[Leica] Inkjet Print Life BIG DEAL!

[lists at heninger.org (Wade Heninger)]

On 10/21/05 7:56 AM, "Ted Grant" <tedgrant@shaw.ca> wrote:


Hello Ted!

> Certainly when you've got the print on disc and or discs, this keeps the
> print available basically forever in it's original form! Besides how many
> folks on list and elsewhere have shot extremely significant photographs 
> they
> need be concerned they'll last as a print for a hundred years? Certainly
> long after the photg has died and merely dust in a box deep in the ground?
> Not likely many of us.

Well, I suppose one could think that way, and yes, I'm sure it applies to
many of us.  Certainly myself included.  But imagine if Atget felt this way?

I mean, they are just photos of Paris.  We got lots of those.

The point is, if I go to the trouble of printing I expect it to last. Does
not matter if it was the worst, most horrible shot in the world.  The
technology I'm using that "says" it is going to last that long if you use
the right inks/paper/printer comob (and you do) and does not is fraud and
otta be considered when you are deciding how one proceeds with one's work.

> People have to stop comparing wet print survivability to inkjet value
> despite what manufactures sell us as truth about the longevity of inkjet
> prints. The two are different products accept it and get on with shooting
> new and more significant photographs while printing them as beautiful as
> possible!

The comparison lies in the fact that wet prints are mature tech that we all
know lasts (if you do a few things right).  The claims made about this new
technology are mostly misleading - which I guarantee will have huge
ramifications someday.  I just know I'm going to be standing in a museum in
50 years looking at stuff (man I hope I'm standing) and shake my head at
what has happened to those wonderful prints from the decades I became a
family man, raised my children and watched things unfold.

I realize that this is "welcome to the razors edge" but I can't help but
wonder what this is going to do to our future understanding of photography
and the work now being done.

Sure much of it deserves to fade and go away, but who can really tell?

Hell, I'm concerned about what is happening to our shared visual record by
chimping too.

> I see much of this hand wringing over digital and what it will do and wont
> do and many other digital oriented things as a near waste  of time! As this
> whole digital thing in whatever product one is talking about is evolving
> beyond our control, people should just say, "screw this,stop carrying on
> about what if and why not." Besides we as individuals aren't going to 
> change
> the world unless everyone of us stops buying the improved version of
> whatever.  Trust me that "aint goin' to happen!"

I agree to an extent. It is new, it is evolving.  But the reality might make
some of us reconsider medium if we know that DVDs will just up and die in 15
yrs and the prints will just fade to white.

> Best bet? "Get on with shooting and printing with whatever we have! And get
> on with enjoying the life of picture taking!" If a new and better product
> comes.... they will and do.... get it and move up. But don't wring hands
> it's not worth the time.

I'm not really wringing hands.  I'm just really considering that maybe my
visual record is important (it is to me) and want to make sure it survives.

10 min to think and back to shooting, I can tell you.