Welcome Stone

[swmdrayfan]

Got this about an hour ago. It is the Welcome stone under a crabapple tree in the front yard. Soft borders added in MS Dig Image Pro 9. Thoughts?
John

[payn817]

John, it may just be a personal thing, but these frames seem to almost always take away from photos.

[swmdrayfan]

John, it may just be a personal thing, but these frames seem to almost always take away from photos.

Arrrrrggh...

Ok, you guys win............no more frames. ;)

[julsoph]

Sorry to make you argh again, John...but I like the pic a lot better without the framing too.
I like the clarity of the stone against the blurry tree and house in the background...

Emily

[swmdrayfan]

Sorry to make you argh again, John...but I like the pic a lot better without the framing too.
I like the clarity of the stone against the blurry tree and house in the background...

Emily

Emily.............I should remember this is a photo critique forum and not a frame critique forum. I think sometimes the creative instinct grabs hold of me a little too much.;) I have to try to refrain from overdoing, and leave the 'artsy/craftsy' stuff for the right forums....(where's D when I really need her?)

[Lava Lamp]

Got this about an hour ago. It is the Welcome stone under a crabapple tree in the front yard. Soft borders added in MS Dig Image Pro 9. Thoughts?
John

So did you put a spare key under there?

Nice product-type photo, although you wouldn't hang it on the wall on its own, I woudl think.

[swmdrayfan]

So did you put a spare key under there?

Nice product-type photo, although you wouldn't hang it on the wall on its own, I woudl think.

Nope, no spare key...it's somewhere else in the yard...lol.
I took this picture originally to practice DOF and close-up shots, working with various settings. There I was in the front yard, spread-eagled on the lawn. I used an old vinyl tablecloth to lie on so I wouldn't get dirty or wet. Something to remember--so I put it in the car for future use;) . I don't know about blowing the picture up to 8x10 or larger, but I can see printing out a 4x6, framing it, and hanging it up inside the front door as a greeting.

[dbutler]

Ah! The art of Over The Top and Over Done lies in the image itself. Framing cannot count! LOL.

I like the unframed version as well. It's a welcome sign, with a house in the background. How fitting is that?! Since it's your stone and your house, grab it and do the same experiment but see if you can't do it with the door in the frame as well. Still with the shallow DOF though.

Oh-and-by-the-way: Great exposure and DOF. The lighting is direct enough to give it clarity but angled enough to allow for some shadowing in the letters, giving it more texture and depth.

[swmdrayfan]

Ah! The art of Over The Top and Over Done lies in the image itself. Framing cannot count! LOL.

I like the unframed version as well. It's a welcome sign, with a house in the background. How fitting is that?! Since it's your stone and your house, grab it and do the same experiment but see if you can't do it with the door in the frame as well. Still with the shallow DOF though.

Oh-and-by-the-way: Great exposure and DOF. The lighting is direct enough to give it clarity but angled enough to allow for some shadowing in the letters, giving it more texture and depth.

D........I've been waiting for you! Actually, the house in the background is the neighbor's. What I'm going to do is reshoot with my house in the background. I like your idea about the door.

[gahspidy]

John, I also like the image without the framing, but thats not to say I don't care for the creative editing. I liked alot of your past posted works with the frames in postcard style design. I think your edge-softening frame would work in this, but just leave more of the image in, and only frame the very edges.

[swmdrayfan]

John, I also like the image without the framing, but thats not to say I don't care for the creative editing. I liked alot of your past posted works with the frames in postcard style design. I think your edge-softening frame would work in this, but just leave more of the image in, and only frame the very edges.

I think we could start a whole thread on frames and framing. Lots of people like their pictures 'no frills', while others enjoy the mats and frames. It helps to know what people react to. I'm always looking for ways to add some creativity to my pictures.......I see them so much, they tend to get old.;)

[julsoph]

Emily.............I should remember this is a photo critique forum and not a frame critique forum. I think sometimes the creative instinct grabs hold of me a little too much.;) I have to try to refrain from overdoing, and leave the 'artsy/craftsy' stuff for the right forums....(where's D when I really need her?)

Hey, there's nothing at all wrong with creative instinct here. What you said about getting feedback is very true, you need to know what works for different people, etc. I like Gary's idea of sticking with the framing you used, but including more of the photo...I think that's what you were missing...to me, with the frame, it was the equivalent of cropping something way too close, know what I mean?
I also like D's ideas re: the door and such...I hope you'll post your next version of this!

Emily
(Speaking of overdoing, I seem to way overdo the smiley usage here...haha! )

[swmdrayfan]

A reworked version. This, I think, is better.

[gahspidy]

Yes, John. i like this as it is now. Some may feel the shutter of the house in the bg is lost , and want it evident ( you can't please all the people all the time), but regardless, this is very good.

[dbutler]

Oh, I love frames!! Check out my website: www.deesplaceonline.com (I'm re-doing my shots so it's a work in progress; don't expect much; only 100% working link is my boys {we aren't blessed with children so they are my substitutes} and 50% working on the Italy image {means you can see the thumbnails but still none of the larger images}). But first I want my picture to stand on its own (like yours does without the framing). Once I have that, then I will add to it. It's a lot like cosmetics to me: I look pretty good with makeup on, but most of us do. The true test is whether we can walk out of the house WITHOUT makeup and still turn heads (alas, no, not I!). I put frames on tons of stuff though.

I like the subtler frame you've chosen. Gary's right. You just need to show more of what you had behind it.