Gordon Lewis Collector Print Offer: 'Precipitation'

Gordon Lewis, Precipitation (with virtual mat)

I'm very psyched about Precipitation, which is the actual title of the umbrella lady pic. The Fed-Ex man came up the walk yesterday afternoon bearing the proof prints from Gordon's printer in Philadelphia, and they look fantastic on the viewing board. (I've spent lots of time looking at 'em.) Gordon worked with the printer and settled on an 8x10 and an 11x14 size. The sizes are nominal; image area is slightly smaller. And, he's decided to offer just the one print this time.

There are of course many options when optimizing a print, but I think I like Gordon's and his printer's decisions; the print captures the light well. It's a striking picture. I like it an order of magnitude better in print form than I do as a JPEG, as you're seeing it here, mainly because of the better rendering of textures and surfaces. Although it still retains its lovely painterly quality. And I love the paper, Crane Museo, which I hadn't seen before—it's semi-gloss, but without much texture, and seems to get out of the way of the picture nicely while retaining a sense of richness and depth.

Would you help us spread the word about the offer? Post a link on other forums or groups you participate in, or on your own blog? And, thanks, if you do.

Here's the official stuff: it's officially the TOP Pentax K-7 Sample Print (although not subsidized by Pentax in any way). The offer is open for five days only, until Wednesday at noon, Philadelphia (Eastern U.S.) time. Payment has to be by PayPal unless you contact Gordon directly and arrange to send him a check (send me an email and I'll pass it along to him). After the offer closes the prints will be made in one run to fill the orders. (On an Epson Stylus Pro 9800 with UltraChrome K3 inks, by the way.)

Because Gordon's working with a professional lab, the prints are a little more expensive than if he were making them himself. Consider, though, that a "normal" gallery price for a photograph would be in the $500–$1,200 range, with $650 or so being a typical average; $250 was considered normal for a student print when I was in school in the '80s. Collecting orders in advance of production instead of filling orders one at a time allows us to offer the 8x10 size for $75 and the 11x14 size for $150. That's what you call a good deal. Even I would spend that much for this, and you know how I am.

Gordon will sign and date each print on the verso.

Shipping/packing/handling is $5 for U.S. orders and a total of $15 for international orders.

MUY IMPORTANTE: 
Please be sure the address you want your print sent to is on your payment page! Whether it's your official PayPal address or you write it in as a note by clicking on the link that says "Add special instructions to the seller." Don't count on emailing us separately with a shipping address...it's a real headache to track stuff like that.

Also, Gordon thinks I should mention that it would make a nice gift! It would, at that.

My sincere thanks to Gordon for working with us on this. Hope you like his print as much as I do.

Mike

UPDATE, Wednesday, October 7th: The sale has now ended. I'm happy to report that it was a smashing success. The only reason we had the sale in the first place was that the picture evoked so much spontaneous praise from readers after it appeared in the original review—which of course is no guarantee that people will actually like it enough to buy it! In this case, however, a lot of people did. I'll leave it to Gordon to write a wrap-up post about the whole experience, if he chooses to, once all the orders are filled. Thanks to everyone who participated.

And by the way, I'm having the test print framed. I've been looking at it for the better part of a week now, and I still like it.  —Mike

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Comments

[James]

I apologize in advance for the 'printing anorak' style of question...

Museo is a family of papers, I was wondering which specific one has been chosen? Silver Rag would seem an obvious choice (300 gsm in all formats), but it could equally be Museo Max, (250 and 365 gsm in sheets, but only available in 250 gsm for rolls which are more likely to be used with a 9800).

It would be interesting to see how the image prints on an art paper like Somerset velvet, just for a different interpretation.

Regards,
James.

[Clayton Lofgren]

Very hapless to see this site becoming multi lingual.

[Christopher Lane]

Mike/Gordon,

Done on both accounts. Take care.

Regards,

Chris

[Alcides]

About "MUY IMPORTANDO:" Mike, maybe you did it on porpouse ;) but the real words in spanish are "MUY IMPORTANTE", you put something like "very importing"

Regards
Luis from Argentina

[Spyro]

Well the way I see it this photo says a lot about the photographer, I'm not sure if it says anything about the camera. Its not technically demanding, I couldn't say (and wouldnt care) if it was taken with a P&S.

I wouldnt be too fussed about technical details like sharpness etc in this case, this photo is 99% photographer: his sense of composition & timing, reading the light, matching colours and shapes. Beautiful work.

[Mike Johnston]

"the real words in spanish are 'MUY IMPORTANTE'"

Whoops, my slip is showing. Thanks Luis.

Mike

[Bill Mitchell]

I presume that it's mounted and matted?

[Stuart]

It's a great shot, no doubt about that...

I had a good laugh at how you presented the price though, just like a market seller...

NOT $1200... Not $650... Not even $250!!!!

I must be MAD!! $75 and $150!!!!

You'd have to be an IDIOT not to buy!!!!

[Mike Johnston]

"I presume that it's mounted and matted?"

No, it's not.

Mike

[Mike Johnston]

Stuart,
Crazy Mikey's Prints 'R' Us.

Expect a rant on this subject sometime within the next few weeks. I feel it a-comin' on.

Mike

[Mike C.]

It is a very compelling image, and somehow very familiar -- then it suddenly struck me that she is walking past what is clearly the underpainting for Picasso's "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon"...

I'm hoping your rant is going to concern the (over)pricing of digitally-produced photographic prints, and sharp practices like "limited" editions? These prints seem eminently reasonably priced to me.

[Tom]

If I bought it how many calories are in that print should I have to eat it? Just in case. I hate this economy.

BTW, how about that #4 for the Vikes? Favre has always been the MN QB. We have always been at (football) war with Rogers' Pack.