Here is what I suggest for all who are in this exchange: Agree among
yourselves on a common image with a wide density range. A flower still
life going from white to dark on a patterned background seems to me to be
easily constructed everywhere. Just decide on something in common. Make
your best image using whatever technique you think does the best job of
producing tonal separation in a final print. Presumably that is a platinum
print. The goal is tonal separation, heart stopping black and ethereal
whites. Sorry, got carried away there.
Take it with you to Portugal (or send it), describe the complete process
from lens and lighting to print and then all of those present can do a side
by side comparison and report to the list. Let everyone there score it
like Olympic ice skating in three categories: separation, shadow detail,
and highlight detail or pick your own scoring procedure; I don't care
although I think it's important to hide the names until after the scoring.
My null hypothesis is that more than half of them will be within a few
points of the top. My real hypothesis is that very few would be able to
see much difference but hypotheses are meant to be tested.
Do it for the Gipper. Pay the Piper. Put your prints where your opinions
and your densitometers are. Etc, etc. etc.
In the meantime you should realize that there are some very strongly held
opinions at work here and no amount of email will ever change them and it
seems to me that the discussions are about to get overheated. We've been
there before and it is not good.
I'll even help out. Everyone who wants in on this send me an email by
Monday next and I'll assemble a list and send it back out to everyone.
That will keep it off the alt-photo list I'll send out latecomers as they
show up but you may not get in on the selection of the common image if this
idea flies..
Regards.
Eugene Robkin