Charlie's Prints

Yesterday the frozen FedEx man made his way to the front door bearing a dog-eared and taped Kodak paper box. Inside were the proof prints of the upcoming Print Offer pictures from Charlie Cramer. (The sale kicks off a week from this Sunday, if you've forgotten.)

They are gorgeous. Delicious. Beautiful. Gorgeliciousiful.

I showed one to my son, and his first response was "I like that! That really pops." Then I showed it to his girlfriend, and she said, "Ooh, I like that!" And you know, I think they nailed the matter: the print quality of Charlie's prints is "I like that."

They're gorgeously colorful overall, but the remarkable thing to me is what I might call "microcolor"—the small, subtle shifts and variations of colors within very small areas.

I could go on about detail and colors and the beautiful paper surface, but I think the short take is that these prints are going to be crowdpleasers. Not only you but also the non-photographers you know who see them are going to like them.

Maybe I don't get out enough, but seeing these really got me amped up. I only have room for one at a time on my print-viewing board, so I've been switching them back and forth. I don't think there are going to be any complaints on the print quality front. State-of-the-art digital printmaking, circa 2011.

Just thought you might like an update.

Mike

P.S. We'll publish on Monday morning an article that Charlie wrote for us about his techniques and methods.

P.P.S. We don't reveal the actual sale images until the sale starts.

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Original contents copyright 2011 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved.

Comments

[Tyler Westcott]

I'm very anxious to see what prints will make it into the sale. I enjoy seeing his prints when I'm visiting Yosemite (at the Ansel Adams Gallery and the Mountain Room restaurant), and try to keep those impression in my mind the rest of the time. I look forward to finally having one (or two) for myself at home to serve as constant inspiration.

[Dave Karp]

I have seen his prints several times at the Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite, and other prints of his regularly at the Yosemite Lodge. They are just exquisite. One of my favorite photographers and my favorite photographer working in color. Maybe the latter is because (I think) he was first an outstanding black and white photographer.

[Dave Karp]

By the way - Nice job of ramping up the excitement!

[RobG]

Mike, you are a mean, mean man.

I'm just sayin'.

[John Soda]

I'm glad YOU can see them. What a mean tease. :)

[Jim in Denver]

Mike said - "P.P.S. We don't reveal the actual sale images until the sale starts."

Um, why? Just curious...

[Mike Johnston]

"Um, why? Just curious..."

To give people a reason to want to come see the sale announcement post. If everything in the announcement has already been announced, then there's no reason for an announcement....

Mike

[ctein]

Antici...
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(wait for it)

[Arg]

Did 'pop' even exist in photo terminology 5 or 10 years back?

I don't much like the implication that a photo needs to 'pop' if it is going to be much praised. I would have thought many a masterpiece too subtle to 'pop'.

Is 'pop' a goal?

[Geoff Wittig]

Charles Cramer's prints are indeed beautiful. What's almost as striking, at least to me, is how generously he shares the techniques used to create them. Participants in his digital printing course are given a detailed workbook and low rez files of some of his photographs to play with. He shows exactly which adjustment layers he used on particular images, and why. He keeps no secrets about how he does it. Of course, it's a bit like Monet showing you which pigments and brushstrokes he uses. Too bad talent and vision are not as teachable as technique!

I can't say enough about Charlie's course; anyone remotely interested in printing their own work should consider it. My own prints improved dramatically as a result.