AN OCEAN OF IMAGES

Introducing Hex CoordinatesMXVI

PHOTOGRAPHIC TAXONOMY

IN AN OCEAN OF IMAGES

Introducing a Simple Coordinates System

MMXVI

PHOTOGRAPHIC TAXONOMY

IN AN OCEAN OF IMAGESAn Hexadecimal Coordinates System

Just One or Two Octets for Any Photographic Print and its Digital Numerisations

MMXVI

© 2016 Serge Plantureux, 80 rue Taitbout, 75009 Paris, France

“Each hexadecimal digit represents four binarydigits (bits), and the primary use of hexadecimalnotation is a human-friendly representation ofbinary-coded values in computing and digitalelectronics. One hexadecimal digit represents anibble, 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 convenientlyrepresented as two hexadecimal digits in therange 00 to FF. Hexadecimal is also commonlyused to represent computer memory addresses.”.

The word hexadecimal is composed of hexa-, derivedfrom the Greek έξ (hex) for six, and -decimal, derivedfrom the Latin for tenth.

The earliest date attested for hexadecimal in Merriam-Webster Collegiate online is 1954, placing it safely in thecategory of international scientific vocabulary (ISV).Schwartzman notes that the expected form from usualLatin phrasing would be sexadecimal, but computerhackers would be tempted to shorten that word to sex.The etymologically proper Greek term would be hexa-decadic.

The traditional Chinese units of weight were base-16. Forexample, one jīn (斤) in the old system equals sixteentaels. The suanpan (Chinese abacus) could be used toperform hexadecimal calculations.

“Tout Voir, C’est Tout Conquérir”

Since the first public presentation of this elementarysystem of taxonomy, in Toronto, January 2013, variouscritics and comments suggested to keep the smooth time-line adapted to every region, and to improve the zoningsystem. Especially it sound in a way French-geocentricto anglo-saxons collectors. The new hexadecimal coor-donates system follow the country calling codes.

The recent years confirmed the importance of descri-bing photographic objects with a correct dating, in bothexhibition and auctions catalogues. The scientific andcommercial value of posthumous or late print and a mul-tiple is now approaching the conceptual thickness of apolitical speech, “promises only bind those who believein them”. It doesn’t mean only few people are attractedby multiples and editions, mobs create fads.

When it is important for a photography collector toqualify and describe the uniquenesses of his objects, therisk-averse mimetic investors will prefer to buy perfectmultiples without any identification mark nor dating,than difficult objects. This coordinates system need to besimple. It will automatically detect and separate vintageartifacts from their numbered reprints and innumerabledigital clones.

When we will need only a byte to allow an address foran historical photographic object in a collection, we candescribe all photographs with only two bytes, the first forthe creation of the image, then the second byte to des-cribe the print or even the digitization reproduction.

A vintage print of General Ulysses Grant’s portraitwould get the prefix #1313, a Library of Congress 1960’sprint: #1318 and a web digitization: #131B.

1

2

C

B

F E

A

8

9

0

7

6

543

D

QUADRANTS HEXADECIMAL NUMBER TABLE

0 Scientific World, micro and macro

1 USA Canada

2 Africa

3 Southern Europe, Italy, Spain, Balkans

4 Continental Europe

5 Latin America South

6 Pacific zone

7 Russia

8 Japan and Koreas

9 Turkey and Middle East

A Central America, Mexico

B India and Persia

C China

D Denmark, Scandinavia, Polar zones

E England and Ireland

F France

#F4. French detective organizing criminal files, Paris, 1900

TIMELINE HEXADECIMAL NUMBERS :

0 Pre photographic1 Inventions Era (Mostly France and England)2 Golden Age 1850s-1860s3 Wars and Revolutions 1860-18704 Commercial and Pictorialist Era 1870’s-1900s5 WWI and 1910s Revolutions6 Avant-Gardes and Modern Times7 WWII8 Reconstruction 1945-19899 Digital Age since 1989 (analogic datable prints)A Datable numerisations with numeric key signatureB Numeric instant copiesC to F reserved for technological improvements

Note : The timelines of photography and photography technology

do match as wars improved technology with military investments.

Hill and Adamson,1890s enlargement (rich colors) #E1E4Vintage print and paper negative get: #E1E1

#E1 (England and Scotland, 1840s)

#F1 (France, 1840s)

In France daguerrianportraits dominate untilthe discovery of waxedpaper negative process byGustave Le Gray in June1848. Richebourg: #F1F1Le Gray: #F1F1

This print is a link withthe period to come : F2.Salt paper prints willslowly get albuminizedthrough the 1850s inFrance, and albumenprints will dominate amyriad of new processesin the 1860s.

#F2 (France, 1850s-1860s)

#52(Latin America, 1850s-1860s)

Like in North America, daguerrian portraits and casedimages absolutely dominate New Granadians practice andfavor in the 1850s (here Bogotanos): #5252

#83 (Japan, Bakumatsu period, 1851-1868)

In last years before Meiji change, Japanese practiceof photography was mostly glasny shashin, ambrotypes.

In Papal States before1860s photographicportraits were mostlyaristocratic calo-types, with the Risor-gimento, new faceswere registred in al-bumen prints: #3333

#33(Italian Risorgimento 1860-1871)

#F3(Franco-Prussian War 1870-1871)

#F4 (France, 1880s-1900s)

#14 (USA-Canada, 1870s-1910s)

#24 (Africa, 1880s-1910s)

In the last quarter of19th century, BerlinConference organizedthe limits of Africanpossessions of variousEuropean powers. Manyphotographers startedto register thecontinent. Some printedtheir photos locally,as did Rimbaud: #2424

More often, thenegatives were sent toEurope and printedthere: #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)

#16 (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 Léopold. Ten thousand people traveled to Isleta for this occasion.

#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 Fe-bruary 2016,