Experienced eyes please

[markw]

Fantastic work - would love to see a bit more of how you process etc - The old photographic processes have always fascinated me - they seem to produce a result that has something of their age within them. So from a point of ignorance one question. Does the edge have to be brass? could it be silvered? Or in asking that am I going completley against the aesethetic principles of the production etc. My reasoning is based upon the fact that the warm element of the brass seems to me to introduce a tone that clashes with the monotones of your image.

I would also say that you should be looking at a deeper bottom to the mount dimensions and although I like wide mounts - you may just be a little wide on this with a dark mount. If I was looking to mount this I would be inclined to keep the mount very simple so that it kept the item as the focus of attention.

Love to see more of your work.

[ceebdub]

Thanks for the comments, I have a busy week experimenting next week.

@ Mark. There are more of my pieces on my website (mentioned earlier)

I do very expensive 1 day courses, which seem popular to alternative photographers. If anyone wants to email me through my Dag. site I will answer any questions about the process as you are all so helpful.
The images do have a 3d quality when seen in the real, as the dark tones are created by reflections of a dark background, in the silver.
You have to see them 'live' to appreciate them.
My problem is trying to get through competition/selection committees for shows/exhibitions who want a jpeg as a way of judging. That's why I want it to look as good as possible in the frame.

I will be at the FF live, I could bring one along if anyone wants.

[framemaker]

Fascinating work Christopher, would love to see one at FF Live!

At first viewing I thought the inner brass/gold mount was a mountboard you had fitted, but on paying more attention, I now see that it's a metal spacer! This is clearly a traditional way of presenting them (having looked at your website and the case maker site) although like MarkW, personally I think a silver or dark metal would be better. I see some of your other images do have a dark metal spacer and the carbon fibre cases are a very cool contemporary way of encasing them. If the spacer was a tarnished silver or similar colour to in the image, then I would also follow this through with any slip and the frame. Silver is so integral to the image I think it would work well having the frame a suitable silver too.

I think there are alot of good ways this image could be presented! but I would also keep it simple, making something of the depth with foamboard between some mounts, or creating a floating effect around a narrow inner mount, adding a slip etc etc. I would use a box frame similar to the profile you have used.

[ceebdub]

The other spacers are acid free black paper. I got the brass ones made up to 'posh' them up a bit.
It is no problem to use the black (or any other colour) paper.

[Graysalchemy]

Great piece of art, quite emotionally challenging.

One question I need to ask Why the gold? The photo is dramatic black and white(silver), no warmth or gold at all.

If I was framing this I would use the classic off white preferably a 3000 micron board with a black core slip and simple black square profile frame, a classic photographic presentation. I like the space you have given it, but I would also add a generous drop on the bottom to balance the shape of the frame. I think would needs light around it to frame it otherwise it is lost in the deluge of black. The subject matter is dark both physically and in the message it portrays. I don't think it needs any more sadness in it. Let it breath and shine through, so you can see it for what it is, a beautiful piece of art.

Once again what a fantastic piece of art I would love to see more.

Thanks

AG

[Gesso&Bole]

Fascinating thread - really interesting to see what different members specialise in. Christopher, please do bring some of your work to the FF, I would love to see them.

[ceebdub]

I didn't realise how great the response would be, I am a tad introverted so all of the advice (and compliments) come as great help and encouragement.
I will bring her along to FF live (a cased version).
I am known as Brenton (Christopher is my posh website name)
I am now going to have a go at executing some of the ideas.

[ceebdub]

I had a go at the decreasing bellows idea, we are getting there.

[Graysalchemy]

Really like that image, but I would still like to see it with an off white outer mount and a big drop on the bottom at least another two inches, to ballance it up. It does look a lot better with out the gold though.

[markw]

Its probably not the most flattering of angles for the image and it all looks a bit dark. I do like the darker casing around the image - But would agree with Graysalchemy - a lighter mount would work to emphasise the contrast and tonal quality of the image.

[Nigel Nobody]

I like the colour of the top/outer mat/mount, AG.

The reason I like it is that it is in harmony with the 'background colour' of the art. If you digitally averaged out all the colour in the art and painted a blank sheet that colour, that would be the 'background colour'. This is a great method of choosing top/outer mat colours that will always work. Obviously, in any art there are a number other colours apart from the 'background colour' that will work too, but this method works really well for any image.

In this case, I think the colour used gives a very sophisticated and striking appearance to the piece and draws attention to it really well.
An off white would be quite a contrast and that might suit some tastes, but not mine.

[Graysalchemy]

A liighter coloir would allow the eye to focus on the image so it is not lost. Also as I said before it is a very dark image in obvious colour but also subject matter and the thoughts it provokes. A lighter mount with a dark slip would let the image shine through. It is a matter of taste but traditional styles which have stood the test of time do so for a reason. Good design doesn't just happen it usually has scientific and mathmatical basis to it as dies good art but that's another discussion.

[Nigel Nobody]

I don't think the art is lost in this case.
Any piece of art can be framed in dozens of different ways and different people will have different preferences. The true test of design ability is to enter a framing competition. It's interesting to see the same item framed in a 100 different ways.
This would make a good competition piece.

[Graysalchemy]

Unfortunately framing competitions tend to have little to do with basic design principals and a lot to do with who's cmc can cut the most holes in asheet of board. Good design is all about proportions balance and asthetic pleasure to the eye. All to many competition entries miss basic principals of design and allow the framing to over power the thing it is ment to enhance the artwork.

[Roboframer]

I think it needs something else, that huge space needs breaking up a bit, another mount edged with a silver slip and some silver in the frame maybe. But I'd prefer it as it is than with an off-white top mount.

[Graysalchemy]

The black mount puts it out of balance tonally and the black frame is then lost. I have had many photographers wanting black mounts around low key portraits because it forms a contination of the background, but I always point that two blacks are never the same and the effect is lost. The drama of the piece will be enhanced by contrasting the tone with a complimentary one.

[stcstc]

what might look kinda cool is a silver edge like robo says, but how about in near the corners of the frame, like the silver on the image?

i think i would prefer the contrast of a lighter mount too

another option might be a silver frame?? to mimick the silver in the image

[Nigel Nobody]

Unfortunately framing competitions tend to have little to do with basic design principals and a lot to do with who's cmc can cut the most holes in asheet of board.

Obviously you haven't seen any framing comps in Australia or USA and I haven't seen any in UK. If that how comps are judged in UK, I'm surprised. I've never seen a comp judged that way down here!

[JohnMcafee]

Has the adage a picture is worth a thousand words ever been more apt?

Surely a few examples to illustrate would be more telling than this waffle?

[framemaker]

I like the dark mount, although it would be interesting to see the opposite, just to compare. I feel that seen in reality the image needs the dark border, otherwise the art and uniqueness of the photographic process would be over powered by too much light around it.

I like the space between mount layers, although too much space I think, and I still think a silver slip and frame would look good. Ormond, I agree, this would make a great competition piece, perhaps this could be the beginnings of the FF framing comp....

This is similar to what I have in mind, just as an example of silver and black