What's up with the framing? - DPChallenge Forums

09/17/2003 07:34:29 PM · #1

I notice that some of the framing lately is really distracting. I don't give lower points for bad framing. I'll mention it in the comments section of the photo. Just wanted to hear others' thought on this.

ScottK

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

09/17/2003 08:02:32 PM · #2

At the risk of forcing you to single someone out, what constitutes a bad frame to you? I'm just curious, because I've just started playing with frames/borders lately, and I'm not always sure how far is too far. I generally try to go with simple, if at all.

09/17/2003 08:31:28 PM · #3

Hope you don't mind that I use some of your framed pictures.

Originally posted by ScottK:

Shy The green excellently frames the main subject.The background is comprised mostly of purples in the background and the subject really pops out of the shot. The white accent is a nice touch.

Round Perspective The teal of the frame distracts from the roundedness of the main subject. It gives a more sense of squareness then roundedness. If the background doesn't have enough contrast with the subject a similar colored frame doesn't seem to look good.

Bug on Stem Black framing is too bold and intricate framing distracts from the beautiful focus of the bug. The bug itself is really detailed and your eyes are drawn to the frame.

If anyone else have opinions please post.

Message edited by author 2003-09-17 20:35:22.

MarkS224

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

09/17/2003 08:47:54 PM · #4

As a former film photographer I am not a fan of frames there are times when I feel a shot will benifit, ie in a totally full frame where the picture actually overflows the frame.Thee it helps to limit my eyes to the actual contents. I find way to often at least here that folks are using borders as decoration, personally if I have a photo that I want to display I would Prefer to have it matted and framed professionally.
This does more than decorate it it protects the photograph from the glass and gives it some added dimension. I feel that many here use the technique of framing to give an "artsy" quality to there print.

Hey but to each their own, I never deduct points because of borders unless it distracts from the picture, but in those cases I will.

ScottK

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

09/17/2003 09:35:39 PM · #5

Originally posted by faidoi:

Hope you don't mind that I use some of your framed pictures.

Not at all. I almost suggested it, but didn't know if I had enough to be worth considering.

Originally posted by faidoi:

Thanks. No rebuttal on the roundness one - that was my first attempt (that I recall) at a frame. Initially I tried to be clever and figure out a way to do a round frame. I couldn't make it work right, and this one was a last ditch effort. I thought without a frame, the background looked too... something? :)

The Bug On Stem was my orignal frame for the whole series. Then my wife and daughter said the same thing - too bold! After a lot of fiddling I came up with the submitted one. Thanks for the compliment - that's a great reward for my time.

Mark: I agree. If I were going to sell any of my shots or print them out for myself, I would use an unframed copy. Like you say, a matte serves the purpose much better. What I see a frame on a digital shot as doing is taking the place of a matte, and giving some sense of dimension to the picture. I'm just not always sure what is enough and what is too much.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

09/18/2003 12:21:06 AM · #6

Are all frames in post-production software legal in the challenges?

dsidwell

Canon EOS-5D

09/18/2003 12:26:27 AM · #7

For me, I add a border (frame) so the image is set off from the neutral gray of the screen. I use black when I can, though I do have a few that were experimental.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

09/18/2003 12:39:30 AM · #8

Originally posted by faidoi:

Are all frames in post-production software legal in the challenges?

Not exactly. You can't add an image or text. You can't use layers. You can do almost anything else.

ScottK

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

09/18/2003 01:58:00 AM · #9

I read a post by someone (Mavrik?) that suggested using the color of your subject in the border - which seemed to work well on my Shy picture, though not so well on the round one. Also, it seems maybe thinner works better than thick.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

09/18/2003 02:04:31 AM · #10

Did framing choice effect this picture or this one? Did they receive lower scores because of them?

Message edited by author 2003-09-18 02:05:52.

byetko

Canon EOS-5D

09/18/2003 02:17:19 AM · #11

I almost always go with a .1" white border and then a 1" black border to separate my image from the bright grey background.

ChrisW123

Canon EOS-1000D Rebel XS

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

09/18/2003 02:28:01 AM · #12

Originally posted by faidoi:

Did framing choice effect this picture or this one? Did they receive lower scores because of them?

I think the first border is the worst. The 2nd isn't as bad. You basically have to first look at the image (not the border) and ask yourself why is there such a big obnoxious border in this picture? Is it because the pic itself is too small, or uninteresting, and that's why there's such a big "distraction" there, or does the border enhance the image?

Unless the border enhances and ALREADY GOOD picture, I always subtract vote points for it.

jonpink

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2

09/18/2003 06:12:13 AM · #13

Originally posted by ChrisW123:

[quote=faidoi]Did framing choice effect this picture or this one? Did they receive lower scores because of them?

Yes in a word, they are both awful (don't like being rude but that is my honest opinion). And I marked the second down becasue of it. The frame is as important as the photograph being that it effects the overall image.

sonnyh

Canon EOS-7D

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G DX VR

09/18/2003 10:25:50 AM · #14

Did framing choice effect this picture or this one? Did they receive lower scores because of them?
text

I think the first one is way too much. However, I disagree that the second one is horrible. I think it adds to the picture by drawing your eye into the center where the picture is. Now you may not like the photo and that is another discussion but I think the frame was used well in this shot.

myqyl

Nikon D3100

09/18/2003 10:46:45 AM · #15

Is anyone working on a "Frames for Dummies" write-up for the tutorial section? I'd do it, but since I'm clueless when it comes to frames, I think it'd be better to wait for someone with a clue to do it :)

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

09/18/2003 03:31:44 PM · #16

Originally posted by myqyl:

All the basic/best techniques have been written up in forum posts many times over. It is really just a matter of increasing the canvas size by a few pixels on each side.

Are there some particular looks/effects you want to emulate besides that?

Message edited by author 2003-09-18 15:32:17.

myqyl

Nikon D3100

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G DX VR

09/18/2003 03:49:16 PM · #17

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Are there some particular looks/effects you want to emulate besides that?

I'd be interested in a few examples of when a frame is a good or bad idea and why... When to use multi-colors... How to do that dropped shadow thing... Irregular shapes... Should it always be even on all sides?... How to best determine a good color...

I've put frames on about 3 of my entries so far and have gotten comments ranging from "great frame" to "frame distracts". I've been hesitant to frame anymore until I learn why some work and some don't... This thread has answered a lot of my questions.