MF Contact Prints as End Result

[laverdure]

So MF contact prints are very small.
Mostly, images don't work that small.


But some do.

Which? Why?

 

[Peter Schrager]

MF prints

I just finished doing a show at the VPC in Springfield, Mass. that contained 2+1/4 inch contacts and some just slightly smaller than 4x5. What can I say except that the show worked. Smal prints draw the viewer into the subject matter. Art is purely subjective. The present trend is for some extremely large prints in the Galleries. I think buyers feel they get more for the dollar with the large size.
That doesn't make them any better or more worthwhile. You have to decide for yourself what is right for you...
Best, Peter

 

[foxyscootie]

Peter, thanks for sharing your viewpoint on this. I have an upcoming exhibit & after making contact prints of MF negs I did think they look great in that size & don't want to enlarge them. But I was afraid that noone would "get" them, but sometimes I forget that art is purely subjective. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[bdial]

So MF contact prints are very small.
Mostly, images don't work that small.


But some do.

Which? Why?

I think the major factor would be how much small detail is in the image. To work on a small scale the image needs to be fairly graphic, and simple. The gallery thumbnails and avatar images in here are good examples.

 

[nicolai]

I don't think there are any rules. Some photos lend themselves to being small, some large. There doesn't seem to be much rhyme or reason as far as I can tell. Most of the pieces in one of the projects I'm working on "want" to be printed rather large, but a few work best at wallet size. Go figure.

 

[eric]

Many years ago, my first time in San Francisco, I went to the museum (forgot which one, this was around 1994) and I saw an A.A. exhibit. It had a lot of the usual but what struck me the most was a bunch of AA contact sheets.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I make them occasionally, and I'll second the recommendation for "graphic and simple."

Sometimes I'll put 6x6cm Polaroids or albumen prints in ornate 2x2" frames, so they look like miniatures, which is a genre all to itself and can be a little more elaborate.

 

[jovo]

In Wellfleet, MA, at the Blue Heron Gallery I think, I once saw a set of 6x6 contact prints in 16x20 mats. They were toned, and very beautiful, but I couldn't help thinking they looked to be overwhelmed by the too large mats...and a bit pretentious as well for that reason. I agree with Peter that they drew me in...I had to get very close to see the detail....but a more appropriately sized presentation would have been ideal. (They were, btw, strongly graphic which, as David said, is probably the best thing for such work.)

 

[catem]

When I did cyanotypes a few years ago I did several contact sheets of 6 x 7 negs. I think they can look particularly good done this way. Depends on the subject matter, I think it needs to be quite graphic, and simple, not too detailed.
edit:Oops - just realised several people said 'simple and graphic' - teach me to read the thread through properly - well, here's another vote for that.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Here's one in the miniaturist style. This is a 6x6cm albumen print framed. It's not so easy to find these little frames, so I always keep an eye out for them at framing and housewares shops.

 

[Curt]

Edward Weston; Circus Tent, 3 7/8 x 2 15/16 inch. Paul Strand many 3x4 inch, Tina Modotti, Adams, Weston and many many others have made photographs in sizes smaller than 4x5 and they are jewels. The larger size end of the medium format negative can be beautiful if the subject matter is suited. A simple portrait or something with broad lines or bold graphics tend to produce pleasing images.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Many of Kertesz's early images are MF and even 35mm contact prints, though you never see them that size in books. You have to pay attention to the dimensions in the margins.

 

[Peter Schrager]

small prints

the prints for the show were matted to 13x15 boards and they worked beautifully. as an addendum there were 4 or 5 extremely large photos on the wall opposite mine-guess who's photos got all the attention? always follow your heart folks-that's the first rule of thumb. second rule-they had better be the best you can do!!
Best, Peter

 

[Samuel Hotton]

I wrote this a while back for another thread, but I think it applies here as well.
"I think that a properly executed contact print is a "Thing of beauty to behold". Purity of image.
I feel too many people adhere to the old saying "If you can't make them good, then make them big". It is easy to display a 30x40 inch print matted and framed that will cause a head to turn and attract attention BECAUSE it is BIG. The skill is to be able to create a miniature print so bold, with such simple composition and strength in a size between 2 1/4" x 3 1/4" and NO LARGER than 3 1/4" x4 1/4" that it will command attention from across a gallery, and visually DEMAND and COMPEL the viewer to come closer to see the magic."
Some of the work of Sudek "The poet of Prague" as small contact prints are really worth studying.
Images produced with uncoated lenses, or lenses with early designs, when shot against the light or in the Hungarian style produce a signature and beauty that cannot be duplicated with the modern super optics. The only difficulty is many times they do not enlarge well and perhaps a contact print is the best answer.
I myself feel that a negative that makes a brilliant large print may not make a brilliant small print due to complexity of detail. It requires the large size to "Bring it out". As a small or contact print it will be lost and muddled. However a print that is stong and commanding as a contact print will usually become a bold and successful large print. Pehaps this is why when we look at "Thumbnails" on the computer screen we find that one jumps out at us more than the rest, and we are compelled to enlarge it up in size to view it closer.
I like to display lots of prints in my home. One can only display so many 16" x 20" prints in 20" x 24" frames. I can display many more as 6cm x 9cm contacts in 4" x6" frames or 4" x5 " contacts in 5" x 7" frames.
I find that most of my female friends prefer the intimacy of these smaller framed and matted prints as they can display them on dressers, bedside tables, pianos. They feel they are more personal being smaller and that they can be picked up and studied, sort of like they contain secrets that must be studied to be found.
All the best,
Sam H.

 

[laverdure]

My favorite photo book is an auction catalog of vintage Kerteszs from the 20s, most reproduced (brilliantly) at actual size. (Christie's, April 1997, in case anyone's looking). Even when he took up 35mm he usually enlarged only onto postcard paper.

 

[chrisofwlp]

A great photograph looks good at any size. I think that a small print is an excellant test of composition. When you print small you are no longer rellying on a huge image to evoke a wow. Take for example Paula Smiths 8x10 contact prints from iceland, stunning images. Some of those images are available in VERY large pl/pt prints, and they work in both sizes. If you compose a good image it dosn't matter how large you print it, Its still a good image.

Sincerely;

 

[Jon King]

The NH Institute of Art has an annual exhibit for students and faculty where the maximum size of the artwork is 2 inches a side (2D or 3D art, not just photographs).

I've seen it the last couple of years, and I agree that a simple graphic composition usually works better, but not always.


http://www.nhia.edu/calendar.php?id=198

 

[jstraw]

A great photograph looks good at any size.

I'm not sure that I can get behind that...or at least, I'd argue that a great photograph does not look it's best at just any size.

 

[Richard Boutwell]

I think that if the small contact print is made well than any subject would work-- not just the simply and the graphic. One reason this is so, is because you can put your nose right up to the print.

I have found that some collectors are very interested in buying such small prints because 1: they are beautiful and 2: they are generally less expensive (unless you are talking about Kertesz). Gallerists on the other hand are not interested in selling them though because they have to sell more of them than the big prints to make any money (again, unless we are talking about Kertesz or Dead Link Removed)

I have been making small contact prints for the last five years, and one thing that I plan on creating with them are small editions of small handmade books and portfolios.

Here is a link to a portfolio on of my website that is all 2 1/4 contact prints. It is going to be the first of my small portfolios and should be available next summer.

Dead Link Removed

 

[3Dfan]

Let's not forget that wallet sized photos are in this size range, so practically everyone has a use for MF contact prints.

Also, MF stereo camera have been used to produce stereo cards (but smaller than Holmes format).