Poll

Which of the below "feels" best to you, with reference to looking at a photo?

Heavy Enhancement
0 (0%)
Medium / Light Enhancement
7 (53.8%)
No Enhancement
3 (23.1%)
The image is what matters most.
3 (23.1%)

Total Members Voted: 13

Voting closed: July 17, 2004, 10:50:22 am

Author Topic: Topic On Image Composition, Border, Fonts Etc.  (Read 1982 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Fineus

  • ...But you *have* heard of me.
  • Administrator
  • 212
    • Hard Light Productions
Topic On Image Composition, Border, Fonts Etc.
Hello all,

I'd like to hear what people think about the composition of photographs... that is not the subject of the photos - but whether other things such as borders, text (in the border or on the image itself), use of different fonts, signitures and watermarks are a good idea. To do this I've created a poll as well as this text to help explain.

The poll is divided into 4 sections, please read the text below before voting:

Heavy Enhancement
The whole nine yards. Border... text.. signiture and watermark along with anything else.

Medium/Light Enhancement
Perhaps a border and title text along with the name of the creator (or a signiture). Not "in your face" but fairly minimalist instead. Or a moderation between this and "heavy enhancement".

No Enhancement
The image alone... no text, border or other alterations of that nature.

It's the image that matters most.
I'd rather people didn't use this option if they can help it - as it doesn't really help with the topic at hand. I already feel that the subject is what matters to an image - but most polls have a "get out" clause and this is it.

With this in mind, what do people think? What personally works best for them... and if there's an exception to the rule - state reasons. As much detail as possible would be welcome here.

Many thanks :devil:

 

Offline Thorn

  • Drunk on the east coast.
  • 210
  • What is this? I don't even...
Topic On Image Composition, Border, Fonts Etc.
Medium/Light, leaning more towards light, usually looks best IMHO.
Heavy, while when done properly can look good, usually just ends up looking tacky.
No Enhancement, well, who made it? What is it called?

 

Offline Setekh

  • Jar of Clay
  • 215
    • Hard Light Productions
Topic On Image Composition, Border, Fonts Etc.
Apologies, but in all my experiences, I still have to go for the "get out" clause. ;) That's because I truly believe there is a place for each of these, depending on the photograph. Sometimes a photo really and truly speaks for itself, in which case anything else actually detracts from the image. In other places, you can find the photograph is truly enriched by words that explain more of what is the reasoning and occasion behind such an image. I'm not really a fan of most of the 'enhancements' you mention when taking and presenting my own photographs, but that's usually for practicality's sake - I can't afford proper borders, frames, watermarking and the like. I do usually like to say something about my photos, though, so text goes with them a lot (as with my renders). I'll get you a photograph of my album to give you an idea of what I mean.
- Eddie Kent Woo, Setekh, Steak (of Steaks), AWACS. Seriously, just pick one.
HARD LIGHT PRODUCTIONS, now V3.0. Bringing Modders Together since January 2001.
THE HARD LIGHT ARRAY. Always makes you say wow.

 

Offline Black Wolf

  • Twisted Infinities
  • 212
  • Hey! You! Get off-a my cloud!
    • Visit the TI homepage!
Topic On Image Composition, Border, Fonts Etc.
IMO, if you're worrying about composition, you're trying to photograph artistically. If you're trying to photograph artistically, then your photo will be your art. You need to let art speak for itself. It has to affect each person individually. Borders and titles and things mess with that individual appreciation, so I'm voting no changes. A little signiature in the corner doesn't count as alteration though, IMO.
TWISTED INFINITIES · SECTORGAME· FRONTLINES
Rarely Updated P3D.
Burn the heretic who killed F2S! Burn him, burn him!!- GalEmp

 

Offline Fineus

  • ...But you *have* heard of me.
  • Administrator
  • 212
    • Hard Light Productions
Topic On Image Composition, Border, Fonts Etc.
Thorn, thanks - I agree that to much looks tacky... I rarely ever see "heavy" borders and such that look tasteful.

Setekh, again thanks. I'd love to see some examples of what you've done. My current work has involved a lot of flowers because they're readily available in my garden - so it's a good launch pad for practice.

Black Wolf - once again, thanks :) I tend to feel that a photo that's entirely on its own (without title or border) feels.. lacking in some ways. But there are times when it's applicable.

I think I'll have to do some experimenting. Thanks for your input all - keep it coming :D

 

Offline Xelion

  • 28
  • In the Ether
Topic On Image Composition, Border, Fonts Etc.
Personally I think its a matter of ones unique taste with how you'll treat photos after you've taken them. Post Processing is usually what its called but in this case your asking for only certain aspects of it...

Borders
I only use these when I want to focus attention on the detail of the photo, sometimes it can be distracting, it depends if the photo needs emphasis or not.

Text
This can be a rather big issue with photos, the placement of text, the style and typeface used and the manner that its expressed in. Usually when I use text with photos I use an 'associative word' or 'emotion' to express the meaning of the image further. For example a picture of a flower might have the word beauty so I would look for a typeface that emphasizes it.
Depending on the use of the photo I would then determine where to place the text, if its my own Photo Album it'll probably be a caption, if I posted it on the net its mostly likely to be on the photo or within the border.
Sometimes text is not necessary at all.

Watermarks/Signatures
As for these, it depends where you intend to place it, if its part of a website I prefer to see an image itself rather than copyright text or the authors signature on it. If your posting it elsewhere its good to come up with some 'killer' identity mark or logo like Setekh's (the ones thats opaque) but placing it appropriately is important.

I still have to agree with Steak, its personal preference entirely.
Hope this somewhat helps :)
« Last Edit: July 18, 2004, 07:37:54 am by 325 »

 

Offline Stryke 9

  • Village Person
    Reset count: 4
  • 211
Topic On Image Composition, Border, Fonts Etc.
Never used a single damned one of any of those. Never needed to and never will. Signatures are all right if you actually need one (i.e. are worried about art theft), placed way off to the side and very small and unobtrusive, but it's like a book- you don't see an author's name in boldface in the center of every page.

A plain white edge to a photo or one of those messy enlarger-created edges makes the picture look more arty to slack-jawed rednecks and your grandmother, but really isn't at all necessary unless you're trying to sell, at which case there'll be a matte and frame anyway.

Textual commentary or visible titling on the piece itself is every bit as awful as applying a random Photoshop filter to the piece. It's what whiny pretentious DeviantArt-posting teenagers whose mothers told them they're geniuses do. Every time I see a big funny-texted title in white on a photo (or, Christ help us, poetry), I'm not just discouraged from buying the piece or taking any further interest in the 'artist', I'm suddenly compelled to murder them with a book on design. And I'm far from the only one, though I might have more violent intentions than most others who know **** about photography or art in general. The point is the ****ing picture, not some silly pretentious interpretation of what the picture means- if it isn't a strong enough photo to carry a message or emotion itself or can't be interpreted by the viewer, it belongs in your trash can, plain and simple.

The rules naturally change for photos that aren't intended as standalone art pieces (as part of a larger webpage design, for example, borders, textual notations, even random Photoshop filters can be just fine in cases), but less is definitely more for photography itself. You want the picture to speak for itself, if you drown it out with doohickeys and whatchamajigs and snippets of your favorite Nine Inch Nails song (eugh) that won't happen.

 

Offline USS Alexander

  • I 0wn TAP
  • 29
    • http://www.ngproductions.nl
Topic On Image Composition, Border, Fonts Etc.
Quote
Originally posted by Black Wolf
You need to let art speak for itself. .[/color] [/B]


:nod:
icq 127261564
www.ngproductions.nl
Tapping I3****

 

Offline pyro-manic

  • Flambé
  • 210
Topic On Image Composition, Border, Fonts Etc.
I voted no enhancement.

Unless you intend to alter the picture (by merging it with others or whatever), don't do anything to it. A signature or watermark is acceptable, of course, if you're putting it in the public domain, but don't otherwise add stuff - it detracts from the image. :)
Any fool can pull a trigger...

 

Offline Xelion

  • 28
  • In the Ether
Topic On Image Composition, Border, Fonts Etc.
@Black Wolf
I wouldn't classify a photo completely as a piece of art, a painting is closer to that meaning.

@ Stryke 9
Perhaps there is a message to be conveyed that the user couldn't ascertain themselves. A painting may convey more meaning than photos ever will.

 

Offline Taristin

  • Snipes
  • 213
  • BlueScalie
    • Skelkwank Shipyards
Topic On Image Composition, Border, Fonts Etc.
I voted light/medium.  All I usually do is make a small black strip on top and bottom, and usually in that strip, the title goes. I hardly ever sign my work... anymore.
Freelance Modeler | Amateur Artist

 

Offline Ashrak

  • Not Banned
  • 210
    • Imagination Designs
Topic On Image Composition, Border, Fonts Etc.
Borders are good mkay .... and text (if good) is also nice :D
I hate My signature!

 

Offline WMCoolmon

  • Purveyor of space crack
  • 213
Topic On Image Composition, Border, Fonts Etc.
I'm going to agree with Steak, except I think in almost any case I'd say to leave out the border. It just seems to always detract from the picture...maybe the *only* use for a border than I can see myself doing is on a web page where the photo contrasts heavily with the background (a bright picture on a black background, say) or to fit in with the design.

Otherwise you just have to leg it. :D
-C