Presentation/Adding Borders

As part of my final presentation of images I have been using Photoshop to add borders as a final finish, here are some screen grabs to illustrate the steps taken.

After dragging and using the 'transform' tool to place the image on a background, a grid was used for centreing and then 'stroke' to add a black edge around the border.

The finished mounted and bordered images along with the 'raw' originals will then be copied to a CD for Mr Steve.

Presentation Methods/Creating a Portfolio 2

There are several methods of presentation available, these include;

Unmounted prints - probably the cheapest method but only for informal viewing since they are easily damaged in handling.

Mounted prints - still inexpensive but prints do have some protection, window mounts are probably best for this but will add to bulk and weight.

Mounted colour transparencies - these are inexpensive and many images can be shown at once, however, a lightbox and magnifier will be needed, or a slide carousel could be used.

Large-format transparencies - popular in advertising and commercial photography, and more expensive, robust but can be heavy, easy to view without a lightbox.

CD - Cheap and reliable, images can be shown in the best light and can be easily transported or posted, recipient needs a CD player in their computer.

Website - Inexpensive and easily set up, anyone in the world can see your pictures with 24hour access, assuming client has internet access.

Presentation Methods/Creating a Portfolio 1

A Portfolio is a selection of your best work, work which you are confidant in and pleased with and work which you would wish to be known for.

It should be work that you are willing to undertake, for example do not include portraits if you only want to undertake landscape work.

A client or potential employer may be interested in employing you for interiors work and you should therefore make your portfolio appropriate by including this type of work.

Do not make your portfolio too large since a client does not want to wade through mounds of work, but show enough to make it clear you are capable of producing results.

Allow the viewer to look through your work at their own pace, and discuss images when invited to do so.

Dress appropriately and be polite even if rejected, you may want try again in the future.

Make sure you leave contact information, this could be a business card, picture or print. 

Think about the presentation as a whole, the impression you give by your dress and manner, the type and style of your portfolio, and the type and style of contact or other information you leave with the client.

Presentation/editing

As part of my final editing I have used the 'sharpen' tool from the Filter menu, 'unsharpen mask' to reduce blurring on this part of the image due to movement.

I also tried presenting a number of images in one bordered frame to see how this would look.

I like the effect this gives and may decide to combine images in this way.  However, with time constraints involved and the decisions which will have to be made as to which images to put together, I will probably give each an individual border.

Preview of Final 10 - Architecture/Street

These are the final 10 photographs, for each theme, I will be using, they have been edited in photoshop and now I need to decide on a title for each picture.

A title can be either a 'denotation' a simple description of the picture, devoid of any emotion, or attitude, or a 'connotation', having cultural, personal and/or emotional associations.

After researching the options for presentation, I have decided to use an internet based gallery presentation on a dedicated website.

Prints after all can be damaged by constant use and carriage and since most, if not all, businesses these days have a web-site and internet connectivity, this seems to be the most convenient. 

The only drawback is the client has no tactile image to handle and display and you also have to get the client interested enough to look for your website in the first place.  In addition, you are not there to promote your work in person or explain your thinking behind a particular image.  You are relying to some extent on your work speaking for you, to get over your enthusiasm and committment to the subject and client.  However, you can include personal information and experience on your website, it is a whole package representing you.

You could present your work in CD form, this could be posted, or you could be on hand to give information if requested to do so, this way the client meets you as an individual and you are able to convey your feeling for the work.

However, a wider audience can be reached via the internet and since carriage from one place to another is not involved, immediate viewing can take place, anywhere in the world at any time.

 

Photographic Exhibition - V & A Museum

Whilst in London we also visited the Victoria & Albert Museum which houses a permanent Photographic Exhibition detailing the history of photography, as well as an exhibition running up to 20 Feb titled, Shadow Catchers, Camera-less Photography.

This was a series of prints ranging from A2 up to lifesize of various subjects, made directly on to light sensitive photographic paper, and then fixed in the normal manner, as well as video footage of the artists at work.

The portraits were the most striking although due to the nature of the medium these were in silhouette.

Interesting patterns were formed with organic material, rocks, crystals, clothing, the list was almost endless.

Unfortunately, photography  in the exhibition, was not allowed.

A photogram is a photographic image made without a camera by placing objects directly onto the surface of a photo-sensitive material such as photographic paper and then exposing it to light. The result is a negative shadow image varying in tone, depending on the transparency of the objects used. Areas of the paper that have received no light appear white; those exposed through transparent or semi-transparent objects appear grey.^[1]
Artistic cameraless photography, as the technique producing photograms is usually known, is perhaps most prominently associated with Man Ray and his exploration of rayographs. Others who have experimented with the technique include László Moholy-Nagy, Christian Schad (who called them "Schadographs"), Imogen Cunningham and even Pablo Picasso.^[2] Varieties of the technique have also been used for scientific and other purposes.

Research/printing Differences between C-types & Giclees

I have been looking at the different types of paper available for printing, if this is the route I want to take,
and whether to make a choice between glossy, matt or semi matt paper.  I found this short video which explains some of the paper choices which have to be made.