AN OCEAN OF IMAGES Introducing Hex Coordinates MXVI
PHOTOGRAPHIC TAXONOMY IN AN OCEAN OF IMAGES
Introducing a Simple Coordinates System
MMXVI
PHOTOGRAPHIC TAXONOMY IN AN OCEAN OF IMAGES An Hexadecimal Coordinates System
Just One or Two Octets for Any Photographic Print and its Digital Numerisations
MMXVI
“Each hexadecimal digit represents four binary digits (bits), and the primary use of hexadecimal notation is a human-friendly representation of binary-coded values in computing and digital electronics. One hexadecimal digit represents a nibble, which is half of an octet or byte (8 bits). For example, byte values can range from 0 to 255 (decimal), but may be more conveniently represented as two hexadecimal digits in the range 00 to FF. Hexadecimal is also commonly used to represent computer memory addresses.”.
© 2016 Serge Plantureux, 80 rue Taitbout, 75009 Paris, France
The word hexadecimal is composed of hexa-, derived from the Greek έξ (hex) for six, and -decimal, derived from the Latin for tenth. The earliest date attested for hexadecimal in MerriamWebster Collegiate online is 1954, placing it safely in the category of international scientific vocabulary (ISV). Schwartzman notes that the expected form from usual Latin phrasing would be sexadecimal, but computer hackers would be tempted to shorten that word to sex. The etymologically proper Greek term would be hexadecadic. The traditional Chinese units of weight were base-16. For example, one jīn (斤 ) in the old system equals sixteen taels. The suanpan (Chinese abacus) could be used to perform hexadecimal calculations.
“Tout Voir, C’est Tout Conquérir” Since the first public presentation of this elementary system of taxonomy, in Toronto, January 2013, various critics and comments suggested to keep the smooth timeline adapted to every region, and to improve the zoning system. Especially it sound in a way French-geocentric to anglo-saxons collectors. The new hexadecimal coordonates system follow the country calling codes. The recent years confirmed the importance of describing photographic objects with a correct dating, in both exhibition and auctions catalogues. The scientific and commercial value of posthumous or late print and a multiple is now approaching the conceptual thickness of a political speech, “promises only bind those who believe in them”. It doesn’t mean only few people are attracted by multiples and editions, mobs create fads.
When it is important for a photography collector to qualify and describe the uniquenesses of his objects, the risk-averse mimetic investors will prefer to buy perfect multiples without any identification mark nor dating, than difficult objects. This coordinates system need to be simple. It will automatically detect and separate vintage artifacts from their numbered reprints and innumerable digital clones. When we will need only a byte to allow an address for an historical photographic object in a collection, we can describe all photographs with only two bytes, the first for the creation of the image, then the second byte to describe the print or even the digitization reproduction. A vintage print of General Ulysses Grant’s portrait would get the prefix #1313, a Library of Congress 1960’s print: #1318 and a web digitization: #131B.
0 QUADRANTS HEXADECIMAL NUMBER TABLE 0 Scientific World, micro and macro 1 USA Canada 2 Africa 3 Southern Europe, Italy, Spain, Balkans
2
4 Continental Europe 5 Latin America South
8
6 Pacific zone 7 Russia 8 Japan and Koreas
B
9 Turkey and Middle East A Central America, Mexico C China E England and Ireland F France
6
C
5
1
B India and Persia D Denmark, Scandinavia, Polar zones
3 F E 4 7 D
9
A
:
0 Pre photographic 1 Inventions Era (Mostly France and England) 2 Golden Age 1850s-1860s 3 Wars and Revolutions 1860-1870 4 Commercial and Pictorialist Era 1870’s-1900s 5 WWI and 1910s Revolutions 6 Avant-Gardes and Modern Times 7 WWII 8 Reconstruction 1945-1989 9 Digital Age since 1989 (analogic datable prints) A Datable numerisations with numeric key signature B Numeric instant copies C to F reserved for technological improvements Note : The timelines of photography and photography technology do match as wars improved technology with military investments.
#F4. French detective organizing criminal files, Paris, 1900
TIMELINE HEXADECIMAL NUMBERS
#
E1
(England and Scotland, 1840s)
Hill and Adamson,1890s enlargement (rich colors) #E1E4 Vintage print and paper negative get: #E1E1
#
F1
(France, 1840s) In France daguerrian portraits dominate until the discovery of waxed paper negative process by Gustave Le Gray in June 1848. Richebourg: #F1F1
Le Gray: #F1F1
This print is a link with the period to come : F2.
Salt paper prints will slowly get albuminized through the 1850s in France, and albumen prints will dominate a myriad of new processes in the 1860s.
#
F2
(France, 1850s-1860s)
#
52
(Latin America, 1850s-1860s)
Like in North America, daguerrian portraits and cased images absolutely dominate New Granadians practice and favor in the 1850s (here Bogotanos): #5252
#
83
(Japan, Bakumatsu period, 1851-1868)
In last years before Meiji change, Japanese practice of photography was mostly glasny shashin, ambrotypes.
#
33
(Italian Risorgimento 1860-1871)
In Papal States before 1860s photographic portraits were mostly aristocratic calotypes, with the Risorgimento, new faces were registred in albumen prints: #3333
#
F3
(Franco-Prussian War 1870-1871)
#
F4
(France, 1880s-1900s)
#
14
(USA-Canada, 1870s-1910s)
#
24
(Africa, 1880s-1910s) In the last quarter of 19th century, Berlin Conference organized the limits of African possessions of various European powers. Many photographers started to register the continent. Some printed their photos locally, as did Rimbaud: #2424 More often, the negatives were sent to Europe and printed there: #24F4, #2434
#
74
(Russia, 1880s-1910s)
#
84
(Japan & Korea, 1870s-1900s)
#
04
(Scientific laboratories, 1870s-1900s)
#
A5
(Mexico, Revolution)
#
F5
(France and French soldiers in WWI)
(USA-Canada, 1920s-1930s)
#
From 23 September through 13 November 1919, King Albert, Queen Elisabeth of Bavaria took an official visit to the United States. During a visit of the historic Indian pueblo of Isleta Pueblo, New Mexico, King Albert decorated Father Anton Docher with the Order of LĂŠopold. Ten thousand people traveled to Isleta for this occasion.
16
#
46
(Continental Europe, 1920s)
#
76
(Young USSR, 1920s)
#
47
(Europe under German rules, 1930s-1945)
#
77
(USSR, Stalin time and WWII)
#
F7
(France in WWII time, 1939-1945)
#
F8
(France, 1950s-1980s)
#
78
(USSR after Staline, 1953-1991)
#
58
(Latin America, 1950s-1980s)
Notes
Notes
This book once corrected will be printed by IGO in February 2016,