The burro starts the long trek to the promised land tomorrow...
Ok guys the print is done and drying right now, the portfolio will be on its way tomorrow. I have the portfolio in my hands right now....ooops...spilled some coffee...........GOTCHA...
Ok, I dont know why everbody gets the portfolio, puts their print inside and gets it on the way without ever saying anything about the prints inside, there is amazing work in this portfolio. So hopefully I am starting a tradition.
The pt/pd prints, Joe Lipka's and Clay's prints are the epitome of what a pt/pd print should be. They made ordinary places look beautiful and compelling. Joe took a picture of a friend's kitchen that was being renovated...he specially made me mad because he used Cranes platinotype, a paper that only resulted in crap for me.....Clay pictured the attic in his house, how many of you have ever thought of taking a picture of this? his print is beautiful, I have the privilege to have the same print in 5x7 (Clay's portfolio print is 5x10) and it never ceases to amaze me. For some reason, Clay's print shrunk on the way here (the burro must have gotten it wet) and all you guys will see is the 5x7.
Ole sent a lith print, the first lith print I have ever seen. Ole is a very good photographer and printer, so I have plenty of confidence when I say that if this is the best that can be obtained from a lith print, I dont like them. This is no reflection on Ole
I know for a fact that he can make beautiful full toned prints. Besides this is the purpose of the portfolio, to get exposed to different things so we can appreciate other techniques and make a judgments as to whether we would like to try them or not.
MrCallow sent two prints of his wife, beautiful portraits with very well used lighting, they remind me a lot of Hurrel prints, the old fashion Hollywood type of portrait. Very well done, Callow, I said it before, I will say it again, she is way too cute for you..
Nigel Smith sent a silver print of water and rock. You would think, how boring, how many times has this been done! but his print is very unusual in that the rocks are very dark and the flow of the water very white, both with detail and there is very little gray in the print. The subject was handled superbly.
Chuck Pere made my favorite print of all the portfolio, his print would have made Ansel Adams green with envy....nothing more to be said about this print. Unfortunately the burro got hungry and chewed it up, so it is a shame the rest of you guys wont get to see it...
Lee Carmichael sent an 8x10 contact print from his San Antonio Missions portfolio....I guess there is no need to say more...superb!
James Chinn sent a night shot...I wont spoil it by telling you, but it is very interesting.
Jay De Fehr's contact print of his son, the way it was toned and seen is living proof you dont need the latest glass or the super duper enlarger to produce quality work. Beautiful print Jay....BTW you better get on your knees and thank God the kids look like their mother...
Certainly all the work is wonderful and shows a high degree of talent and craft, these were just the photographs that I liked the most.
