If you look at my work, you will see that I love framing the photo.
I know this probably messes up marketing....beauty can be presented many ways. But, the artist in me screams to me to "finish" the photo with colors or textures, that I want the viewer to see.
Am I too boring and predictable?
Lucy
Posted by Stan Rose on August 25, 2010 at 12:12 PM
framing is fine--if you're consistently good at it since some frames detract rather than enhance (im not very good with frames). Problem with frame on a photo site is that there are size posting limitations, but most people prefer to see the images as big as possible, and the frame just takes that much more space away from the image. I generally reserve my frames for my photo art, and occasionally a special post that i want to highlite--then i use a sparing frame.
Less can be more on images posted to the Internet. A simple frame that's not too wide and whose color is complimentary to the site's background color works best, in my opinion.
I agree with Stan here; "Problem with frame on a photo site is that there are size posting limitations, but most people prefer to see the images as big as possible, and the frame just takes that much more space away from the image."
Also, frames add to the file size. While broadband connections are more common today, there are still lots of folks out there on slow dialup connections. So, it's best I think, to keep images as small in file size as possible, while maintaining quality. A simple frame helps with this.
Here's what I do: I size the image to 680px on the long side, Increase the canvas size by 40px with white background. I then add a 2px black border to the image and a 2px black border to the canvas. It is easy to do, and looks nice for the web. Here is an example .
I hope this helps,
--P
Posted by John W. Wall on August 25, 2010 at 12:56 PM
I've gone back and forth with frames and currently don't use them, in favor of showing them bigger. I'm with you though. I think they show off your picture better. Another reason to use a frame is branding. I can look at a page of thumbnails and recognize a couple of folks' pictures by the style of frame. Often the lettering doesn't even mention the title of the photo; it's just the photographer's name and maybe web site.
are you a frame designer? or a photographer? if you are the later, dont worry abt frames, at least when posting on the net. If you add frame, go for simple and elegant ones (black and white, non-decorative, etc.)..that's my view
Posted by John Mumaw on August 25, 2010 at 3:03 PM
I agree with Stan. Put simply...mo' image, less frame please!
Posted by Bill Chambers on August 25, 2010 at 6:27 PM
I'm with you Lucy - I also think a frame finishes the work, but obviously we seem to be in the minority here!
As a painter also, a photo without a frame looks very unfinished to me. I often use frames, and like to experiment with them.
I know many others do not like them - but I do, and will continue to add them.
Sandy r
Posted by Lon Overacker on August 25, 2010 at 7:46 PM
Lucy,
A wide variety of opinions, and I'll add my .02. Consider my comments knowing that I too use a simple black frame when posting my own images here on NPN. I do it purely out of laziness because the size and framing are what I use for my website. Now a couple years ago, I had gold frames, which also had a connection to the color scheme of a previous version of my website. However, I very quickly got feedback that the gold frames were distracting and taking away from the image - which it was. Long story short, simple black, neutral framing is what I settled on.
I have looked at your framing and it's very clear that you put a lot of effort in to matching framing style and color to the image. Not only is that difficult to do with lots of images, but it's time consuming. And you've done well.
Personally though, for a web presentation like NPN, the simpler the better. And any framing or background colors should accent an image, and not detract or compete with the image. Now strictly speaking about web presentations here and other online forums (not pictures hanging on walls,) I personally think elaborate framing is unnecessary and that the image should stand on it's own. After all, it's an image critique forum, not a brick-n-mortar art gallery.
To your original question, are you boring or predictable? Absolutely not. As I said you clearly take the time to uniquely frame your images and for the vast majority of the ones I looked at, the framing was done well.
For many years, most of the original photographs I saw were viewed with an infinite black frame: projected slides in a dark room. I know an unobtrusive frame is not the only way to go. It is just what I've become most comfortable with. Despite ingrained habits and preferences, I'm interested to see how framing can enhance the experience of seeing photographs. In this digital age I've been forced to acknowledge that presentation is as important as the image itself.
Pete D. has been known to glue prints onto scrap poster board with Elmer's glue
I have been taking photos since I got my first Brownie. But, I have always looked at photos like a fine painting. Framing enhances a painting so much, that you really see the small colors and detail deep within the piece, and the piece takes on a new life.
Thanks for all your great comments. I will post some “naked” photos more often. I do realize that this is a critique site. I just want to bring out certain colors and give the piece a certain feel.
It's an Irresistible urge, that I'll have to tame!.
By the way, I am not a framer. I am a photographer, geologist, a Mom, a Naturalist, a horse breeder (stud is a World Champion Reiner now residing in Italy), and have an MS in geology and BS in Archaeology.
Thank God, I'm never bored and get to stay outside all the time! I want to be a great photographer, too! And I value this site more than you know. Thank you...keep the comments coming.
Discussion
10 repliesI know this probably messes up marketing....beauty can be presented many ways. But, the artist in me screams to me to "finish" the photo with colors or textures, that I want the viewer to see.
Am I too boring and predictable?
Lucy
Less can be more on images posted to the Internet. A simple frame that's not too wide and whose color is complimentary to the site's background color works best, in my opinion.
I agree with Stan here; "Problem with frame on a photo site is that there are size posting limitations, but most people prefer to see the images as big as possible, and the frame just takes that much more space away from the image."
Also, frames add to the file size. While broadband connections are more common today, there are still lots of folks out there on slow dialup connections. So, it's best I think, to keep images as small in file size as possible, while maintaining quality. A simple frame helps with this.
Here's what I do: I size the image to 680px on the long side, Increase the canvas size by 40px with white background. I then add a 2px black border to the image and a 2px black border to the canvas. It is easy to do, and looks nice for the web. Here is an example .
I hope this helps,
--P
I know many others do not like them - but I do, and will continue to add them.
Sandy r
A wide variety of opinions, and I'll add my .02. Consider my comments knowing that I too use a simple black frame when posting my own images here on NPN. I do it purely out of laziness because the size and framing are what I use for my website. Now a couple years ago, I had gold frames, which also had a connection to the color scheme of a previous version of my website. However, I very quickly got feedback that the gold frames were distracting and taking away from the image - which it was. Long story short, simple black, neutral framing is what I settled on.
I have looked at your framing and it's very clear that you put a lot of effort in to matching framing style and color to the image. Not only is that difficult to do with lots of images, but it's time consuming. And you've done well.
Personally though, for a web presentation like NPN, the simpler the better. And any framing or background colors should accent an image, and not detract or compete with the image. Now strictly speaking about web presentations here and other online forums (not pictures hanging on walls,) I personally think elaborate framing is unnecessary and that the image should stand on it's own. After all, it's an image critique forum, not a brick-n-mortar art gallery.
To your original question, are you boring or predictable? Absolutely not. As I said you clearly take the time to uniquely frame your images and for the vast majority of the ones I looked at, the framing was done well.
Lon
Pete D. has been known to glue prints onto scrap poster board with Elmer's glue
Thanks for all your great comments. I will post some “naked” photos more often. I do realize that this is a critique site. I just want to bring out certain colors and give the piece a certain feel.
It's an Irresistible urge, that I'll have to tame!.
By the way, I am not a framer. I am a photographer, geologist, a Mom, a Naturalist, a horse breeder (stud is a World Champion Reiner now residing in Italy), and have an MS in geology and BS in Archaeology.
Thank God, I'm never bored and get to stay outside all the time! I want to be a great photographer, too! And I value this site more than you know. Thank you...keep the comments coming.