On the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog
I guess the headline says it all—The Online Photographer, officially revitalized in our as-yet mostly empty new premises but up and running as of Friday, will start up again in earnest for the Fall with a "mini-relaunch" on Monday.
Please pass the word!
At that time I'll have a big announcement. Which I hope will include a picture. (Are you reading, Ailsa?)
For the foreseeable future, "Morning Coffee" will continue, auto-posted every weekday morning at 8:30 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). I've yet to get into the rhythm of this feature, but I have hopes I can work it out as I settle in here.
Platinum Print Sale
On Wednesday we'll be having our first Carl Weese platinum/palladium (Pt/Pd) Print Sale in more than four years. One of the most beautiful processes in photographic history, platinum has fallen on somewhat hard times recently because it simply must be seen in original print form—in any kind of copy, including digital representation on the computer screen, it just looks pale and dull and cannot even hint at the lovely luminous subtlety of originals. Our friend Carl is a "deep master" of the process, having practiced and taught the art of Pt/Pd for many years. This year's prints will be unusual in that both will be generated from digital internegatives. Carl will explain the process mid-sale.
As always, our sale is intended to make ownership of expensive prints as accessible as possible to as many people as possible. The price will be as reasonable as it can be. There is a possibility that the total number of prints will be limited, however, as each print requires a considerable amount of attentive hand labor and time—the process is very touchy and involved (even when there are no problems) and just doesn't lend itself to "production lining" very well.
We'll post the announcement at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday. Please come by and take a look! One of these will be going on my Red Wall, no question.
Growing pains
...And thanks for all your patience lately. This has been an adventure.
Cheerio,
—Mike, TOP Guardian of the Ramparts and maître d'
(Thanks to stunt double Butters, and Misha, who suggested the caption)
Original contents copyright 2014 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.
(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:
Marcelo Guarini: "I have two ziatype and one platinum of Carl Weese, they are so, so beautiful. I did try to reproduce the look using K3 pigments and Museo Portfolio Rag paper, by far the best rag paper for me, during the last three years. I think I got a decent imitation now if you look the print from some distance. The metallic shine of some of the tones is impossible to get with pigments, but the overall look of the pigment print is quite decent."
Orange couch, iMac, field camera and dog? What more could you want??!!!
[I really do have it made, I know. --Mike]
Posted by: Rick Frystak | Saturday, 06 September 2014 at 04:26 PM
Is that the ole' wet plate camera I see in the background.
Posted by: Bob Smith | Saturday, 06 September 2014 at 05:33 PM
Wonderful work place for a seemingly left-handed (pawed, whatever) lovely dog!
Posted by: Roberto | Saturday, 06 September 2014 at 05:53 PM
You even set up the single purpose camera in the background... welcome home sir.
Posted by: Chad Thompson | Saturday, 06 September 2014 at 06:07 PM
I spy a whole plate camera in the background. Seems right. Perhaps the perfect device to make portraits of your visitors!
Posted by: Dave Karp | Saturday, 06 September 2014 at 07:35 PM
Too bad about the digital internegatives, would have been interested otherwise. What's that Chamonix half plate doing up on the tripod? It's not like you actually use it…
Posted by: Ed | Saturday, 06 September 2014 at 08:33 PM
Re: Your photograph above.
On the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog:
http://thebuildnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/nYdog.gif
[I wish I'd thought of that! Many thanks. Added, with a hat tip to you. --Mike]
Posted by: misha | Sunday, 07 September 2014 at 12:18 AM
I'm puzzled by Ed's reaction to digital internegatives. It's almost like the food won't taste good if the chef uses anything but an antique wood-fired stove. Implicit in this is that value is given to a print by the process of making it rather than by the final result. I'd be interested to learn more about why this is a specific disqualifier for some people.
Posted by: Bill Tyler | Sunday, 07 September 2014 at 01:25 AM
Butters:
Don't look so sad. The new place and smells will seem like home in no time. And Mike will be getting back to regular walks - he's just been a little busy lately.
Steve
Posted by: Steve G, Mendocino | Sunday, 07 September 2014 at 01:53 AM
Congrats on finally getting set up in the new digs Mike!
Looking forward to seeing the Carl Weese prints too. He was actually a big help to me when I was starting out, trying to understand Pt/Pd printing. Fair to say I owe him a debt of gratitude which I might just be able to repay now - which doesn't mean I'm not happy to help support TOP at the same time.
Oh, and don't let me forget to comment on your Chamonix WP in the background, even though I can see several astute readers have already noticed. I seem to remember you offering it up for sale sometime back...maybe the fact you still have that beautiful camera is a sign? Maybe do a little platinum contact printing yourself one of these days?
Anyway, congrats again on your move and all the best to TOP!
Posted by: Phil Maus | Sunday, 07 September 2014 at 02:04 AM
Orange couch, S63 Murky B but the chair on which Butters is sitting looks like a very comfortable desk chair possibly modeled on something from another luxury auto.
Posted by: Robert | Sunday, 07 September 2014 at 03:12 AM
Re TOP Morning Coffee - it's perfect and I love it! For normal mornings, it's the first thing I read when I get onto the train; for early mornings I read it at my desk with my own (real) morning coffee. Keep it up, you have at least one loyal follower.
Butters is a gorgeous dog, and that's coming from a cat person.
Posted by: Pieter | Sunday, 07 September 2014 at 05:57 AM
I look forward to seeing the Platinum-Palladium prints for sale.
My understanding is that the digital inter-negatives offer a precise control of the tonality and expression of the print; of course there are technical challenges including banding and being able to see the pico-dots but in the hands of a capable printer these are well controlled.
Its kind of like listening to a compact disc recording instead of a vinyl record or cassette tape for your music. These days my entire music collection is uncompressed digital and is migrating from CDs to a hard drive.
Posted by: Robert Hudyma | Sunday, 07 September 2014 at 07:49 AM
@ Misha: "On the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog"
You can even get away with paw spelling! : ]
Posted by: Roger Bradbury | Sunday, 07 September 2014 at 09:03 AM
I too find Ed's comments on the use of digital internegs somewhat confusing and would also like to hear more of his objections as I have thought that there use extended the flexibility of contact printing not diminished or limited it!
Good to see a dog taking such an interest in things computer and photographic!
Posted by: Marten Collins | Sunday, 07 September 2014 at 09:52 AM
Dear Ed,
Really? A digital INTERnegative offends you?!
Maybe it's time to reread and ponder on this column:
http://the_online_photographer/2007/11/the-photo-fetis.html
pax / Ctein
Posted by: Ctein | Sunday, 07 September 2014 at 11:49 AM
We'll have quite a bit coming up about the process of, and reason for, internegatives, digital and analog. All in good time...
Posted by: Carl Weese | Sunday, 07 September 2014 at 05:46 PM
Welcome back! You shaved your beard.
Posted by: Mike | Sunday, 07 September 2014 at 08:53 PM
Congratulations on getting things up and running!
I'm looking forward to seeing the print offer.
Posted by: Godfrey | Monday, 08 September 2014 at 02:03 PM