Lith print exchange, anybody interested?

[blaze-on]

I agree with Kevin and had bowed out prior to his post.

There really should be standards set for these exchanges. When there is, I'd love to participate.

Best,

Matt

 

[kjsphoto]

I completely agree. I would of love to have joined but until standards are set forth I am also not going to join this time around.

 

[rst]

Kevin and Matt,

I think standards are already set, even if not written down. I assume that the standard is to send the best you can do unmatted and unmounted RC or FB print. In addition to that, participants are allowed to do more. That is how I understand the print exchange. If you set the standards too high, only a few will participate because for most of us your standards may be not reachable. It is a difference if you can mount and matt a print yourself or if you have to pay for it.

Regards
-- Ruediger

 

[rst]

I also do not mind sending international. Otherwise I would end up in a one person only group

Same here, Ruediger!

So once we found a Norwegian/German print exchange putting together the groups will be very easy. I offer to organize this.

I'll put myself a notch above beginner, since I've managed to make some lith prints that I actually like - and my wife likes them, too!

OK, same here Ole.

ciao
-- Ruediger

 

[kjsphoto]

I think you might be missing the point or maybe it is just me, in any case my take on it is this, some of us sell our work as a living and our standards are high but definitely not untouchable as I / we take a lot of pride in every photograph we create. With any photograph I send out in the world if it be for a trade with another photographer of for sale, I always Spot, Mat, mount, number, sign each and every photograph as I only what my best efforts to be seen. I always do it to the highest quality that I am capable of providing.

I do not think these standards are to high at all. If I send a photograph I would expect one of the same quality coming back. I realize that many do this as a hobby and that is wonderful, but if I am going to spend 10-12 hours on a photograph and in return receive one that is not like quality I would be bummed, not upset but I guess more disappointed you could say.

Again just my two cents and they are not worth much anyway...

And please this post in on way was to create a flame war. I am just giving some thoughts on the subject.

 

[Ole]

Kevin, I understand your viewpoint very well.

I don't think anyone has intended to send anything but the best they are capable of!

Yet my experience with print exchanges are that mounted prints very rarely arrive undamaged, while unmounted prints are almost always fine.

I don't mount myself; there's a nearby framer who does far superior work to anything I could do without making a huge investment in time, effort and equipment. So any print I receive that's going up on the wall will be professionally mounted, matted and framed.

I prefer to sign the front of the print, outside the image area, and leave it up to the recipient whether to matt it with the signature hidden or visible, or not matt it at all.

I feel the requirement for a print to be matted and mounted to be considered "finished" is a particular USAmerican issue? It never crossed my mind until I read "the Print" that "unmounted" could be equated with "unfinished".

Just my two øre - a worthless coin that was removed from circulation several years ago.

 

[tim_walls]

I assume that it goes without saying that people will do their best.

I would hate for my 'best' though, as an absolute beginner, to be a crushing disappointment to someone, though. So I'll be more than happy to bow out if the concensus is there should be some minimum level of ability to participate, if that's what is needed to get more of our artisans to join in.

 

[Mark Fisher]

I assume that it goes without saying that people will do their best.

I would hate for my 'best' though, as an absolute beginner, to be a crushing disappointment to someone, though. So I'll be more than happy to bow out if the concensus is there should be some minimum level of ability to participate, if that's what is needed to get more of our artisans to join in.

I can also bow out. If it were a standard exchange, I'd have no worries. I was using this as a reason to try lith printing so maybe I should bow out. Please take me off the list as I don't want to be starting something new where people are expecting a bit more.

 

[Travis Nunn]

I think it'd be a mistake for a beginner to bow out just because two people want higher standards than the rest. There's more to a print exchange than just getting a nice print from someone. I view it as a way to learn. It's way to see how people that are more experienced are doing things. I never really knew what a "really nice print" looked like until I participated in an exchange and got to see one in person. It forced me to work harder on my printing skills because I could see that my prints were lacking a little. It also gave me ideas on how to do things differently.

Mark and Tim, I'd encourage you guys to participate no matter what level you are. Like I said, a print exchange is more than just getting a good print from someone. I'd be perfectly happy if both of you guys were in my group.

 

[keeds]

To my mind these exchanges are about sharing our love for what most of us do for fun. We have no idea of what someone had in mind when they created an image, just as we have no idea what someone else may see in one we ourselves create. Just join in and send what ever you're happiest with.

 

[bdial]

I agree with Travis and keeds, let's not make this a juried show.

 

[mikeg]

I agree too. The print exchanges should be about learning. Learning through making your own print and also seeing other people's prints. It's not about getting a like for like exchange or a cheap way of starting a print collection.

I hope Tim and Mark will reconsider.

Cheers

Mike

 

[tim_walls]

I agree too. The print exchanges should be about learning. Learning through making your own print and also seeing other people's prints. It's not about getting a like for like exchange or a cheap way of starting a print collection.

I hope Tim and Mark will reconsider.

Oh, please don't think I'm throwing my toys out of the pram - I didn't mean it like that at all (I did edit my post at least once but obviously not enough .) What I meant to say I guess was not to allow newbies in on my account; if we are then obviously I'll be delighted to participate, but equally I'll not be offended if not.

 

[fearc]

I haven't participated in a print exchange before (although signed up for one other so am dipping my toes..), i don't earn my living from photography but can guarantee that anything put in the post will be the best i can do - if my 'best' isn't up to another's standards I can only hope to improve - with the inspiration of those others.

if a standard is set - as a group of geographically isolated people -we are the soul judge of our work and so may get that standard wrong (in the eyes of others) - and those who wish for a higher standard may still be disappointed.

I agree with keeds, personally I would feel very vulnerable if the standard of work is such an issue - i don't seek to disappoint anyone.. can't we just enjoy others best endeavors and learn from them good or bad?

 

[blaze-on]

The only standard I would like is mounted/matted/signed prints.

Do the best you can, present it the best way.

Shipping mounted/matted prints should not be more susceptible to damage than an unmounted print unless you don't do it with care.

 

[Ole]

Shipping mounted/matted prints should not be more susceptible to damage than an unmounted print unless you don't do it with care.

That is not my experience.

And unmounted print is flexible; a mount board can break. And believe me - if anything can possibly break international mail will find a way to break it.

If I do ship mounted prints they won't be dry-mounted on mounting boards, but wet-mounted on aluminium. That at least will give them a 50% chance of arriving in one (unfractured) piece.

 

[Mateo]

Ok, here's the deal: for what I had in mind for this print exchange let's go with following set of standards.
1. this is about sharing what can be done in lith printing with enfasis on the process and not on the value of the prints themselves (I plan on sending out some nice prints and I'm sure everyone else will do their best as well)
2. print size and presentation will not have any requirements
3. it will be open to anyone who wants to print in lith with everyone saying how experienced they are just so we can mix up the groups
4. this exchange will be international

Sorry we can't accomodate everyone's wishes here. Possibly someone might want to initiate a "finished print exchange" with standards that aren't so loose.

Here's a list of those who wanted to join, if you change your mind or I missed you, let me know.

Magnus W
T nunn
Gay Larson
bdial
Ole
sly
Mark Mombarg
rst
mikeg
tim walls
keeds
Thomas Bertilsson
Fintan
Mark Fisher
timeUnit
fearc
semeuse


Some things we need to decide on would be the date that prints should be sent by and the number of people per group. I'm thinking 4 per group and whatever combo of 3 in a group to make the numbers work.

 

[matti]

I would like to join as well. My experience with lith is qute limited.
/matti

 

[keeds]

Sound good to me. Say a month from now and 4 in a group?

 

[Travis Nunn]

4 in a group and send prints by October 31?

 

[semeuse]

I'm with Travis - 4 in a group and send by 10/31

 

[mikeg]

Sounds good to me. 3 prints to make and send by 31/10.

 

[rst]

Me too. 4 in a group and 10/31 as deadline is reasonable. Lith printing is the only printing I do right now, so to make this date should not be too hard for me. I am looking forward to this.

Regards
-- Ruediger

 

[Ole]

Being realistic about this, I'll have to beg off this time.

I'm offshore right now, and will probably be here until October 4th. Then there are two concerts on the 27th I'll have to work hard to prepare for - unless I go offshore again before then, in which case I'll probably only have about 10 days at home between now and October 31st.

10 days is not enough to get the inspiration going, selecting a negative, and getting three good lith prints from it. I usually have to try at least four or five until I find one that turns out right, and there's a limit to how much of my rare time off my wife will let me spend in the darkroom...

Maybe next time things will be "normal" at work?

 

[Gay Larson]

I like having 4 to a group so it's not a burden to anyone. Thanks for organizing.