Support our Sponsors, they keep FADU free:   AG Photographic   The Imaging Warehouse   Process Supplies   RH Designs   Second-hand Darkroom Supplies  

Notices

Go Back   Film and Darkroom User > General discussions > Art and aesthetics

  ***   Click here for the FADU 2015/2014 Yearbooks   ***

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #11  
Old 4th May 2020, 02:37 PM
Richard Gould Richard Gould is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Jersey Channel Islands
Posts: 5,433
Default

My point is that many beginner's trying toget into this market think that limited edition prints is the best way, after all, a lot more money in it, so they spend a day or two making, say 30 prints, then the negative is destroyed, then they find that the prints are snapped up, and then they think that I shouldn't have destroyed that negative,It was only in my first year of selling prints that I destroyed negatives, and in my time in that the Photographer would have to sign a letter stating that this No 1 print (put your number) cannot be printed again as the negative is destroyed,I soon worked out that making editions,not limited, was a much better earner as if it was a big seller then I could go on and print further editions of that negative, and Imade a pretty good living out of doing this,but I was lucky to be able to do this,
Richard
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 4th May 2020, 02:51 PM
Martin Aislabie's Avatar
Martin Aislabie Martin Aislabie is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Stratford-upon-Avon, England
Posts: 2,081
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by JakubV View Post
Imagine a (rather common) situation:
One were to print a limited edition of, let's say, 10 prints - all numbered, signed etc. for sale.

I wonder, what is the usual procedure with the negative after the prints are done? The 'limited edition' trademark conveys a certain message of uniqueness of the prints for me...does it mean that the print will not be re-made ever again, or just not for sale, or just for a special occasion (e.g. exhibition)?

It's quite common in other fields of printmaking to destroy a printing matrix after the edition is done, but I don't hear about photographers destroying their negatives (for this reason at least)...

Jakub
IMHO - limited edition means just that - these are a known, specified and limited number of a print made.

Protocol allows you to make one or two more - for museums and/or galleries to keep/exhibit but these cannot be in commercial circulation.

It is also not acceptable to then make a significant additional number to give to your friends and acquaintances.

At the end of the specified print run the negative does not need to be destroyed but does need to be permanently retired (such as to a museum along side one of the copies of the print).

A friend who make a series of limited edition prints found the process very constraining - some limited editions did not sell out and others were so successful he could have sold the edition several times over.

He regretted making limited edition prints and has not do so since.

YMMV

Martin
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 4th May 2020, 05:19 PM
JakubV JakubV is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Bratislava, Slovakia
Posts: 86
Default

Thank you all for really interesting insights.

The thing is, I was never in any camera club or anything else of the sort (nor had any education in visual arts) so I had no idea about this at all.

Surely, limiting the number of prints definitely (in my opinion) plays the rarity card with the price...which I don't find particulary 'in taste'. After all, in the world of paintings there are certified copies to buy, sketches etc. too.
On the other hand, I can understand artist's own desire to limit the number of prints just for his own satisfaction in creating just one image (or, well, 10, 30...) -thinking about it, direct positive paper or reversal processed film in LF would tick that box better.

As for myself, I like the most if the print can be held directly in hands, not displayed on the wall...that way one can look as close as he want, change the lighting easily etc. and that disqualifies anything that is rare, as nobody would want a rare print to not be protected behind the glass, eh. Print exchange is rather nice for this
I'd say that a well printed book with good reproductions on nice paper is a good approximation. Also, with book there is no internal 'censorship' for the artist - with prints that go on the wall, one will print those which people would like to buy to hang on their wall...


Jakub
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 4th May 2020, 06:15 PM
Richard Gould Richard Gould is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Jersey Channel Islands
Posts: 5,433
Default

Hi Jakub
I always prefered smaller prints, for much the reason you give, If a print is on the wall then I like the idea that someone has to come close and perhaps get Drawn in to the photograph, and so I have never printed on paper larger then 91/2 by 12, and then always full frame, so the actual print is smaller, either square or the full frame 35mm or 645, even when I cropped I still cropped, and still do, within the full frame size, for quite a while I made a living from this type of photography, and apart from my first year I never made limited edition prints for the reasons I have given, and as part of what I did was to provide photographs to decorate restaurant and office walls, and sometimes the edition negatives were perfect for the wall, and I could print them with a different crop Ect and sell them all over again.but I never printed bigger than 9 1/2 and 12, and mounted the prints with a 4in border all round, mount size depending upon negative, size, and for me it worked very well, I never had photographs turned away because of size, so as I hope you can tell I really, for most of my photographic life, have never approved of limited edition's, Photography is different from painting's Rct in that a painting is a one off and engraving's have to be single edition's and you pay the price,
Richard
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 5th May 2020, 07:04 AM
skellum's Avatar
skellum skellum is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Isle of Lewis
Posts: 1,330
Default

I'd start by asking why I was considering a limited edition.
Is it an artistic choice? Driven by what?

Is it a commercial decision, based on the belief that if there are fewer copies each will be worth more? Mostly I think it will be the latter, but that presupposes the images will be in demand by collectors. Possibly true for photographers with a well established reputation but not for the majority of photographers looking to sell a few original prints. Limiting the number of prints out there limits access to your work- unknown photographers aren't selling to major galleries.
Even if you do build a reputation then other people may benefit more from the rising value of your limited edition photographs. If they resell for more money on the 'art/collectors' market none of that money finds its way back to the photographer. Same as paintings- how much did Van Gogh earn from his body of work?
I suppose there may be some niche markets where collectors really will pay a premium for limited edition photographs, but those collectors and galleries need to know you exist before you can tap into that.
Before worrying about producing limited editions I'd work on both my craft as a printer, and getting some publications and exhibitions.
Too late in the day for me, but the best of luck to you Jakub
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 5th May 2020, 11:36 AM
JakubV JakubV is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Bratislava, Slovakia
Posts: 86
Default

I'm not looking into making any editions at all, my interest about the topic is purely academic

Personally, I don't see any value in art as a 'colectible' item. Galleries, museums and books are places for art (for me), when put on a wall in someone's house, it at least partly becomes a decoration in a sense (or even worse if it's put somewhere for safekeeping and noone can see it).

Jakub
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 5th May 2020, 03:58 PM
photomi7ch's Avatar
photomi7ch photomi7ch is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: East Midlands
Posts: 2,516
Default

When someone buys one of my photographs I hope they are doing so because they like it and want to put it on their wall. Not stuff it in a folder never to be seen again because it may be worth something in the future I do not see the point.
__________________
Mitch

http://photomi7ch.blogspot.com/

If you eliminate the impossible whatever remains no matter how improbable must be the truth.
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 5th May 2020, 07:01 PM
JakubV JakubV is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Bratislava, Slovakia
Posts: 86
Default

Definitely agree Mitch, photos are to be seen

Personaly I just prefer sitting down and going through a folder/archive or a book than seeing a set of photographs on my walls every day - makes them somehow un-special for me

Jakub
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 7th May 2020, 12:05 PM
MikeHeller MikeHeller is offline
Print Exchange Manager
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: North Wales
Posts: 1,280
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by JakubV View Post
Definitely agree Mitch, photos are to be seen

Personaly I just prefer sitting down and going through a folder/archive or a book than seeing a set of photographs on my walls every day - makes them somehow un-special for me

Jakub
I absolutely agree. On the wall, photographic prints, however much I may like or rate them, eventually become part of the furniture and become invisible unless regularly changed. Hence I have no photographs on the walls or displayed in frames. Having said that I do like looking at these in others' houses, but it is, perhaps, more akin to going to exhibitions.

I do, however, have paintings by my late wife on the walls but there is more involved in their display than just that I like them and they do not become invisible in the same way that photographic prints seem to.

Mike
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 7th May 2020, 01:42 PM
MartyNL's Avatar
MartyNL MartyNL is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: based in The Netherlands
Posts: 3,341
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by JakubV View Post
Definitely agree Mitch, photos are to be seen

Personaly I just prefer sitting down and going through a folder/archive or a book than seeing a set of photographs on my walls every day - makes them somehow un-special for me

Jakub
I'm definitely the opposite.

For me, a photograph isn't finished unless it's hanging on a wall!

I find it inspiring seeing my own work or that of others hanging on walls. And living with prints helps me learn by assessing what works and doesn't work over a longer period of time.

Mind you, a book of 20x16" prints would be rather hefty!
__________________
MartyNL

“Reaching a creative state of mind thru positive action
is considered preferable to waiting for inspiration.”
- Minor White, 1950
Reply With Quote
Reply
Support our Sponsors, they keep FADU free:   AG Photographic   The Imaging Warehouse   Process Supplies   RH Designs   Second-hand Darkroom Supplies  

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Ctein - Post Exposure Edition 1 - 1997 Mike O'Pray Sale or Wanted 4 31st January 2020 12:56 PM
Limited number of magazines photomi7ch News and Announcements 4 25th November 2018 10:41 AM
Direct Positive Ilford FB - Limited Stock Announcement Mike O'Pray Monochrome printing techniques 15 30th May 2014 10:49 AM
Way Beyond Monochrome 1st Edition petemcarthur Sale or Wanted 2 28th January 2013 04:21 PM
The Darkroom Cookbook Third Edition Barry Books 5 5th December 2008 03:08 PM


All times are GMT. The time now is 08:29 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.