how much of this is just opinion...?

[cobalt]

Hello.
I just recently sold off my Nikon D300 as well as my Nikon 9000 film scanner. I am keeping the Epson (for now, anyway) for rescuing those negatives that I fubar. I am directing my focus to the production of silver gelatin prints.

Shortly after the scanner was gone, I started to get cold feet, and question my reasoning: Are inkjets all that inferior? You aren't the best printer in the world... sure you don't need that scanner to fall back on? Do silver gelatin prints really look that good? Are they worth the time, tedium and frustration put into refining just one image on light sensitive paper? And the spotting! NOT a fan of the spotting!

But then I looked at a succesful silver print I'd made on Ilford warmtone glossy fiber based paper. Suddenly, all the doubts fell away like water off a ducks back. I really like the results when I do things right. When its good, its REALLY good, when it's bad...

Any way, I guess it's a matter of opinion. I (and others) still like my inkjets; I just think the silver prints are infinitely superior. I guess it's all a matter of opinion; most people seem not to be able to tell the difference...

Your... opinions are welcome.

[Gem Singer]

"How much of this is just opinion?"

All of it!

[cobalt]

"How much of this is just opinion?"

All of it!

Maybe I wasn't clear (won't be the first time):

What I meant was: Is PHOTOGRAPHY as an art form simply a matter of opinion?

[Allen in Montreal]

........

What I meant was: Is PHOTOGRAPHY as an art form simply a matter of opinion?

Yes, now you must choose the manner in which you feel the most reward from while expressing that art form. Whether silver or ink.

Digital and ink is my work,
so silver has become my pleasure, as you stated, when it is right on, it is oh so beautiful!

[cobalt]

Yes, now you must choose the manner in which you feel the most reward from while expressing that art form. Whether silver or ink.

Digital and ink is my work,
so silver has become my pleasure, as you stated, when it is right on, it is oh so beautiful!

I find silver more rewarding because I prefer it. My clients, who, as of late, are as common as hen's teeth, don't seem to care or know the difference. So I guess this begs the question: Why am I really doing this? For the money, or for personal gratification...?

[Brian Ellis]

Maybe I wasn't clear (won't be the first time):

What I meant was: Is PHOTOGRAPHY as an art form simply a matter of opinion?

Neither the word "photography" nor the phrase "art form" is used in your message. Your entire message is devoted to darkroom prints and ink jet prints. If you want people to discuss the question of whether photography as an art form is a matter of opinion (an odd question but you're certainly free to ask it) I suggest you delete the message you've posted and ask that question. If you want people to discuss the question of whether in their opinion a darkroom print on fiber paper is "better" for them than an ink jet print then leave your message as it is.

[cobalt]

Neither the word "photography" nor the phrase "art form" is used in your message. Your entire message is devoted to darkroom prints and ink jet prints. If you want people to discuss the question of whether photography as an art form is a matter of opinion (an odd question but you're certainly free to ask it) I suggest you delete the message you've posted and ask that question. If you want people to discuss the question of whether in their opinion a darkroom print on fiber paper is "better" for them than an ink jet print then leave your message as it is.

I haven't needed help with expressing an opinion since I was four. To rebut your response would be a waste of time.

[Brian Ellis]

I haven't needed help with expressing an opinion since I was four. To rebut your response would be a waste of time.

Well a year isn't a very long time.

[cobalt]

Neither the word "photography" nor the phrase "art form" is used in your message. Your entire message is devoted to darkroom prints and ink jet prints. If you want people to discuss the question of whether photography as an art form is a matter of opinion (an odd question but you're certainly free to ask it) I suggest you delete the message you've posted and ask that question. If you want people to discuss the question of whether in their opinion a darkroom print on fiber paper is "better" for them than an ink jet print then leave your message as it is.

I haven't needed help with expressing an opinion since I was four. To rebut your response would be a waste of time.


To the rest of you:

Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

f.

[Maris Rusis]

If it's just pictures you want then either gelatin-silvers or ink-jets will do fine.

If you want photographs, objects bearing marks because they were struck by light, then only gelatin-silvers are the real thing.

If you want surfaces bearing marks because they were struck by ink then only ink-jets will do. Gelatin-silvers are no use.

The key reason for choosing between photographs or ink-jets is not down to appearances. Ink-jet technology, even now in its infancy, is largely capable of replicating the appearance of pictures executed in any medium. The choice hinges on the relationship the pictures have to subject matter and the way the astute viewer responds to this relationship.

Photographs are made by a physical sample of subject matter penetrating a sensitive surface. The penetrated surface is the photograph.

Ink-jets are generated by a mark making machine mapping the contents of an electronic file onto a piece of paper.

Photographs are evidence, ink-jets are testimony. The astute viewer who knows all of this can respond with goose bumps or yawns; their choice. The casual viewer doesn't care. It's all just pictures, isn't it?