Presentation is everything

[01maciel]

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Isn't it? I am not a big fan of artificial frames around the photo or other alienation. But...., this photo is an experiment to turn a dull photo into an interesting one. Does it work, what do you think?

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DNG raw development file with ART, saved as 16-bit TIF and added the photo frame in Gimp.

Summicron-M 1:2/50 Type 4

 

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[verwackelt]

For my taste, the blurry area outside the frame is unnecessary, too large in comparison to the picture and hence distracts too much from the picture.
But if you ask 10 people about it, you will get 12 answers ...
Good picture btw. (Inside the frame )

 

Edited December 12, 2020 by verwackelt

[Gerbs]

For me, the bright white border with the drop shadow and the larger background makes the whole "matted" photograph pop way out, but the 3 dimensional popping actually takes away from whatever is inside the mat... your photo. It is too strong, too overpowering. If you're experimenting, I'd suggest then a very small inner border that has a different shade on each side, to replicate how a beveled mat might look, and also slightly tone down the brilliance of the white, and also help define all the edges of the photo. It could help separate the photo from the mat at the top and right where the tonality is near-white. It would give you a bit of a 3D illusion, but with much more subtlety.

Otherwise, if you want to experiment with a border, I'd try a much larger border, to give the viewer's eyes a resting area, just like with an actual mat in a frame. Maybe even try a wider border at the bottom. Then try it with wider on the two sides, and narrower top and bottom, and see how that affects the photo.

Because of the strength of the white in the photo, it might be worth trying a light gray border, to see if that helps. Even try a black border.

To my eye the first thing I would try is on the photo itself, cropping a significant amount off the top, 1/5 to 1/4 or so of the vertical dimension. Making the image more of a tunnel into space, strengthening the depth, focusing more on the depth.

Go for it, go wild. Try a bright red frame!

[Guest]

vor 5 Stunden schrieb 01maciel:

...., this photo is an experiment to turn a dull photo into an interesting one. Does it work, what do you think? ..

You call your photo "dull" yourself.
What would you like to show us, a bumpy road of cobblestones next to the time on a factory clock?
No matter, experienced viewers will always rate a picture according to its content, regardless of what is offered around it, could it be bizarre or baroque frames, cocktail snacks, aperitifs or show girls.😎
P.S.: The only reason why one should put frames around pictures here on the forum is to get a separation and distance to other elements of the website, especially advertising.

[david strachan]

Frames are important, IMO.  There is a need to stop bleeding edges...for example whites in a picture running off into the white background. I never post without a subtle frame.

However a frame or matt, must always compliment the picture.  In this case i feel the picture is overpowered by the frame and background ( and could probably do with a bit more editing to make it more interesting and give some "pop").

...

[LocalHero1953]

A dull photo is a dull photo and not worth spending time on* (silk purses, sow's ear etc etc). This isn't a comment on your photo.
IMO if you printed this as it is and hung it on a wall, the fake 3D look would immediately detract from the image. Using the fake 3D frame to a digital display, as in the forum, makes me look with brief curiosity at the frame, not the image.

 

* I have often found myself spending time post processing mages I really want to like, for one reason or another. After a while (usually too long), I realise that the whole exercise is pointless and the original image was not good enough. I delete it, put it down to experience, or go out and reshoot it. The important thing for me is to work out WHY my image was rubbish and avoid that mistake next time. 

[01maciel]

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Thanks for all the feedback I was asking for. Agreed, the blurry frame is way too large. After a day or so the outer frame looks quite rediculous to me. Can't remember why I decided to stick that frame around the white frame.

vor 48 Minuten schrieb LocalHero1953:

The important thing for me is to work out WHY my image was rubbish and avoid that mistake next time. 

IMHO this is the key point. Sort of root cause analysis. Nowadays, digital photography means one can take a myriad of photos. Difficult enough to classify the photos later on into 'OK' and 'dull'.

vor 7 Stunden schrieb mnutzer:

What would you like to show us, a bumpy road of cobblestones next to the time on a factory clock?

Good point. Sometimes there is content in a photo, sometimes it looks just like a nice photo with bright colours, nice people. It depends on what the photographer wants to show.

This photo above actually has some content, even a mini story, at least in my mind: The old road which is in need of repair apparently, an empty builing, the clock- could be a symbol of standstill (in fact the clock didn't work anymore and the time is not accurate). Finally and to underline the story is the old lady left hand side with a walking aid pointing to the big picture: the leftovers, the residual population of an entire region. - I guess, I was not able to show this mini story in the photo since you were asking for content. Which in turn means I still have to improve my photography skills:) One more reason to go out and get some more practice.

I'll try to create a new version of the photo shortly. I look forward to seeing this prensentation improved and finalized.

[LocalHero1953]

2 minutes ago, 01maciel said:

Thanks for all the feedback I was asking for. Agreed, the blurry frame is way too large. After a day or so the outer frame looks quite rediculous to me. Can't remember why I decided to stick that frame around the white frame.

IMHO this is the key point. Sort of root cause analysis. Nowadays, digital photography means one can take a myriad of photos. Difficult enough to classify the photos later on into 'OK' and 'dull'.

Good point. Sometimes there is content in a photo, sometimes it looks just like a nice photo with bright colours, nice people. It depends on what the photographer wants to show.

This photo above actually has some content, even a mini story, at least in my mind: The old road which is in need of repair apparently, an empty builing, the clock- could be a symbol of standstill (in fact the clock didn't work anymore and the time is not accurate). Finally and to underline the story is the old lady left hand side with a walking aid pointing to the big picture: the leftovers, the residual population of an entire region. - I guess, I was not able to show this mini story in the photo since you were asking for content. Which in turn means I still have to improve my photography skills:) One more reason to go out and get some more practice.

I'll try to create a new version of the photo shortly. I look forward to seeing this prensentation improved and finalized.

It's always worth asking someone else what they see in the picture. If they don't see what you wanted to show, then either they have no observational talent or your image is not as clear as it is in your head🙂.

TBH I didn't even notice the old lady in the shadows; perhaps I was distracted by the frame😉. To be fair, it might look clearer in a larger presentation format than my screen.

[01maciel]

Try #2

1. Outer frame is much smaller now
2. Scene appears more clean and crisp
3. Brightness improved on the left hand side (old lady)
4. Subtle signature in bottom right corner

Feedback, suggestions and comments are welcome.

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[verwackelt]

I stay with my opinion, that the outer blurry frame is distracting from the main picture.
perhaps try it with skipping the outer picture and keep a white background with a very slightly shadow from the picture…

[LocalHero1953]

15 minutes ago, verwackelt said:

I stay with my opinion, that the outer blurry frame is distracting from the main picture.
perhaps try it with skipping the outer picture and keep a white background with a very slightly shadow from the picture…

+1

To my mind, the problem is with the original picture. The story the OP described is entirely reasonable and valid, but (again to my mind) the scene lighting is distracting. If it was evenly lit without bright sunlight and dark shadow, the story would be much clearer. As it is, the eye is drawn to the bright area on the right and in the distance, while the proper alignment in the picture is a line of tension between the figure, the building, and the empty cobbles in between.

My apologies for commenting on the image when you asked about the framing, but it just reinforces my opinion that a frame can enhance but not repair an image.

Edited December 13, 2020 by LocalHero1953

[verwackelt]

You are right, that a frame should not become more important than the picture.
I understood the question in a more general way for different pictures and not especially for this picture.
If he wants a way of presentation for different pictures, it should not differ so much, should be more subtle and must work for dark or bright pictures too…

[Gerbs]

If you want the white mat then I think your subtle signature is quite nice and tasteful. I think the gray outside is not contributing anything worthwhile, a 2 pixel black border to separate your mat from the white forum background would be enough, as I see it.

I like that you toned down the overexposed sky and building face, although the whole photo still seems blown out too much, again, to my eye. My eye also keeps getting stuck on the white sign.