Out of curiosity, what's the popularity of high quality 16x20 or 20x24 size black and white silver photographs? I generally print pretty small, but I'm wondering about venturing into 16x20 and/or 20x24 enlarged prints?
Out of curiosity, what's the popularity of high quality 16x20 or 20x24 size black and white silver photographs? I generally print pretty small, but I'm wondering about venturing into 16x20 and/or 20x24 enlarged prints?
Interesting question ...
In my mind, small well printed images are jewel-like. That's why I love my Type 54 Polaroids and that's why I'm heading toward 5x7 contact prints.
I like to hold prints in my hands and admire them. IMHO a 16x20 or 20x24 print can only really be hung to be appreciated.
No doubt others will disagree ...
Last edited by Ron Bose; 18-Jan-2008 at 08:49.
No, I will not disagree. That is what I think, too.Originally Posted by Ron Bose
I mostly hang 8x10 prints matted to 11x14. That fits my wall space best.
Bill Kumpf
I am a fan of any size print as long as the image is right for the size.
I tend to print small, mainly because at this point in time the work I produce seems better suited to a small image size. When my work gets much larger than 8X10 it doesn't feel right to me. However, as time goes and my vision or photographic direction changes, I might print large if the work seems right for it.
I collect a lot of images and they range from 30"x40" down to 6"X6". I like them all, the large seem perfect being large while the small are great being small. While some images would work well large or small, most have a size that is the correct fit for them.
I don't always like it when a photographer prints images in a range of sizes and then prices them by size. I think they should pick a size or two that best represents the image and limit it's production to those selected dimensions.
Are you asking personal taste or in terms of sales?In terms of sales, it depends on the client. True connoisseurs of photography, collectors etc. don't care much about size and appreciate small prints. But people who's interest is decor (architets, interior designers etc.) often prefer larger prints because of the decorative "presence" that larger prints have on a wall. I personally prefer 11x14 with a generous mat.
Thanks,
Kirk
at age 73:
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep"
If you are printing for yourself the you print whatever size you prefer. I you are printing for others, for sale or for exhibition, then larger prints are often (not always but often) more attractive, easier to sell, etc.
16x20 and 20x24 contact prints are really nice. Last year this time, I found myself embarressingly calm standing in front of enlarged famous prints of "Winter Storms" and "Moonrise". Looking at Weston's 8x10 contacts gave me the oppposite feelings.
I have a couple of 16x20 prints that Bob Carnie did for me (I don't have an 8x10 enlarger) hanging in my house. Most of the others, however, are 11x14s along with a few 8x10s - all matted to at least the next "standard" size.
Hope you like the prints Ralph, the hardest thing to do is print for someone else who is a very good printer..
For years the standard print size in my shop would have been 11x14 thereabouts.
Portfolio printing was a huge business for me in the late 80's and 90's.
Before that I was making murals on large horizontal enlargers mostly very large,large colour prints that were face mounted to plexi. Funny how that is in vogue now 25 years later.
Now I am finding a standard print size is 16x20 to 20x24 for most of our Black & White work.
There has been a tremendous swing to large mural fiber prints and I have made the adjustments in my space to make these very large tritoned prints.
Standard size now is 30x40 and for a fee we will make 48inch X 72inch tri tones.
We just finished a few shows where we mixed in 30x40 images with 20x24 images and strangely/not so strange we found that buyers would purchase the large mural prints and we saw a increase in the 20x24 sales.* for sure most photographers and buyers were always gravitating to the larger prints, but the Visa card was pushing towards the smaller*
I remember my first job, my old boy would make a couple of very large prints that basically were the eye candy and his mid size prints would sell better.
If the workflow and neg can handle the move to a larger print, I have to say Today I prefer the 30x40 size over any other.
20x24 prints for me are the easiest to make, I find smaller prints much harder than 8x10 and I am not sure why.
Possibly the compression of tones or the ability to get into the print and separate the tones with dodging and burning.
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