Reproduction in book

Press, 29 April 1981, Page 20

Reproduction in book

Sir,—ln his review of Hardwicke Knight's "Burton Brothers Photographers” (“The Press,” April 18) John Wilson states concerning the plates: “One could not ask for better reproduction in a book.” Well, one can. One is. And indeed, one must. Even a cursory comparison of the Burton’s own prints — those less timeravaged preferably — with this book’s reproductions would reveal a considerable, and vital, difference in quality. The former have a self-evident excellence of sharpness, contrast and immediacy the latter do not even allude to in their uniform greyness of tone. It is not so much a case of reproduction as misrepresentation. Appropriate reproduction is possible; may I evidence Bohn and Petschek’s “Kinsey Photographer” — an American contemporary of the Burtons — published by Chronicle Books, San Francisco, 1978, and available locally. I would be astonished if after seeing such a book your reviewer maintained his original opinion.—Yours, etc., PETER IRELAND. April 21, 1981. [John Wilson replies: “I should, on reflection, have been less enthusiastic in my approval of the reproductions. But they are, I continue to feel, rather better than w r e have seen in some publications.”]