Re: [Leica] One-hour labs

[Mark Rabiner <mrabiner@concentric.net>]

Gib Robinson wrote:
> There are circumstances where a one-hour lab is ideal for me and I'm
> inclined to "talk up" the use of one-hour labs for certain purposes. I use
> two local one-hour labs primarily to process and print T400CN (C-41 for B&W
> prints). It's quick and I get good 4x6 machine-made "proof prints" at a
> fraction of the cost I'd be charged at a regular lab. Exposed/developed on
> the thin side, T400CN actually gives me quite good results and the two
> one-hour labs I frequent can handle it competently. If I want fiber paper
> enlargements, they will send it out to one of the better custom B&W labs.
> They get the same results from that lab that I would get and I get the same
> retail price working through them as I would walking directly into the
> custom lab.
> 
> snip
> So, I don't share your antipathy to one-hour labs. I used to; but I
> necessity has lead me down another path.
> 
> --Gib

I think minilabs are like going out on the town with a hooker and a
bottle of Scotch. Sure you had a great time but who do we really want to
tell about it to? How much detail do we want to go into?
Minilabs are convientent, they will run your film, but a stack of 4 by 6
snapshots from your five thousand dollar camera doesn't sit right with
me. The major problem being: someone might see them. I think as a
reference they deaden your brain.
Do they make those 5 by 7's and 8 by 10s there? I didn't think so.
I think we can get used to the idea of less of our stuff "out there".
Don't let people go through your dirty underware. Only print or have
printed what is good.
The only concievable role model photographer that would do such a thing
is Andy Worhol and I didn't think Andy was popular in these parts so much.
I think we should act the way our favorite photographers act. (for me
that would mean sleeping under a park bench)
Mark Rabiner