Posted 11 years ago
shell59
(19 items)
Hi, once again I am needing help. I have this picture in a frame of Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico (which I found out from looking up Ansel Adams), but I am confused because I know this is obviously not the real picture but did they make reproduction photos? As you can see it says Photography by Ansel Adams and on the back of the frame the silver piece you hang the picture up with says Hermitage Fine Arts. I have had this about 25 or 30 years. The picture is 6 1/2 by 4 1/2. I am wondering where it might be from and if this is a common thing they do with famous photos? I know nothing about photos.
Thanks
Michelle
Yes ... it is normal to see reproductions of famous images and "Moonrise" is probably one of the most famous pictures in all of photography; and certainly the most popular of any of Ansel's work. Given it's fame, it is also one of the most reproduced images. Reproductions are typically high-quality non-photographic prints. Take a look at your picture using a magnifier. You will probably see little dots that form the image.
Thanks Bellin and thank you all for the love. Rniederman thanks for info and help. Is there a way to tell if it is a reproduction photo or a poster print? It looks like a photo and it is the size of a photo.
All reproductions are non-photographic prints. As I mentioned in my last message, look at the picture through a magnifier ... you will probably see small dots indicating a typical lithographic printing process. Copies of Ansel's prints are usually high-quality. As background, most original Moonrise photographs are typically 16" x 20" and 20" x 24"; there are a few larger, but nothing as small as what you have. Reproductions of this famous image come in any number of sizes; smaller to larger. The earliest photographs were printed with less contrast, but over the years, Ansel added 'drama' to his images by increasing the contrast. In the case of Moonrise, the sky got darker. Your reproduction is based on one of these later higher contrast photographs.
Okay, I get it now. If it was a copy of a photograph it would be made from and original negative and there would be no dots. I looked through my loop and I did see very tiny dots except in the places where it is really dark then you can't see them. Thanks again your the tops!
I found out from reading that my print is called photo engraving. The dots or pixels are like honeycombs or waffles and not actually dots and it also has dark lines on the edges. Of course you can only see it looking through the loop. Now on to learn all about photo engraving.