I have been a film photographer for many years now and with that I have moved to a hybrid workflow. It describes an analogue shooting process, developing in chemicals but then scanning the negatives and editing in the digital darkroom.
Some may call this cheating or even blasphemy.
I see it as going with the times as technology gives us the tools to work not just more effectively but also saving resources.
But...I find it absolutely vital to print my work. The hybrid process lets me select, print and then enjoy only my best images and not waste time and money on the bad and ugly frames.
So lets talk about printing.
I love to revisit my images from the past. Most are projects which are pretty close to my heart. So naturally I like to see a print either on the wall, in an album or just in a box which can be pulled out for visitors.
But as the market has changed and output media has become prohibitively expensive, I am not sure if printing individually on paper is the right way to go.
Case 1:
Printing through a Lab for a photo album will require at least 50 images to make it great...no matter what subject. That will cost me approx. 25 Pounds. Along with the album cost of cheap and nasty quality: 12 Pounds. Add the required glue of another 5 Pounds and you end up with a grand total of: 42 Pound Sterling. I haven’t even mentioned the work yet, that is required to put the wonderful book of memories together.
Case 2:
Create a photo book on Blurb.com. Depending on what combination of papers, cover material and size you will get a professionally made book to the widely accepted standards of the publishing industry. The cost of an equally good or even better product than Case 1 is near enough the same...but the Blurb produced product will last longer and can be re-printed easily over the internet.
It’s a no brainier, isn’t it?
Dan Milnor is a former photojournalist. He now called himself a Blurb Evangelist...spreading the word of the advantages of publishing using Blurb. He does however not really advertise, but convinces with valid comparison and facts.
Check his web presence (shifter.media) and be convinced how important it is to print your work.
Naturally there are other businesses offering similar products and at this point are not considered better or worse.
The principle idea is to preserve your image collection in print without actually spending a fortune.
Additionally Dan is not primarily aiming to generate sales but is more in the business of inspiring everyone to be creative.
Shoot, edit if necessary and produce something that lasts...as long as it is not as digital copy on a hard drive.
