Galleries to see high-quality large optical prints in the US?

Pieter12 said:

It is not difficult for a skilled photographer to present false metadata. Opening an image in Photoshop does not mean that it has been manipulated. Most RAW files are unusable straight from the camera.

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A RAW file does not have the edits. NatGeo would know immediately where and how the final image has been manipulated by comparing it to the RAW image.

I stopped subscribing to NG once they started presenting mainly digital shots, and moreover, on cheap non-glossy paper. They do identify deliberately manipulated images under fun "artistic" auspices, typically shown on the front and end leaves; but in the past, nothing of that nature would have been allowed, period.

Yes, Alan, you've made your opinions on Lik clear countless times. You like the hot women on the sales floor and your wife keeps nagging you about this, that, and the other. We get it.

Mike Lopez said:

Yes, Alan, you've made your opinions on Lik clear countless times. You like the hot women on the sales floor and your wife keeps nagging you about this, that, and the other. We get it.

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Actually, my wife was with me when we visited his gallery in Oahu. We left with no photos. I don't recall any nagging. Unlike some other men, my wife trusts me.

Alan Edward Klein said:

Actually, my wife was with me when we visited his gallery in Oahu. We left with no photos. I don't recall any nagging. Unlike some other men, my wife trusts me.

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Your wife is a man?

Pieter12 said:

Your wife is a man?

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Only on the weekend

The sales and distribution company I worked for learned their lesson long ago. Hot babes in short skirts and high heels sometimes turned out to be excellent sales people, but so did jolly fat women wearing sneakers, but without the same element of distraction; and for that matter, so did odd looking old men. You can't always judge a book by its cover.

Craig said:

Pieter12 said:

Your wife is a man?

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Only on the weekend

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I was referring to husbands.

DREW WILEY said:

The sales and distribution company I worked for learned their lesson long ago. Hot babes in short skirts and high heels sometimes turned out to be excellent sales people, but so did jolly fat women wearing sneakers, but without the same element of distraction; and for that matter, so did odd looking old men. You can't always judge a book by its cover.

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But if you're selling to well-to-do and rich women who might be decorating their homes, speaking to a smartly dressed saleswoman who she can identify with when they're buying a photo for thousands of dollars. Women like that aren't going to buy it from fat women wearing sneakers and odd-looking men. You're only thinking about the picture quality. That's not good business or salesmanship. Many other factors sell a product. Many people here think the pictures will sell on their own, just with their quality. They better learn selling techniques if they want to make a living. They should visit Lik's gallery and other galleries to see sales techniques and copy them.

I want a salesperson to be knowledgeable about the product they are selling and add value to the transaction. I don't care what they wear or look like as long as they are competent.

Ha! I remember the trophy wives of movie stars and billionaires coming to my gallery openings, and they weren't dumb gold diggers at all - they'd buy Brett Weston prints across the street, and mine there. Brett himself came in. People with a lot of money don't necessarily have bad taste or want big ostentatious wall decor. That's more a thing where Mrs. Wartleschnatz in Peoria wins the state lottery, goes on a cruise ship, and buys a Lik picture to hang on the opposite side of the door from her precious black velvet Elvis rug.

At Lik's Lahaina gallery before the fire, the two sales people were young guys - very professional and no doubt well paid. They didn't know a damn thing about technique or image permanence (other than BS); but they did know how to dance around a conversation totally avoiding the word, "investment", yet heavily implying it. They knew how to keep a straight face and keep smiling with good humor if someone criticized what they were selling. Reeling in the tourist fish arriving on the cruise ship dock right across the shoreline boulevard is what they were expert at. Exactly the kind of salesmen I'd never want to represent my own work. People who know how to sell ANYTHING don't really understand anything well either. They don't have the right background.

I've never sold a print to a tourist in my entire life, even in a notable tourist town. There's nothing wrong with that; but I'd hope that something a lot more arresting would be present in a print, lending it some special quality rather than being just another stereotypical example of big indoor wall bait.

Alan Edward Klein said:

I was referring to husbands.

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What was written can be interpreted as your wife is a man or that she doesn’t trust other men.

As I understand it, the problems with the Lik galleries include:
1) high pressure sales tactics; and
2) questionable representations about the uniqueness and collectability of the product; and
3) in connection with #2, extremely optimistic representations in respect to the potential value upon re-sale of the product.
All of which are consistent with a sales presentation that is full of flash and glitz.
My rule of thumb is that if the premises and presenters are flashy/expensive, the product is likely to be lacking.

MattKing said:

premises and presenters are flashy/expensive,

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Leica galleries

MattKing said:

As I understand it, the problems with the Lik galleries include:
1) high pressure sales tactics; and
2) questionable representations about the uniqueness and collectability of the product; and
3) in connection with #2, extremely optimistic representations in respect to the potential value upon re-sale of the product.
All of which are consistent with a sales presentation that is full of flash and glitz.
My rule of thumb is that if the premises and presenters are flashy/expensive, the product is likely to be lacking.

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How his work is exhibited and sold is separate to the man himself, and the product of his direction to people anointed specifically to the task.

My memory serves me very well of the time we, at Chromacolour were charged with printing his huge pano Ilfochrome Classic prints. Quite apart from being a 'I'll-please-myself' driver (parking in the driveway and blocking people from leaving or entering) he was quite loud, rude, arrogant and terse in conversation — respected as a professional, but not well liked for his oft-flippant commentary; saying things in jest that were not unfortunately interpreted that way.

I haven't seen any of his work since Chromacolour closed down in September of 2010. What used to be a two-storey business with lab, grand entry, staircase, gallery and people coming and going is long gone, replaced with a block of nice townhouses.

mshchem said:

Leica galleries

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Pretty average, pedestrian, uninspired and technically bereft work from what I can see in those galleries (hold the camera, push the shutter button and wind on...). All steak and no sizzle.

Taylor Nankervis said:

Pretty average, pedestrian, uninspired and technically bereft work from what I can see in those galleries (hold the camera, push the shutter button and wind on...). All steak and no sizzle.

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all sizzle.....

I believe the "Leica Galleries" refers to the retail outlets selling Leica equipment.

MattKing said:

As I understand it, the problems with the Lik galleries include:
1) high pressure sales tactics; and
2) questionable representations about the uniqueness and collectability of the product; and
3) in connection with #2, extremely optimistic representations in respect to the potential value upon re-sale of the product.
All of which are consistent with a sales presentation that is full of flash and glitz.
My rule of thumb is that if the premises and presenters are flashy/expensive, the product is likely to be lacking.

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Not unusual sales tactics, from car salespeople to timeshare and even home improvement.

MattKing said:

I believe the "Leica Galleries" refers to the retail outlets selling Leica equipment.

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Although not high pressure, certainly expensive. In understated good taste though. Some of the sales face can be on the glitzy side.

MattKing said:

I believe the "Leica Galleries" refers to the retail outlets selling Leica equipment.

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Yep, Leica Stores. Never been, can't afford to travel due to excessive camera purchases

They pulled the plug on our Iowa City Leica shop (and Hasselblad, Rollei etc) at least 25 years ago..
Henry Louis, started as a drug store, ended up high end photo and microscopes/scientific equipment dealer.

We used to have 3 fairly amazing shops, all gone

Matt hit the nail on the head as per Lik and analogous ventures, especially with his last sentence.

I could also add, an extremely high priced, world-record sale to an unidentified client, cited on his web page, but otherwise completely unsubstantiated anywhere else. But if you walked into one of his galleries which offered that same ridiculous 1.4 million dollar image for a mere $45,000, I'll bet you could haggle them down to $4500 instead. It would still be a ripoff for a grossly colorized poorly made mere inkjet print.

mshchem said:

Leica galleries

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Some of the best photographic exhibitions I’ve ever seen have been in Leica stores, especially the one in SF. Always has top notch photographers exhibiting, many of them printing optically.

paddycook said:

Some of the best photographic exhibitions I’ve ever seen have been in Leica stores, especially the one in SF. Always has top notch photographers exhibiting, many of them printing optically.

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