Look for the half-tone dots when buying an Adams?

Mainecoonmaniac · Oct 7, 2014

Now this is funny. Caveat Emptor.

http://petapixel.com/2014/10/07/print-scam-meets-eye-ansel-adams-gallery/

Gerald C Koch · Oct 7, 2014

Yes, authentic AA prints do not have a calendar on the back. Seriously, if it can be scammed it will be. I wish there was a practical way of banning some people from the internet.

Old-N-Feeble · Oct 7, 2014

And you thought you could buy an original AA print for how much?

Rick A · Oct 7, 2014

Sooo... seems everybody is greedy these days.

Mainecoonmaniac · Oct 7, 2014

I love the AA gallery in the Yosemite Valley. I've spent many hours there lost in reverie looking at photos there. My last memorable show was Kerik Kouklis's platinum prints. Beautiful!

bdial · Oct 7, 2014

The staff people should have been able to clearly explain that the print was 6 bucks because it was busted out of a calendar, and the others are 25 because they are on better paper, or whatever.

Other than that, they guy is completely out in left field somewhere if he thought he was buying something valuable for his 6 dollar "investment".

My wife has a great story of visiting the gallery in the 70's, being impressed by the photos on display, but picking out some postcards because the prints were way more than she could afford, and speaking to this interesting old gentlemen behind the counter;

Who turned out to be AA.

analoguey · Oct 7, 2014

I think two problems :

Over-expectation, public embarrassment/disappointment.
either way, bad rep. Not funny.

They should ideally consider the reputation of the chap whose prints/photos they're selling!

snapguy · Oct 7, 2014

Don't want to

I don't want to be negative here but I must say I do remember something I read on a poster -- "it is immoral to let suckers keep their money."
The gallery should have fully disclosed what they are selling. But expecting anything worth anything for six bucks strains my brain.
Come to think of it I won a Rollieflex in a raffle in 1956 for a buck. But that is another story.

Truzi · Oct 7, 2014

I think the gallery should have been more forthright.
Just out of curiosity, if I were to go to a shop to have a print of that size matted, what would a reasonable cost be? What if we add in the space it takes waiting to sell? They should have been honest, but was the list price that unreasonable, other things considered?

L Gebhardt · Oct 7, 2014

The product does say reproduction and recycled product. So I find it hard to believe he thought he was getting an original print. But if, as he says, the sales rep told him there was practically no difference between his calendar page and the $30K original on the wall there is a problem.

summicron1 · Oct 7, 2014

Mainecoonmaniac said:
Now this is funny. Caveat Emptor.

http://petapixel.com/2014/10/07/print-scam-meets-eye-ansel-adams-gallery/

Ansel Adams? i see his stuff in thrift stores all the time -- he must not have been very much of a photographer.

snapguy · Oct 7, 2014

Goodwill

The Goodwill thrift store web site had a Leica M3 with a Summicron 50mm F1.4 lens for sale recently. Must not have been much of a camera/lens, huh?

Gerald C Koch · Oct 7, 2014

I might mention that the Library of Congress has a large collection of original negatives from many famous photographers. You can buy a silver gelatine print made from the negative of your choice for a modest fee. Not printed by the artist but genuine none the less. You can also buy copy negatives and print your own.

ic-racer · Oct 7, 2014

I guess I don't get the point of the web page text. The image was only $6.00, what did he expect, a real fiber print?

summicron1 · Oct 8, 2014

snapguy said:
The Goodwill thrift store web site had a Leica M3 with a Summicron 50mm F1.4 lens for sale recently. Must not have been much of a camera/lens, huh?

depends on what they were asking for it.

summicron1 · Oct 8, 2014

ic-racer said:
I guess I don't get the point of the web page text. The image was only $6.00, what did he expect, a real fiber print?

the feeling i get is that he thought it was some sort of photographic print. The fact that it said "reproduction" should have tipped him off. As many have noted, for $6 what did he expect?

still, selling old calendar pages in matts is rather cheap.

Old-N-Feeble · Oct 8, 2014

summicron1 said:
the feeling i get is that he thought it was some sort of photographic print. The fact that it said "reproduction" should have tipped him off. As many have noted, for $6 what did he expect?

still, selling old calendar pages in matts is rather cheap.

Yes, especially for a supposed "gallery".:confused:

pdeeh · Oct 8, 2014

Gerald C Koch said:
I might mention that the Library of Congress has a large collection of original negatives from many famous photographers. You can buy a silver gelatine print made from the negative of your choice for a modest fee. Not printed by the artist but genuine none the less. You can also buy copy negatives and print your own.

That's remarkable.

I've had a look on the LOC site but can only find a limited selection which seem to be printed from digitised versions, or download of digitised versions.
I don't find it the easiest site to navigate ... have you (or anyone) a direct link for the services you mention, Gerald?

Gerald C Koch · Oct 8, 2014

It's been awhile since I've visited the site. However here's a link to ask a print librarian for information. http://www.loc.gov/rr/askalib/ask-print.html

pdeeh · Oct 8, 2014

thanks

jeffreyg · Oct 8, 2014

Quite some time ago late 60's or very early 70's before having a strong interest in photography I purchased two 8x10 signed on the mount Ansel Adams prints at the Yosmite Gallery for $15 each. The iconic Moon and Half Dome and one of branches covered with snow. They are probably worth a bit more now.

http://www.jeffreyglasser,com/

Thomas Bertilsson · Oct 8, 2014

I guess never trust a 30 dollar Ansel Adams print to be the real deal? Is the buyer completely behind the 8 ball?

jeffreyg · Oct 8, 2014

My purchase was genuine AA prints. They were from the gallery in the park that was grandfathered to his wife who was also a trustee of Yosemite Nat'l Park. Had I known better I would have bought larger prints and a Moonrise if it was offered. At the time I just considered them memories of a vacation.
Jeff

Jim Jones · Oct 8, 2014

The writer who would take any Ansel Adams print, calendar or otherwise, to Hobby Lobby for matting got what he deserved from both the gallery and Hobby Lobby.

jeffreyg · Oct 8, 2014

I forgot to mention that they are silver gelatin and dry mounted . He signed them on the mat board below the print. They may have been printed by one of his assistants but it is his signature.

Jeff

Look for the half-tone dots when buying an Adams?

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