Two whole weeks ago, I wrote a post about me getting a print delivered. For those of you who don't know, I'm somehow skilled in photography, following half a decade studying Art at university, and even more of my free time labouring over pixels, film, photographic chemicals, and photographic critical theory.
Part of that training and study involved how to print things. Part of that study involved how to measure things. Not just light, not just pixels, not just file sizes, but the physical dimensions of objects.
I ordered a print, 12x18" in size. I paid $110, and I expected it to be delivered, framed, as a one stop shop.
When I got the print delivered, I found the lines illustrated in the image above.
I called them up and complained. The following day, I called and complained when I realised the print was the wrong size, after I had a print commissioned by a (not so local) print shop that specialises in photographic printing.
I got the reprint delivered today.
Its still the wrong size.
I'm so angry.
I mean, I'm not even actually angry, I'm just upset and disappointed. Not at the fact that I had to go and get a new print done (so the work would be ready in time for the exhibition) - but because of the WASTE.
The waste of my time, the waste of the framing materials, the waste of the ink, the waste of the paper, the waste of my effort typing this very thing.
But it makes me feel a little bit better, I think.
How much waste happens every single day? I don't know, but I know I now have three copies of the thing that should have one copy, and there's only one version that I am happy with.
I'm going to have to buy a printer one day.
