Ink jet and alt. photography

Pollmeier Klaus (100561.2417@CompuServe.COM)
27 Dec 96 18:14:51 EST

Robert Hudyma mentioned some ink jet prints he saw in London and N.Y. I also saw
"nice" big monochrome ink jet prints last September at an opening at a N. Y.
gallery. I think it was printed almost full size onto a high quality 70x100 cm
water color paper. High resolution, sharp. Exclusive place. Expensive frames.
Like platinum prints on the first glance. The images? Oh sorry, I forgot:
snapshots of famous N. Y. artists. The photographer was there and very proud of
this "brandnew" highclass and whatsoever perfect printing technique. I asked him
what process this was. He couldn't explain it, except that he knew his negatives
had to be scanned.

I left the exhibit rather disappointed. This no longer was photography but just
a computer printout on expensive paper. No more aura, no more sincerity. To me
it was obvious that here somebody just had chosen a technique to make his
mediocre photography sell better.

That's what I wish for 1997: Lets not only share our technical knowledge how to
master a certain process, although I agree that this is the most important topic
for this list. But it's not the process alone which makes our photographs be
pieces of art. Let's also - at least from time to time - talk about the 'why'
behind all our efforts. As long as it is related to the use of alternative
processes I would appreciate very much to read (and write) s. th. about this
aspect on this list, too. What about the ohers? Would that be too dangerous??

In this sense, a Happy New Year,

Klaus Pollmeier
100561.2417@compuserve.com