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07/29/2011 04:02:27 PM · #1 |
For years I've wanted to put some photos up at the local county fair, but I always miss the registration date. This year I saw a commercial about it, and I've still got two whole days to register! The photos themselves don't have to be brought in until August 14th. I'd really like to get a few photos printed up and actually submit this year. My problem is, I've never done it, and I need help.
DISPLAY REQUIREMENTS:
Minimum size: 5" x 7" mounted on 8" x 10" matte board. Maximum size: 16" x 20" mounted on 16" x 20" matte board. Use âdouble sticky foam tapeâ to attach window matte to the back matte. Mattes are recommended for protection and presentation. NO FRAMES, NO GLASS. Mats are appropriate, but not mandatory. Flush mounting of prints is also an attractive method of presentation. Prints show best if they are permanently attached to the mount board by means of mounting tape.
I would assume that just like DPC the bigger the better? Is flush mounting like doing poster board? What's the reusability of going the poster board route? If I was thinking of framing the image later should I just go with a matte? All the poster boards that I usually see are all bumpy and wavy. Is that typical or just crappy printing? I was thinking of going through Costco. Since the photos don't have to be brought in until August 14th I could order them from somewhere too though.
I don't want to put a whole lot of money into this, but I want to do it right. The first place prize from the fair is a whopping $5, but the local businesses seem to be offering good prizes for their choice of winners. I suppose that's probably typical. |
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07/29/2011 04:32:52 PM · #2 |
I think Costco's "Poster Board" prints are made using an inkjet process, while the "regular" prints are photographic on Fuji paper. If you plan to frame the picture later, then I'd make prints and mat them. It will be a lot more expensive, but if you're eventually going to frame them you'll have to spend that money at some point.
I was recently able to get some images into the Marin County Fair -- my print entries were a 12x18 and a 12x36 panoramic from Costco, total cost under $10. |
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07/29/2011 06:40:22 PM · #3 |
If you are going to use Costco prints, think of them as disposable and make the best possible presentation. Just like hitting the 800 pixel mark here, bigger is better, as long as it is not showing off artifacts.
Print them 16 x 20 and use spray mount to adhere them to Foamcore board. Foamcore is cheap, light, easy to cut and is almost perfecly flat. The spray mount can be bought in various types and some advertise themselves as being less prone to interaction with the photograph than others, but I just use 3M 77 and assume that the image will discolor after a few years. I do have some around the house that look fine years later, but it is far from archival standard, but it will look great for the few weeks of the fair, and it is cheap. Why hamper you chances of winning so you can reuse and frame a print that costs five bucks? |
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07/29/2011 08:03:25 PM · #4 |
Our local fair only wants matted 8x10 prints which I have either had Costco or WHCC print or printed up myself. I like WHCC best and they were VERY fast with the turnaround. WHCC will print up 5 free 8x10 test prints for you when you sign up with them as a client. I don't know if they want you to just go and order the larger prints without doing the test prints first though. I used the free test prints last year and will order from them this year. I bought mats from Michael's and WalMart and our local frame shop will also prepare fair entries, although I've never used them. Foam core worked out well for mounting and you can order pre-cut ones on-line which have nice smooth edges (my cuts weren't quite so nice :-] ) I've only used mounting tape but the spray adhesive sounds better. Our fair wanted the prints wrapped in clear wrap to protect the print and I used nice clear presentation bags which I ordered on-line also.
I've been fortunate to get Best of Show for the last 2 years and we win a big $7 for 1st, $4 for second and $3 for 3rd. Last year I won a whopping $27! :-) I'm strictly a hobbyist so it's a lot of fun for me to enter our local fair.
Good Luck with your entries!
Message edited by author 2011-07-29 20:04:15. |
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07/29/2011 08:58:35 PM · #5 |
| I bought some mats at walmart and scotch taped them to the prints for the county fair. When it was over I carefully removed the tape and saved the mats for the next years fair. I had 8 x 10 prints. It wasn't fancy but I won lots of ribbons. Good luck! |
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07/29/2011 09:19:11 PM · #6 |
Our fair starts tomorrow, but the photography entries aren't due until Tuesday morning. I like the idea of just mats or foam core mounts, along with a standard size. Our fair requires frames with wire for hanging, but space limitations makes displaying large prints difficult. Photography entries have skyrocketed in the last few years. There were two (2) entries about 7 years ago (in the open Fair...4-H kids entered more than that), but last year we had over 160 entries. (We are a small county in rural Colorado). I am hoping we have more this year.
What categories do your fairs use? Ours are very outdated, separating "color" and "digital" - meaning you can't enter digital if you use film, but you can enter color if you use digital :) There are sub-categories as well, but it sure could use a complete overhaul. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. |
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07/31/2011 05:43:27 PM · #7 |
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08/23/2011 06:54:45 AM · #8 |
I opted for the matte route, so if I do this again in the future I can just reuse them. I went down to Michael's and bought 3 cheap mattes and just taped my photos in them. I entered these photos below and actually won stuff!
Won nothing. Some day someone will appreciate this photo!
Entered a lighter version of this and got 2nd place in the category.
This got honorable mention and two prizes from local businesses.
- $25 from a local photo equipment shop.
- Gift certificate entitling me to a full-day photography workshop on the Oregon coast with this guy. It looks like that's got a value of $125.
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08/23/2011 01:10:37 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by aliqui:
I entered these photos below and actually won stuff! |
Congratulations! A workshop on the coast sounds like fun ... |
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08/23/2011 03:51:08 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by aliqui:
I entered these photos below and actually won stuff! |
Congratulations! A workshop on the coast sounds like fun ... |
Thanks!
I'm actually thinking of asking him if he'd be willing to trade that for some help tips on how he's gotten himself established and making money locally. I'm not sure if he'd take that as an insult or a threat to his business though. I might give it away too. There's a couple people I work with that I feel would greatly benefit from a hands-on workshop. I just don't think I'd get as much out of it as his typical client. His private sessions are actually $250. I don't know if the certificate is for a private session or in one of his groups which is $125. The other option I was thinking about was to pay a little extra to take my husband with me, essentially giving the workshop to my husband. That way my husband can ask HIM questions rather than me while I'm trying to take my own photos, heh. |
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08/23/2011 04:23:20 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by aliqui:
... essentially giving the workshop to my husband. That way my husband can ask HIM questions rather than me while I'm trying to take my own photos, heh. |
Don't pay extra -- just let HIM attend the workshop while you wander off on your own ... ;-) |
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08/24/2011 06:38:50 AM · #12 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by aliqui:
... essentially giving the workshop to my husband. That way my husband can ask HIM questions rather than me while I'm trying to take my own photos, heh. |
Don't pay extra -- just let HIM attend the workshop while you wander off on your own ... ;-) |
That's not a bad idea either. =) |
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