I am planning to exhibit about 25 color and B and W prints in frames at a gallery later on this summer. I was wondering whether it's better to print 11 by 14 or 8 by 10 inches? Which size is ideal for collectors?

If I am presenting to various clients, which gallery should I base my choice off from? Size, lighting are factors although I'm probably going to be calling various dealers/curators to see who may be interested.

-- Alfie Wang (leica_phile@hotmail.com), February 26, 2002

Answers

The classic statement for 35mm enlargements is "8X10 in the hand, 11X14 on the wall." I don't think collectors care that much about size. I suggest dark metal frames and white mats.

-- Phil Stiles (Stiles@metrocast.net), February 26, 2002.

White mats, black frames. I like my 35's done full-frame, so they end up around 9.5 x 14, or I do 16 x 24. Some places will print 8 x 12's too. If it's really good, I may go 20 x 30.

:-),

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), February 27, 2002.

personally i just contact print. :)

-- ken kwok (kk353@yahoo.com), February 27, 2002.

Ken,

I didn't know Leica is producing large format cameras ;-). Though there are medium format cameras with a LTM (but not from Leica) ...

-- Kai Blanke (Kai.Blanke@iname.com), February 27, 2002.

Alfie, Begin by gathering all your photos into a pile. Douse the pile with kerosene. Strike a match. Toss lit match onto kerosene-doused pile of photos. Burn everything. I assure you, this is the only way people will come to your exhibit.

-- Spike Talbot (spike23@mindspring.com), February 27, 2002.

Spike. It's okay. Be nice and maybe we'll all get invitations. And first class airfare. And nice finger food. And champagne. And we can write reviews. And he'll be discovered by John Szarkowski and show at MOMA. And get a gig shooting for Vanity Fair. And Annie Leibovitz will switch teams and start dating Alfie. Maybe she will even assist him on his shoots in Rome and Tokyo. Just think, we will have known him in his early, searching years. And as we wither into old age, knowing Alfie's work will be our defining moment. I'm reaching for the matt knife right now..........

Have a nice day. Kirk

-- kirk tuck (kirktuck@kirktuck.com), February 27, 2002.

is it April fool's already?

-- Dexter Legaspi (dalegaspi@hotmail.com), February 27, 2002.

Spike

Harsh, but probably true!

Alfie: I do hope the shots you will be exhibiting are superior to the ones you have shown here before, or you are in for a great disappointment as is the poor gallery owner.

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), February 27, 2002.

hey kai,

what i meant was contact print w/ a 35mm frame.... ;)

ken

-- ken kwok (kk353@yahoo.com), February 27, 2002.

Ken,

if you want to I can supply you with a collection of neg's which do deserve a similar fate ;-). To bad I'm quite a bit short-sighted, so 35mm contacts only make sense when I'm shooting myself ...

-- Kai Blanke (Kai.blanke@iname.com), February 27, 2002.