The doorbell rang..
I did not expect anything. But still... In the back of my mind I hoped it would be something I was waiting for... And hot damn... It was!
The delivery man had a huge safety box! After I dragged it to my apartment I was finally able to open it... And each layer I removed I was getting me happier and happier...
I can not describe fully how cool it is to hold your own work in your hands in physical form.
Normally in this day and age most of the images we create we only see digital. But at least for me, it loses a lot of it's charm. For me it is in the same ballpark as listening to a record. Or reading a real book. Only times a hundred. If you could stare to a image for hours and lose yourself in it, you know you are on the right track. And with printing, it gets you there...
I guess that is why art is meant to be experienced for real. And just on you computer screen or phone.
Printing also has other benefits. Besides it is freaking awesome! You will think about the details more. And how you will shoot next time. There is a whole process involved before you can actually send it to the printer....
What kind of size do I want? What kind of paper do I need? You have to order some samples because you will see your image transform before your eyes as soon as you put it behind glass...
How do I need to deliver my files? What kind of frame do I want? And also you have to account for your passe-partout. Don't know the english word for that, so you will have to forgive me. It is the big ass white are black border around your image.
And than also other important stuff. What is the purpose of a image? Are you going to sell it? And the most difficult, what is the price of your product going to be?
Am I there yet?
Probably not... But I will think of stuff later. And otherwise maybe you will...
For this series I have used Hahnmühle paper. And even within this brand, there are lost of sub choices to be made. So how do you want to present your work? Is it going to be a larger than life print? You will be needing to make those kind of choices to proceed. The higher end you want to deliver the higher end and maybe even thicker paper.
If it were black and white images it probably would have been Ilford.
But that is not the only choices you have in the sub-choice. Every kind of paper structure will influence the way the ink enters the paper and give it a different feel...
Fuck... Are you getting dizzy yet?
There are so many factors to consider to print your work! But, I guess photography is all about the details. And the better you want to get, the better you are going to look for those details... And the more driven you will be...
And in the end actually it does not matter anyway. Strange huh?
Here is why:
Because you rule!
It does not matter if you are a amateur or a high end pro. Printing your work is also very simple. Because it is just awesome to do!
You! You as a person decided that was your one decisive moment that you chose to print. And you are going to be as happy as a child anyway. And you should be fucking proud of yourself!
Until next time...
- Cristian
