Following last weeks technical look at Lightroom Classic we took another technical journey at this weeks meeting, this time with Permajet paper courtesy of Colin Hulley who travelled up from their offices in Stratford on Avon.
Since photography has become a largely Digital medium the ease with which Projected Digital Images can be prepared for post-processing might have led to a reduction in Print production. However, the archival challenges of file storage mean that the photographic print remains the safest way of recording images for future generations. A Print has its own aesthetic values too. It’s a physical embodiment of the photographers work, prepared with care and attention to detail in its presentation.
We are particularly fortunate in central Scotland as we are within a short travelling distance of major Galleries with both Edinburgh and Glasgow having dedicated photographic galleries like Stills and Street Level Photoworks.
In addition, in Edinburgh the Scottish National Photographic Collection is held at National Galleries Scotland. They have a dedicated photography gallery within the Scottish National Portrait Gallery where they regularly exhibit contemporary and historical photographs. The National Museum of Scotland also hold exhibitions of photography as well as using it extensively in their museum work. They also hold an extensive collection of photographic equipment and artefacts tracing its history from the formulation of photography through to the present day. We consulted N.M.S. a few years ago when working on our own archive and remain grateful for their advice. In Glasgow the Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum also have frequent photographic exhibitions. At the moment an exhibition of the work of Eric Watt, who photographed the changes in the life of Glasgow from the 1950’s until his death in 2005, is attracting very large numbers of visitors. All of this is possible because of the photographic Print once, and potentially still, produced in the Darkroom. More often now produced in a Dry or Inkjet printer, which brings us around to Colin Hulley and Permajet.
The title of Colin’s talk was Printing With Confidence and he began by discussing Colour Management. The Calibration of monitors, for example, is important because the colour we see on our computer screen is unlikely to be replicated on a Print without preparation. Choosing the right paper for your Print is important too. A large variety of photographic papers are now available, some for everyday use, some for exhibition use, and some for fine-art and archival purposes. Our Club has a long history of exhibiting our work in the town. Since 2009 our Annual Exhibition, and several other F.C.C. exhibitions, has been staged in Falkirk Town Hall and it is sad to learn that its future is threatened. We therefore know that, in the interests of an exhibition visitor, combining a print on gloss paper with a frame with reflective glass is to be avoided. Colin discussed this and many other factors.
He also spoke of the sequence of stages we progress through. Namely: Camera > Monitor > Paper > Printer > Colour Profile > Print.
Moving on to Ink, Colin discussed the different types of ink which are now available.
This was a highly detailed, and illustrated, look at all the factors leading to the production of a photographic Print. Colin’s many years in the photographic industry brought out a multitude of facts which will help us as we move forward from the restrictions of the past two years.
Club members will shortly receive information on this season’s Talking Pictures, our annual event with Falkirk Writers Circle. The six topics for this season’s 3 From 6 will follow shortly too.
It’s often said that the best landscape photographers follow the light. Next week we welcome Tom Clark, a master of light and composition who captures the character of the land and sea.
Take care, and thanks for looking in.