Random Thoughts on Photography [1] ~ Steve McCurry and print size

Last year I visited the Steve McCurry exhibit at the Musee Maillol. Seeing his images in person was a moving, emotionally charged experience. 

I mightily appreciated his early Nikon FM Nikkor 105mm f/2.5 Kodachrome images. Printed to what looked like at least 20x30inches in size and they were glorious. It did not matter to me that the original image format was "small." The subjects with that particular camera/lens/film combination "worked." 

As we progressed through the show I could tell when M.McCurry went to digital. The prints were less saturated, perhaps due to the matte surface choice and/or color management decisions. But I also saw the overall sense of sharpness was still "there." Of course the subject matter continued to bring the impact of his earlier work. It was a matter of a style shift, more than anything else, the clued me into the transition. 

It was a little less apparent to see the transition from 12mpixel (Nikon D700) to 45mpixel (Nikon D850). I could tell, but most of the people around me didn't notice, nor did nor should they care.  There was zero pixelation in any of the digital prints.

I see that the D700 is now considered by some to be a "legend." There's nothing mystically magic about 12mpixels. The sensor does what it does and overall image quality has since improved. Progress in sensor technologies have seen to that to the point where current 61mpixel and 100mpixel dynamic range and noise match or better the original Nikon D700 12mpixel output.  Have a look at Photons to Photos to confirm this for yourself.

There was something interesting in the PetaPixel article.  Someone said that in working with a 12mpixel image "Printing is often used as an excuse for why someone needs a very high-resolution camera, but the reality is that — aside from very finely textured papers or those intended to be viewed from several inches away — resolution is far less critical for printing than many people suggest." 

That really got me to thinking. Steve McCurry's show certainly proved that point. Hammered it home, in fact. The proof was right there for everyone to see in all those beautiful prints.