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

[Alan Edward Klein]

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

Well, I was using men for other husbands. Some of them act in ways that their wives don't trust them.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

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.

Apparantly you've never been in a Lik gallery and gone through their pictures and presentation? Maybe your understanding is not complete. Don't you think you ought to go yourself before making such a negative analysis?

 

[DREW WILEY]

You forgot she won the lottery, Alan. The first thing Mrs. Wartleshnatz does afterwards is celebrate by driving to the Krispy Kreme donut shop on the corner, and stuffing herself. Then she books a cruise ship, then she buys the picture. Then she spends some on an Elvis impersonator concert in Vegas, and gambles away whatever is left over, so has to hitchhike back home, where she can enjoy her Lik picture, if she can manage to pay her electric bill.
That doesn't work out, so she is forced to sell the picture for $49 to the donut shop, where it matches the wild colors of the sugary donut frosting. Happy ending.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

It's possible she was at Lik's afterall.

 

[reddesert]

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

I've only been to one; it sold camera equipment and also had a good-sized well laid out photography gallery. I believe the function of the Leica stores is also to serve as brand advertisements/awareness in high traffic places. I'm sure the corporate parent hopes they will sell cameras and maybe art, but likely understands that the Leica-owned shop/gallery has a reason to exist beyond literally selling enough cameras to cover the rent. Anyway, the shop/gallery was professional and low pressure; it was obvious that I was just there to look at some photos and wasn't in the market for a camera.

 

[NortheastPhotographic]

Because Peter Lik's name was mentioned, this is all you need to know: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/22/...cipe-for-success-sell-prints-print-money.html

 

[paddycook]

I've only been to one; it sold camera equipment and also had a good-sized well laid out photography gallery. I believe the function of the Leica stores is also to serve as brand advertisements/awareness in high traffic places. I'm sure the corporate parent hopes they will sell cameras and maybe art, but likely understands that the Leica-owned shop/gallery has a reason to exist beyond literally selling enough cameras to cover the rent. Anyway, the shop/gallery was professional and low pressure; it was obvious that I was just there to look at some photos and wasn't in the market for a camera.

This is my experience. And generally the stores are staffed by knowledgable salespeople. Some of them (SF again) also have outstanding photo book selections.

 

[Mike Lopez]

Because Peter Lik's name was mentioned, this is all you need to know: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/22/...cipe-for-success-sell-prints-print-money.html

There's a sucker born every minute. A fool and his money are soon parted. Etc.

 

[MattKing]

Because Peter Lik's name was mentioned, this is all you need to know: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/22/...cipe-for-success-sell-prints-print-money.html

This is the sort of information that I base my understanding of Lik's efforts on.
I'm also not fond of the images I've seen - albeit only on the internet.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

This is the sort of information that I base my understanding of Lik's efforts on.
I'm also not fond of the images I've seen - albeit only on the internet.

So you knock his reputation and skill on gossip you read without firsthand experience other than looking at his photos on the web claiming you're "not fond of them", who has made tens of millions selling his photographs from his galleries in the biggest cities in the world.

 

[MattKing]

So you knock his reputation and skill on gossip you read without firsthand experience other than looking at his photos on the web claiming you're "not fond of them", who has made tens of millions selling his photographs from his galleries in the biggest cities in the world.

It isn't "gossip".
It is the New York Times, backed up by similar information from other sources that have the same stake in the veracity and reliability of their statements and analysis.
There are lots of people out there who have made millions selling product that sells because it is popular or trendy - which is fine as long as there aren't attached to it representations about the long term value and collectability of that product that are, at best, optimistic, and at worst, hyperbolic puffery.
And as for the work not being something I'm fond of, well I'm not fond if it.
It isn't the type of work that I seek out or that resonates strongly with me.
The prices his work commands in his own galleries, sold by his own commissioned salespeople, are hardly likely to be representative of what discerning buyers who have the choice to buy from multiple sources, while competing against other potential buyers, would be willing to pay.
So many of his photos look like you might consider buying them because they go well with the carpet and add a splash of drama and colour to the living room.
EDIT: Don't get me wrong, if you like Peter Lik's photos and would enjoy having one above your couch and are willing to pay what I consider to be an overly inflated price for them - go for it. I just don't think that the price attached to them is anything more than the result of sales and gimmickry.