'Done Done Done Done Done Done Done!'

Ctein has shipped the last of the $19.95 prints! By now everyone should have received either their print or an e-mail telling them that the print is on the way. If you have not gotten either print or e-mail (check your spam folder too) from Ctein, please e-mail him immediately (ctein@pobox.com).

The prints are shipping via first-class mail; normally this only takes a few days, but three tubes took as long as 15 days to arrive, so be patient. If you haven't gotten your print by the 23rd, let Ctein know—but not before then, please.

Mike

Featured Comment by Bruce Bodine: "I received my print Tuesday afternoon in the mail and all I can say is...WOW! This is the first time I have seen a print by a master of the art and it is just stunning.

"Ctein deserves all the accolades he receives and it justifies the saying that the proof is in the print. I will be sharing this with some of my photography friends at work so they can also appreciate the art of the master. Thanks to both you and Ctein for giving so many of us the exposure to the best of our craft be it amateur or professional. And thanks for this follow-up post on TOP so we can all publicly give Ctein the credit he truly deserves and thank you for making it possible on TOP."

Comments

[Ned]

Thanks for the print, it's up on my wall for reference. I do have a couple of questions related to what is acceptable to a master printer. My goal for ordering this print was to get an idea of what a good print looks like.

1) On my print there is a small hair, like the hair from a piece of fiber or paper stuck to the print. If you straightened it out it might be a 1/4 " long. Can't see it unless you were looking closely and not noticeable at a normal viewing distance.

2) My print has several crinkles.

I understand the intent behind the print, so my question is based solely on what is typically acceptable for a master print. I remember an article where Ctein rejected paper for defects so I would assume if this print was destined for something else the above "issues" would be cause for rejection? My question really is "How close would you look at a final print"? I am in the middle of learning to print which is why I ask.

[Zeeman]

It's too bad that I won't be able to see my copy until September, because I will be back home in Malaysia all summer. (A friend in Minneapolis is helping me keep the print.) I am certainly excited and cannot wait to see it for myself!

Thank you again, Ctein, for such a generous act. I shall learn well from it.

[Moose]

My thanks too for this very generous and genuinely useful print offer.

As art, it's a fully enjoyable image, if not outstanding.

For the stated purpose, showcasing the abilities of the relatively contemporary 4/3 sensors, it is outstanding. Large enough and carefully crafted enough both to impress with clear detail and to show, when looked at closely, the limits of resolution of this sensor and lens combination.

Compared to similarly sized and larger prints from a Nikon D3, same number of pixels, but full frame sensor, by a less well known, but also masterful, printer, the clarity/definition of the finest detail from the D3 is slightly superior. But one must get quite close to see the difference, and that's not how excellent prints of first rate 'real', as opposed to test, images are properly viewed.

If the OM-D stands the test of user experience, I might, maybe, be tempted to return to Olympus ...

Moose

[Travis]

I also want to thank Ctein for putting the work in to make this offer possible. I haven't had the opportunity to closely inspect the work of a master printer, and it's just amazing.

[ctein]

Dear Ned,

Obviously those flaws are not the hallmark of a master print. With some 800 prints to vet in a very short period of time, I fully expect a couple of flawed ones to slip through the cracks; I pulled nearly 3 dozen that didn't make the grade for one reason or another. E-mail me privately about getting you a replacement.

pax / Ctein

[bpholt]

I received mine as well and, as requested, did not email Ctein to let him know (even though I really just wanted to share my enjoyment of his work).

Count me among those who had not purchased photo prints before, but now have a newfound appreciation for the art. If that was the mission, consider it a success.

Thanks to Ctein and Mike for putting this together!

[Ned]

Ctein thank for the replacement offer but I really don't need one. You can't see the issue a at normal viewing distance. I was really only asking a best practice question.

[John Krumm]

I was interested to see what this would look like since I shoot 12mp 4/3 cameras and have a fair number of images I might make this large if I ever upgrade my printer. To me it looks just right for a print this size. I only notice that it's just slightly softer than my smaller prints made with an Epson 2880 when I almost press my nose to it (ridiculously close). At 1-2 feet away it looks perfectly sharp. Thanks again for doing this. I've been printing a lot more since yours and Mike's recent articles, and enjoying it very much.

[Alan Fairley]

I bought the print to use a reference print since I shoot 4/3 and m4/3 and print 17x22 on a 3880, and I have to say it was worth every penny. First thing up is to start working on my sharpening, which I thought I was starting to get pretty good at, but not so much when I check against the reference.... Thanks, Ctein for making this resource available.

[ianp]

My print arrived today so I wanted to extend my gratitude to Ctein for the great offer, and also to Lubo for distributing the prints in Canada.
Thanks!

[Peter S]

I don't have a lot to add, but I too want to thank Ctein for doing such great work for so little compensation! I was prepared before the sale to buy it just as a reference if it was under $50, and so $20 was outstanding!

As a fairly novice photographer, it's very helpful to be exposed to excellent work, and it also has substantially increased my desire to purchase a printer and start on Mike's printing exercises... got to keep putting some more quarters in that piggy bank.

[Brian Small]

Received my print today. I'm not sure I like the subject but the print is indeed technically excellent. Which is why I bought it.
Thanks Ctein and our Canadian distributor Lubo.