[alt-photo] Re: "Alternative" printing?

[Diana Bloomfield]

Hey Loris,

I can believe silver gelatin is edging towards "alternative" -- I  
don't actually know anyone who does it anymore, though I'm sure  
they're out there-- but I agree with you about the definition of  
"alternative," which is the same as mine.

  I can't tell you how many times, recently, that I've thought-- wow--  
I didn't know there were so many "alternative process" printers around  
here (though I'm typically thinking hand-applied 19th c processes),  
but, as it turns out, these are digital printers who, admittedly, are  
good at what they do, and since much of their work has the  
"look" (sort of) of what we, or I, think  of as an alt process print--  
until, you know, you put on your glasses and get up close-- I have to  
believe this is what they want people to think.

I just saw an art center advertising this photographer who is going to  
be doing a "photography critique," and they mention her "knowledge of  
alternative chemical processes."  So I  think, well-- that's  
interesting, and so I look at her website to see her work, and it  
turns out she's been focused solely on digital technology for her  
printing for the last decade-- she says-- and so if you read the fine  
print, she goes on to mention that her "knowledge of and interest in  
alternative chemical processes" influences her digital imagery.  Oh.   
Okay.  So that changes things-- but you have to read the fine print  
and see the actual work to get at the truth.  As some of my often  
students say-- whenever I mention the term bracketing-- isn't that,  
like, you know, cheating or something??

Diana

On Feb 13, 2010, at 4:37 PM, Loris Medici wrote:

> Alternative is (at least, or, if you like; in general sense) something
> different from mainstream in my view. (Pretty original interpretation,
> isn't it? Hehehehe...) Therefore, "typical digital printing" (inkjet,
> lambda, lightjet and such - if I missed anything else) wouldn't
> qualify as alternative to me - I mean if that's what those photogs
> really do. (BTW, according to that definition, silver gelatin is
> slowly transforming into an alternative process. Not quite there yet,
> but pretty close...)
>
> Regards,
> Loris.
>
>