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  #11  
Old 29th May 2010, 12:18 PM
FredWelch FredWelch is offline
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Originally Posted by Dave View Post
The subject of the public’s value perception of digital inkjets against individual handcrafted photographic prints has been frequently discussed on this forum and elsewhere. The consensus seems to be that the British general public cannot tell, or indeed appreciate the difference between the mediums; seemingly the comments that you report receiving would support this view.

It is a sad fact that the vast majority of the British population have been brainwashed by the likes of Tesco to believe that cheap is best, very few are prepared to pay a quality premium, either in time or cash.

It is this very lack of quality perception that results in darkroom prints failing to attract sufficient price premium to make them profitable within the market that you describe. That is not to say that you shouldn’t try to create such a demand, and enjoy the pleasure of so doing.
I totally agree. As an example; when I was a lab manager for Kodak back in the 80's, we all found it strange that enthusiasts would spend hundreds of pounds on a top line slr, not quibble about how much they paid for film, and then expect their D&P for £1.99.
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  #12  
Old 29th May 2010, 02:22 PM
ShaunH ShaunH is offline
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Originally Posted by mexico531 View Post
I totally agree. As an example; when I was a lab manager for Kodak back in the 80's, we all found it strange that enthusiasts would spend hundreds of pounds on a top line slr, not quibble about how much they paid for film, and then expect their D&P for £1.99.
I love this quote so much. Years ago I used to give a tutor or two in photography and would be aghast at the people who paid five hundred pounds for a camera and lens and then moan out loud at the cost of a roll of film. It never did make any sense to me.

I find it amazing that there is just so much difference between the UK and the USA where black and white photography is concerned. During 2004 I visited a friend in Glasgow and whilst I was there she took me around some of the smaller galleries. One of these galleries specialised in mono photography but the owner was stunned that in the USA she would take hundreds of dollars a week whereas in the UK she hadn't sold a thing in three weeks.

I really do think that where art and imaging is concerned, the UK needs a severe education.
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  #13  
Old 29th May 2010, 02:27 PM
ShaunH ShaunH is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave View Post
The subject of the public’s value perception of digital inkjets against individual handcrafted photographic prints has been frequently discussed on this forum and elsewhere. The consensus seems to be that the British general public cannot tell, or indeed appreciate the difference between the mediums; seemingly the comments that you report receiving would support this view.

It is a sad fact that the vast majority of the British population have been brainwashed by the likes of Tesco to believe that cheap is best, very few are prepared to pay a quality premium, either in time or cash.

It is this very lack of quality perception that results in darkroom prints failing to attract sufficient price premium to make them profitable within the market that you describe. That is not to say that you shouldn’t try to create such a demand, and enjoy the pleasure of so doing.
I have to agree with this comment. I really don't think that the vast majority of the UK public can tell the difference and I also think in the majority of cases, they don't care.

I always put a small printed six by four note on the back of my work holding technical details. This note is printed onto Somerset paper to give it a bit of a quality feel. My photographs are at the moment printed by D Studio onto the same Somerset paper so at least there is a connection with the media used.
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  #14  
Old 29th May 2010, 03:49 PM
JimW JimW is offline
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Having re-read the thread, I find it a shame that the British public are as described. However, we are talking business matters, and as a business one has to look at the bottom line. As a part-time enterprise, say to support your hobby, the rules are slightly different-but you do not go into business with the sole aim of failing. You may do, but the idea is to get the business to support itself and you. It (the business) does not exist for you to support it-that is called a hobby. Whilst we would all like everyone to come in and buy armfuls of 20x16 FB prints, if a viable business can be run by selling inkjets, then it's more viable than creating silver prints that no-one will buy. Sentiment is a luxury in business, a by-product born of success. No-one (cliche coming up but it's true)plans to fail-but plenty fail to plan. Concentrate on doing what works, silver or inkjet or both untill you find out more, and I hope eventually you get to concentrate on what you like. But as a business, it must be in that order-what works first, and then what you like. Thoughts?
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  #15  
Old 29th May 2010, 04:20 PM
Richard Gould Richard Gould is offline
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As I have said before, living where I do does put me in a slightly different position in that we get a lot of european visitors,french in particular, and they do seem to prefer to purchase silver prints, and for the most part both know and understand the differance, and some come back time after time, but we are nearer to France than to the uk,which possibly makes a differance to my print sales,Richard
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  #16  
Old 29th May 2010, 06:56 PM
ShaunH ShaunH is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JimW View Post
Having re-read the thread, I find it a shame that the British public are as described. However, we are talking business matters, and as a business one has to look at the bottom line. As a part-time enterprise, say to support your hobby, the rules are slightly different-but you do not go into business with the sole aim of failing. You may do, but the idea is to get the business to support itself and you. It (the business) does not exist for you to support it-that is called a hobby. Whilst we would all like everyone to come in and buy armfuls of 20x16 FB prints, if a viable business can be run by selling inkjets, then it's more viable than creating silver prints that no-one will buy. Sentiment is a luxury in business, a by-product born of success. No-one (cliche coming up but it's true)plans to fail-but plenty fail to plan. Concentrate on doing what works, silver or inkjet or both untill you find out more, and I hope eventually you get to concentrate on what you like. But as a business, it must be in that order-what works first, and then what you like. Thoughts?
Jim, a highly intellectual and well thought out response there. I totally agree with your comments. My main reason for this thread ? To plan well in advance as already stated by you. If it isn't broken why try and fix it. Out of the financial constraints of a recession, my work already sells and it is digitally printed. Surely that is good enough ? Would working in a darkroom not be better as a hobby ? People that have bought my work have stated that their reason for buying is the photography not the printing. So why am I asking these questions ? Reassurance I guess. I'm simply not 100% sure.
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  #17  
Old 30th May 2010, 03:14 PM
JimW JimW is offline
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Nobody called me interlektual b4...... but thanks for your thoughts, hope mine helped you.
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