Wonderful World (Be an Optimist)

My watch just arrived this week. I love it to bits! The design is not exceptional.. but the workmanship is. It has a rectangular case with classic roman numerals.The dial have subtle sunray brush pattern with guilloché on the center. Just lovely!

Sure the world is not in a good condition now, I read it every morning in the news... But has it ever been in a good condition, really?  I don't think so.

So we should enjoy life and not take it too seriously. Sure a little planning would help a lot, but over thinking is not (well.. your mileage may vary).

I printed few of my pictures from Europe trip over the long weekend. Honestly I'm a little bit disappointed with Harman Gloss Baryta papers. Its a waay cheaper alternative (at least locally) from Ilford Gold Fibre Silk, but the paper has major flaking problem.

Its printed using QuadTone RIP. I haven't tried the Epson ABW mode for comparison.

The good news is that I'm now free on weekends to do photography, most probably street photography. Also eyeing on a messenger bag for more convenient walk around. =)

PS: I know its late.. but... HAPPY EASTER!

Printing Experience

So.. after just a few prints I notice that my ink cartridges are almost empty!

I search the web for explanation for some time. Eventually I stumble into this on a third party ink website.

The easiest method to install Piezography inks on the R3000 is by installing them into the printer as it's first set of inks. The reason for this is that when the R3000 is first turned on and ink cartridges are installed for the first time, the printer performs an ink initialization which pulls in about 15ml of ink from each cartridge into the ink dampers, the ink lines, and the print head. This is not much different than that of the Epson Pro 3880 - and this printer shares many of the same components.

Quite a shock.. but OK.. that explains it, so I can move on and sleep peacefully :) 

First Print

Okay, so I finally unboxed and install the printer last night. Although after going through my picture collection again and again, I realized that I have little to print, I need to print something personal as a gift. A friend was leaving the country soon so I want to give her something nice.

So I print something from one of our dinner outings..
And....

The print was too dark...

At first I thought it was because my monitor setting was too dark. Then I recalibrate it using i1Display 2. Few problems arose. The calibrator said that green level is not high enough. The problem is that RGB setting was at their maximum value, I can't gauge it higher. The secret is that the value is all relative to each other. So I tweak down the red and blue a little bit, and voila! I also decrease the monitor brightness waaayy down. But the print result I had still too dark compared to the monitor, and the colors are somewhat muted.

Then I search for clues in the paper manufacturer websites and forums for some clue. I had a hunch that the paper setting in the print dialog is the key. But it doesn't have any custom paper option, while I'm using third party paper. After some searching, I set the printer to use Matte Black with Epson Fine Art paper.

I print the image once again, and... voila! Nice colors. I managed to improve the print only after one failed attempt. Not too bad eh?

Ok.. since I submitted my enigmatic cat picture for a print sale. I've been thinking a lot about what makes a good print. More so when I finally bought a large fine-art printer. I think now I have a grasp of what makes a good print and what is not, in terms of subject and composition. I had gone through around five thousand pictures from my collection, and found just a handful print-worthy photos. I haven't even set up the printer since I bought it last week.

I pulled the trigger

and budget....

The prints are here!

Ok so few days ago the package from DigitalSilverImaging (DSI) arrived at my office. Its a huge package, and I think its a little bit overkill.

I got the 11"x17" fiber based print (bottom right) free of charge, courtesy of Eric Luden, founder of DSI. I was a little bit disappointed. Not that the print is bad or something. Its just that I was expecting something different.
I was expecting something like my cotton paper platinum print from Carl Weese. This print has glossy appearance, which makes them looks closer to RC prints. In fact, I prefer the RC print looks.
Maybe its just my ignorance, but I'm heading to England next week to see the street photography festival (=

 

 

One thing I like about DSI is that the back of their prints are clean. No filename a la Mpix. Even if you are not a professional printer or art collector, the text print is a big no. It makes the print look cheap.

Queen's Cat
Properly framed

My thoughts :

• The adhesive tapes for the packaging are bad.. it can accidentally stick to the prints
• The prints are arguably looks better than Mpix ones, but it might be becauce I post process them differently

Digital Silver Prints

As you already know I'm crazed about BW photography. And the prints of course, as the final result. Some said photography is not complete until you print the result.

I always admire the works of old masters like Cartier-Bresson, Ara Guler and the like, they are timeless.

In the past, if we shoot digital, its rather difficult to make true black and white print. By 'true' I mean the classic silver halides paper which has been used for over a hundred years. And it can last a hundred more. I've tried shooting film, and not too fancy about it. For me, digital offer much more convenience with only little trade off.

Now.. Mpix and DigitalSilverImaging (DSI) are two companies I know that can produce silver prints from digital files. I've tried Mpix before and quite satisfied with the result. However Mpix don't have fiber based paper, unlike DSI. So a few days ago I contacted them through Facebook and it turns out they have 50% discount promotion this month for Resin Coated (RC) paper. Eric is a friendly guy who own DSI, he is very helpful too. So I'm going to order some prints and see how it goes :)

Fairy Chimneys

FYI, if any of you are looking for BW conversion software, DSI is also NikSoftware's resellers. They have the cheapest SilverEfex pricing you can find on the online! If only I found out about their offer earlier!

Addendum : they are TOP's printer for the current print offering, you might want to get one ;)

Prints

Its been a looooooooong time since my last post. A lot of things has happened. But as usual.. I'm not a writer :) so writing long posts is not exactly my top priority ;)

Anyway, I just received my print order from Mpix. They are stunning! It came on Friday.

The package

I unwrap it while watching this

congrats Will, Kate! ;)

BW prints. Beautiful!

Enjoying it :)

Sadly I ruined two of my prints due to my ego by signing the print. *sigh*
Anyway.. I recommend to send your prints to Mpix. And if you are serious, you should print your pictures. Its true what they say, prints are far more superior than your monitor. Really!

Shopping Spree *kind of*

Today my books order just arrived, the Fine Art Printing for Photographers: Exhibition Quality Prints with Inkjet Printers, 2nd Edition. And Ctein's Digital Restoration from Start to Finish, Second Edition: How to repair old and damaged photographs. I'm quite interested in printing fine art quality photograph, which means I have to cough more money, which I already don't have. I was going to get a dye-based A4 printer, but upon reading the book, the image quality degradation for dye based ink is much faster than pigment inks. So I'll probably get pigment based A3 Epson R1900.


The photo book from my recent trip to Turkey have finally arrived. It only takes three days to finish and deliver it. Quite impressive.

I have bought a dry cabinet for all my camera gear. I guess it is a necessary investment *cough*..
Not mentioned I also bought an iPad.. I'm bleeding money, I should go to the hospital now. *cough cough*

Urge...

I have this urge to buy a printer and do my own photo printing... hmmm...
Lets see.. more expenses.. OK maybe in 1-2 months from now..