize on 11x14 prints, but hadn't gotten very far. I did 
>>> however scan every negative for cataloging and for my website.
>>> 
>>> Jump ahead to late 2009 and I have the same basic desire for my work, 
>>> if not wanting to work even a bit lighter (part of the reason for my 
>>> time off is due to being on disability from almost having lost my 
>>> right arm and shoulder.. I've still got it, but it doesn't worn near 
>>> as well as it used to).
>>> 
>>> So I start thinking.... I prefer ready-loads and Type 55 even more... 
>>> There ARE no B&W ready-loads available anymore, and until The 
>>> Impossible Project ( http://www.the-impossible-project.com/) gets 
>>> Type 55 revived, I'm limited to a very small stash I have in my deep 
>>> freezer.
>>> 
>>> My workflow was analog, with a side of digital, but was and will 
>>> likely move to at least analog-digital-analog. I want to print Pt at 
>>> 11x14 for the most part so there'll have to be a digital (negative) 
>>> before the print... Hence the digital step in the workflow.
>>> 
>>> Maybe it's time for a change.
>>> 
>>> Is the quality of a good drum scan from a 4x5 negative still so much 
>>> better than a digital camera when printing negatives at 11x14 as to 
>>> make it worth hauling film holders or a couple or three Grafmatic 
>>> holders, a changing bag... And still processing the negatives myself?
>>> 
>>> Or is it time to consider a Digital Camera-Analog print workflow?
>>> 
>>> I'm one of those people who can tell an analog print from a digital 
>>> print... At least anytime I've called it out in a gallery or 
>>> photography exhibition I haven't been told I'm wrong (I'm usually 
>>> asked how I knew). From personal experience of my (and other's work) 
>>> I can't seem to see it in an analog print from a well made digital 
>>> negative (but all were from scanned negatives).  I don't really know 
>>> if I'd see it in a digital capture.
>>> 
>>> If I did move to a digital camera, I'd probably go higher-end... And 
>>> likely medium format.  Something like a medium format digital 
>>> solution (Phase One, Hassy, or Leica S2) or a Phase One, Leaf, or 
>>> Hassy back on an Arca-swiss or other "technical camera" platform 
>>> (then I don't have to give up movements).  Either way, that would 
>>> require a significant investment (somewhere in the $13k - $25k 
>>> range.) I might also consider a Leica M9 and get a couple of those 
>>> sensuous lenses, which would cut the price down to around $10K or 
>>> $11K with a couple of lenses, give up some quality due to the smaller 
>>> sensor (still 35mm Full Frame), but again lose movements for the 
>>> ultimate in lightness and portability.
>>> 
>>> AAUUGGHH....
>>> Thoughts???
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Alt-photo-process-list | http://altphotolist.org/listinfo
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> Alt-photo-process-list | http://altphotolist.org/listinfo
>> 
> 
> 
> 
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> 
> End of Alt-photo-process-list Digest, Vol 26, Issue 1
> *****************************************************

Susan Huber
www.susanhuber.com






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