Reference Prints

Whilst visiting Greg’s guitar workshop, I was introduced to his reference guitar. One he uses to measure his latest creations against. The goal is simple, make each new one better. He uses the reference guitar to compare the latest ones to. The newest ones need to be better or at least equal to the reference one.  

Why bother to use something to refer against? We forget our standards when we observe in isolation. It sets the standard. It becomes the goal, the measuring post.   

Choosing the reference is important. In the case of the guitar maker, he used the best guitarist in the world to choose the reference guitar.   

Do you know I have a reference print? One from another photographer whose work and quality I respect. I use this to compare my own prints against. I look for things such as sharpness, sharpening, clarity, colour, vibrancy and saturation. My personal goal is to ensure my prints are better than the reference print. Sometimes, I only achieve equal to, and in some cases, close to. But usually I hit the nail on the head and surpass it. In my opinion, I surpass it because there is immense satisfaction in my own work.  

When I mentor and see a photograph that is worthy of being a reference print for the photographer, I tell them to put it on their wall next to their computer. That is now their target.   

Better still, purchase a reference print and use that as your goal and measuring post.  

Photograph and words copyright © Len Metcalf 2023