Yes, this fabulous picture Ed Gajdel took of Leonard Cohen, it is a beauty.
Carnie Bob, thank you for all your insight and the pleasant, positive way you bring together what often seem to be opposites. For me, that's the eye opener of this thread.
I know precisely what kind of printer I am. But this is for my own work. I worked as assistant to a printer in Paris - late seventies, early eighties. His main paper was the normal Ilford paper. Which was quite neutral and it had some secondary advantages which I forgot what they were. Maybe something about the surface that made retouch easier, or maybe pressing them flat with the drymounting press was easier.
Then, some photographers asked for their work to be printed on Agfa paper, mostly Record Rapid and some Portriga. Record Rapid spoke more to me, and I used this until long after Agfa stopped producing it.
The print full of nuances I really do appreciate. But that, for me, touches more what an incredible medium photography is.
My heart is with the more emotional and less rational approach. Think Eugene Smith, Dave Heath, Daido Moriyama, William Klein, Christer Stromholm, Don McCullin, Ed van der Elsken, Jun Morinaga, Robert Frank and yes, Ed Cajdel and many others.
Dave Heath was a friend. He went very far in his darkroom to get his powerful prints. He said: "I do not have to see all the information the black holds. I do need to feel it though".