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01/19/2008 12:44:46 AM · #1 |
I'm curious how most folks view added digital frames when voting on challenge entries (this is unrelated to the current "framing" challenge).
I have been looking at quite a few entries lately where the first thing I see is the frame, not the "photo". My normal first step when viewing a photo (during the voting process) is to guess how I would view and compose the scene as presented through the viewfinder if I were taking the picture myself.
I never "imagine" a frame when taking a photograph. So, during voting, when I see a framed image pop up, it is disconcerting. I'm not voting on what I want to see hung in a museum or on my wall, I'm voting on my impression. Framing an entry ruins the illusion. There is plenty of time for framing after the ribbon is awarded.
Am I alone?
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01/19/2008 12:49:10 AM · #2 |
To me borders = bad. Bad borders = horrendous.
As with every rule there are exceptions. |
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01/19/2008 01:10:26 AM · #3 |
There is a risk with everything here... someone isn't going to like it, no matter what. So, do what ya want.
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01/19/2008 01:12:39 AM · #4 |
I am generally not a border fan, but lately I'm seeing some subtle, tasteful, minimal borders that seem to "dress up" an image. To me a good border on a photo is like having freshly shined shoes.
A friend of mine was describing a very young employ saying, "You're supposed to have shiney shoes and dull slacks, and he keeps getting it backwards." A bad border is as noticeable as "getting it backwards." |
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01/19/2008 01:13:56 AM · #5 |
Most of the time, I don't like them. I've seen outstanding pics deserving of a high score (and an expensive real frame after printing), but the digital frame does take away from the image in these contests. Definitely IMO! |
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01/19/2008 01:16:50 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by Dr.Confuser: I am generally not a border fan, but lately I'm seeing some subtle, tasteful, minimal borders that seem to "dress up" an image. To me a good border on a photo is like having freshly shined shoes.
A friend of mine was describing a very young employ saying, "You're supposed to have shiney shoes and dull slacks, and he keeps getting it backwards." A bad border is as noticeable as "getting it backwards." |
I'll second this. I too have noticed several photos with small accenting "frames". Personally I think that with a little common sense you can dress up an image with a little trim. Just my $.02 - FWIW
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01/19/2008 01:17:13 AM · #7 |
You'd see the borders go away if you could set the background color to the page. Some photos simply look better in white or black rather than what we have now. |
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01/19/2008 01:27:54 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by Dr.Confuser: I am generally not a border fan, but lately I'm seeing some subtle, tasteful, minimal borders that seem to "dress up" an image. To me a good border on a photo is like having freshly shined shoes.
A friend of mine was describing a very young employ saying, "You're supposed to have shiney shoes and dull slacks, and he keeps getting it backwards." A bad border is as noticeable as "getting it backwards." |
I'm all for subtle, tasteful, and minimal as well. It should almost be a thoughtful afterthought. |
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01/19/2008 02:36:25 AM · #9 |
FWIW?
5 of the 9 current ribbon winners ALL HAVE BORDERS...
I know some don't care for "borders" but it appears that the majority of the voters do not mind so much.
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01/19/2008 02:53:00 AM · #10 |
I've always been of the opinion that having a subtle border is much better than not having one. It tells the voter that it's a finished product. It also suggests that the photo is worthy to be framed even if it's not. I always try and use a border whenever possible. The only time I don't is when I feel it harms the negative space in the composition. |
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01/19/2008 03:50:11 AM · #11 |
Some photos just draw your eye right on out of the shot. On those, I hate suddenly coming up against a "wall". Some just don't look quite finished without a small, tasteful border and some, like the timelapse snowboarder, are just MADE by the border.
One size does not fit all! :) |
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01/19/2008 04:30:57 AM · #12 |
I agree with Yanko - please let us set the background colour! Or have it black for everyone. |
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01/19/2008 06:39:03 AM · #13 |
So what do you think about a border like this? I got some comments from people saying they didn't like it but it scored fairly high. I have a hard time deciding on a border too. When there are only a couple colors in the photo I tend to want to add color on the border. I have to fight with myself.
By the way...I just remembered. This is the Kodak Picture of the Day today!
Message edited by author 2008-01-19 06:50:51. |
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01/19/2008 06:41:32 AM · #14 |
Personally, I think I'd like it better without. I think it would accentuate the impression of "wide open spaces" that the scene evokes. :) |
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01/19/2008 12:56:45 PM · #15 |
About 10 entries ago or so I started adding borders to my entries. Not all borders work for me though. I have some early entries with borders that I just can't understand why I chose the border I did. The kind I use now is the same on any image I enter here. I make a 5 pixel wide selection along the edge of the photo and then decrease the lightness using hue/saturation to -61. Occasionally though I will go all black. So far I have been really pleased with this method. |
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01/19/2008 03:10:35 PM · #16 |
IMO, borders (and vignetting, for that matter) are best done when done with subtlety. If the viewer can notice it, or if it "jumps out" then it may be too much.
I saw another shot on another site this morning. It was absolutely beautiful. However the framing was not. While it wasn't a garrish frame, it just didn't "fit." The picture's subject was very delicate looking and the frame was very bold. It really detracted from the image.
When I'm voting, I will sometimes comment on the border, but will rarely (the case above would be one of the rarelys) vote down on it. |
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01/19/2008 08:11:39 PM · #17 |
So I guess I can assume that when in doubt, don't add a frame? I've heard no one say that they vote an image higher because of framing, regardless of how well done, but a bad frame can spoil a good image.
No one has indicated that a great frame can help a bad photo.
Venom's noting that 5/9 of the images on the front page are framed, doesn't prove that frames are the reason they're successful. It is circumstantial evidence at best. I took a random sampling of pages in each of the contests that are now represented on the front page and there were framed images in varying proportions in all of them.
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01/19/2008 08:18:06 PM · #18 |
Originally posted by karmat: IMO, borders (and vignetting, for that matter) are best done when done with subtlety. |
I agree completely! ;-)
I border all my prints, mostly because I want to add captions, and they are rarely cropped to standard print sizes. But I've found I rarely border entries anymore, unless they really need to be separated from the gray background by more than the standard one-pixel black line, or they'd be too small to qualify without it. |
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01/19/2008 08:42:03 PM · #19 |
I used to put borders on everything. Now I put borders on nothing. Sometimes they're just a phase. As others have noted, when used subtley and with restraint, they won't hurt your challenge images. |
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01/19/2008 08:43:11 PM · #20 |
Sorry to ask a faq (and I've read the rules but I can't find anything) - is the border size to be included in the max 640 or 720 image size, or does the image itself have to be within those sizes and a reasonable border in addition?
I've never really framed any of my shots but I think I should give it a go but don't want to DQ a good image just for the border.
Thanks
N |
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01/19/2008 08:44:16 PM · #21 |
The entry size includes any border you add. |
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