Just Give Me Money

J.J. Abrams once stated, when talking about writing on his "beautifully designed" Macintosh Powerbook, that one should always raise the question of worth. What would be worthy of writing on such a beautifully designed machine? Well... we all know he certainly succeeded in that... if you don't, I'm sorry.

So, Greg and everyone else, I pose this philosophical question to you... what is worth a 8x10 foot print? Is it a mere compensation for poor content or other short comings? Does it manifest or further the meaning of the work? Are you producing wallpaper? or just plain WHY?

I find that my students struggle the most with tis question... unfortunately we live in a world where everything means something...

Well, ponder that... hope everyone is enjoying summer, it's been in the 90's here all of last week, so I'm gonna go up to 10,00 feet, to where it is cooler!

 

I have no intention of making prints that big, I wanted a scanner that gave me results better than my current scanner, which isn't doing what I had hoped. This one popped up at the right time at the right price. As I looked into it, I found out what it is capable of doing, whether I need it to or not. Basically, it exceeds my current requirements, but gives me room to grow if I find a reason to, without making another purchase in the future.

A few weeks ago I saw a Jeff Wall image that was about 9x11 feet in size. The image itself was not very interesting, and the size didn't change that. I agree that content is paramount. However, my current projects are more than contact print size.

If I had to choose between a Kia or a Mercedes at the same price, though, I would get the Mercedes (scanner and content speaking).

Weather wise, it has been mid-90's for the last month with 98% humidity. Maybe I will go up to 15 feet elevation where it is... the same.

 

You should try to dig lower... maybe the ground water will be less humid and cooler...

I wouldn't get the Kia either... which Jeff Wall piece did you see? They get a little boring when you see several that big all together...

 

I think you may be right about the water.

According to Columbia University's website I saw "Fieldwork. Excavation of the floor of a dwelling in a former Stolo nation village, Greenwood Island, Hope, B. C., August, 2003".

Though I saw it in the Atlanta Museum of Art. The only other photograph they had was a Thomas Struth. Coincidentally, both were backlit. I didn't like the effect of either.

All in all, I am just excited about my new toy and wanted to share.

 

Good find. Bliss just got his running recently too. I feel left out.

 

That's a big scanner... I'd hate to see the cost on getting something that big printed. Congrats on getting it & I hope that it works fine for you. I would hate to be limited to contact print size, too, though I think I'm sick of looking at gianormous prints as well. How about you put some of this new work on your website so we can take a look and debate the size?

So, did you ever use the 20x24 camera? And the pics of the scanner make it look pretty darn big -- can you wedge a piece of film that big in there too? That's probably a dumb question, but you know I'm not much of an equipment geek.

 

Oh yeah, the 20x24"... post some pics of that. I've told my students about it and they think I'm creating photographic mythologies.

 

I still have that camera, but haven't used it it. When I bought the film two years ago, it was $250 for 25 sheets. Now it is $800 for 25 sheets. I am afraid to waste it and go into financial ruin. The scanner, unfortunately, won't go that big, just 8x10. But the way film prices are going up for it, I should be able to get a digital scanning back soon that will fit.