Photographer Joel Meyerowitz is a pioneer in a way that many photographers don’t even realize. Indeed, without his work, it’s possible that many others might not have ever taken your photographs seriously. With his exhibit at Huxley Parlor ending very recently, the famous documentary photographer will be showing off his photographs at the Howard Greenburg Gallery in NYC. But that’s not the really fascinating part. “…the show presents six unique dye sublimation prints from the first ever museum exhibition devoted to digital printing technology at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1994,” says the press release. “These prints are permanent and display a uniquely beautiful color palette not unlike traditional dye transfer prints.”
All images by Joel Meyerowitz. Follow Joel on Instagram. Images are used with permission by Howard Greenburg Gallery. The images are on display from April 20th to June 7th 2024.
Most modern photographers probably wouldn’t understand what’s so odd about that quote from the Howard Greenburg Gallery unless they’re familiar with printing. For your knowledge, dye sublimation printing isn’t always looked upon so reverently. For that, we’re going to quote a review we did of a DNP printer that used the dye sublimation process.
While we probably wouldn’t use it for gallery images, the prints that you get are more than satisfactory for scrapbooks, parties, giving to friends, framing at home or the office, and other personal uses. In fact, due to the Dye-Sublimation based process (as opposed to laser and inkjet) they’re probably some of the best prints that we’ve seen providing that your images have enough resolution.
Printers like these are used in places like WalMart, CVS, etc. And if it’s good enough for most of America, it will most likely satisfy your home-based needs. On a personal note, I’m a snob for canvas prints.
If you’re a gallery-goer, print-loving photographer, or museum explorer, this is probably really odd to you. Why would Joel use a process that CostCo, WalMart, and so many others use? And how is that so much different from my taking one of Joel’s photographs and printing it out for myself after sending it to Duane Reade for printing? Could most people tell the difference? It’s a puzzling idea.
In 2008, Joel was smitten with the inkjet process, according to Pop Photo. We fully admit that this was over a decade ago and that the dye-sublimation process could’ve surely improved. But is it enough to make someone truly want to purchase the prints for themselves and hang them on their wall? This is a question that photographers can answer for themselves at a new exhibit at the Howard Greenburg Gallery.
Of course, we don’t know how large the prints are. But generally speaking, printing everything larger often makes it much nicer to look at and experience. These days, 3×4 and 4×5 prints aren’t as effective simply because we’re so used to looking at screens. Once you start printing at 8×10, you’re cooking with fire. At 17×22 and beyond, you’re cooking for the entire village. The Phoblographer’s print tests are done at this size because it truly is at a size that you’d be happy to frame on your wall.
Perhaps, like most other things in photography, it needs to be seen and experienced in-person to be understood. But more importantly, it needs to be lit correctly. A glossy print cannot be lit the same way that a matte print can — and the dye sublimation process needs indirect light to really make the world understand how beautiful it is.
Considering that Howard Greenburg displays great work from photographers like Saul Leiter and Bruce Davidson, you’re going to want to head over.