> Hi Ray, > > I sure agree with you and your approach. I do think though that there are no 'standards' and the concept of editioning in photography is not as straight forward as it is in printmaking. > > This means that there is a lot of confusion about it in photography, and I continue to believe that a lot of 'editioning' in photography is done for monetary and not artistic/pratical reasons. > Thank you Cris.
I agree there are no standards in photography but that might be because there has been no leadership in this area. Remember, that although editioning began in ernest around the turn of the century it wasn't really until the 50's that it took hold to the extent it is used today. I have a large collection built around printmaking in the 30's and many are not editioned. A major force behind making editioning a standard was the creation of major workshops in printmaking such a Tamarind. They wrote the "bible" on the subject and everyone just followed the leader. In photography you do not have the large cooperative workshops to the extent you do in printmaking and thus a lack of a strong central driving force for setting standards. Perhaps having a 1,000 pound litho or etching press to carry around makes print centers practical whereas anyone can carry a camera and put a darkroom in the bath. The two disiplines just come from different backgrounds. As an aside, I am amazed at how many who responded to this thread are actually from printmaking backgrounds. It would be fun to find out how many members of this forum are basically printmakers and how many photographers. I think you will find more printmakers crossing over to photography than photographers crossing over to printmaking. The reason is simple - printmakers are into photoetch, Toray Plate, Solarplate and other photo techniques which require them to learn some photo approaches. I find most photographers have no interest in learning printmaking. This is one reason why when we decided to build our second art center for photography we elected to put it right next to the print center so artists could cross over as they pleased. > > Hey, if my prints sell better when they are 'editioned' who am I to blow against the wind!? > I agree Ray
