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04/24/2005 04:31:26 PM · #1 |
I tried doing a search, but couldn't find anything, so I hope I'm not repeating a question ...
Basically, I find that some people don't like borders, and I think they vote down for it. I think a border can enhance the photo against the gray background of dpc, and I like them. However, a good part of my comments on my recent challenges have commented on the dislike of my borders. I do a simple 4 pxl white and 4 pxl black, nothing fancy or anything. Can I get some feedback on this?
Thanks!
Tara
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04/24/2005 04:38:29 PM · #2 |
| I think you're right, adding a border can be risky, especially if it is anything more than a single white or black one. It really depends on how much you want to try to please the voters, or if you want to submit something the way you think it looks best. My last entry (Abandoned Buildings) got tons of comments about the border, and the tally after it was done was something like 8 voters didn't like the border, 6 did, and there were one or two that said they couldn't decide. |
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04/24/2005 04:44:30 PM · #3 |
| Adding borders hasn't kept good photos out of the winning circle. If you don't use an obnoixious color, or style, there's no problem with adding borders. I think they can help the impact of certain photos, especially if they shouldn't be mounted on a color like this website is in. |
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04/24/2005 04:51:14 PM · #4 |
I tend to like plain black or plain white borders. The plain white ones tend to remind me of the way photos used to look when you had them developed years ago. (Why do they always do full frame now? I still request the white borders on mine.) A white border feels nostalgic to me, and reminds me the photo is now a memory captured, a moment in time frozen and preserved.
Black borders often look really classy to me, like a fine art print already matted and framed. Sometimes completely mundane pictures take on new impact in a black border (imho).
But the colored ones, or anything else that draws the eye away from the photo out to the edge of the frame is doing more harm than good. |
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04/24/2005 04:55:01 PM · #5 |
I am one of those people who tend to dislike borders, but that is a general rule only, and full of exceptions.
In my opinion a good photo can stand on its own and doesn't NEED a border, certainly not anything beyond the most basic. The time for a "border" is the frame that I choose to display a print in.
If a border attracts my attention away from the photo for more than ONE fleeting look, then it should most definitely not be there.
While voting, I might mention in the comment that I don't like the border, but I try not to let that change my vote (unless it is really huge and/or hideous), however I am human and I guess if I see something I don't like, it MUST somehow influence my decision.
As others have said - keep it simple and/or decide if you want to do it YOUR way or the safe way. |
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04/24/2005 05:25:15 PM · #6 |
I also tend to dislike borders, but with (what I feel is) good reason. It seems like a lot of people don't have a good concept of what is a good border and when one should be added. In my opinion, a good border is one that serves the photo. It adds to it, sets off certain colors, something like that. A bad border is one that is distracting or one that is added just for the sake of having a border. If a border adds to a photo, I'm all for it. If it doesn't add to the photo, but doesn't take away from it, I wont vote it down, but I don't see the point of adding it. If it's distracting, ugly, or otherwise takes away from the photo, then I will vote it down. I try to remember to leave a comment explaining that when I do since I find myself doing it a fair amount. I really have seen very few borders on this site that actually add to a photo. There are quite a few that don't add or subtract. And there are a ton that I find distracting. I think a lot of people are too quick to add a border, just because they can, and don't really think about it's effect on their photo.
I would say that even if your border is simple, you really need to think about how it effects your image. 4 pixels each of black and white will effect every image differently, so it's very risky to automatically add it to every photo. I'm not saying it will be bad every time, but rather that just because it's simple doesn't mean it cant detract from your image.
A lot of people seem to feel they need a border because when you frame a photo you matt it. But a digital border is not the same as matting. Matting is three dimensional and has texture. A digital border is just a block of color. It doesn't have the same effect. Also, when matting, the color and size of matt are carefully chosen. Borders should be chosen just as carefully. I think it's risky to fall into a pattern of adding identical borders to all your photos. It may help some, but it will hurt others.
Message edited by author 2005-04-24 17:25:44. |
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04/24/2005 05:34:28 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by kearock:
Borders should be chosen just as carefully. I think it's risky to fall into a pattern of adding identical borders to all your photos. It may help some, but it will hurt others. |
I really appreciate your input. You guys have been a real help. I have found myself adding the same border regardless. For the People Challenge, I was practicing with borders, and man do I regret it. I know I've been voted down for it, because it does distract from the photo. I'll just have to live with that, tho. It ended up being gradient, and I didn't fix it, thinking it wouldn't make a difference. But as I started to look at it more (after voting started, of course), I agree that it was distracting. So I know not to do that again! :)
I'll be more choosy on what I "border" from now on! :)
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04/24/2005 05:44:22 PM · #8 |
I've spent around $500 on custom framing on both photo's and a few paintings that I gave as gifts just within this year.
It's so amazing what a great frame will do to a picture. I also believe it's an art in itself choosing a perfect frame for a particular piece.
I love borders, in any way shape or form, if they work. They're an integral part to the art form and they can really enhance an image...so why not?
They place as well in the voting as anything else. Plenty of top winners have them.
Message edited by author 2005-04-24 17:45:07.
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