This may be a stupid question.. I was always told the only dumb question is the one you didn't ask. I am entering a photo contest at our State Fair and one of the rules is "the photo...

hedyd4me

I was always told the only dumb question is the one you didn't ask. I am entering a photo contest at our State Fair and one of the rules is "the photo must be matted with no backing against the photograph". What in the world is matted and where do you put it if not on back of the photo?

I would also like your honest critique of the photos.

Photo 1 for the contest

Photo 2 for contest

Photo 3 for contest

hedyd4me

Oh, and no frames allowed.

edh Loc: Oregon North Coast

hedyd4me wrote:

Oh, and no frames allowed.

Well I understand the "no frame" but have never matted a photo without a backboard.

I really like the eagle.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Perhaps they are referring to dry mounting? Is there a contact name & number?

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

hedyd4me wrote:

I was always told the only dumb question is the one you didn't ask. I am entering a photo contest at our State Fair and one of the rules is "the photo must be matted with no backing against the photograph". What in the world is matted and where do you put it if not on back of the photo?

I would also like your honest critique of the photos.

Good pictures! BUT...
There is no way I am going to secure a print to the back of a mat (special card-like material cut out to edge the print) without putting it on a backboard or in a frame. Take a look at:
http://www.bdmatboard.com/

rebride

A pre-cut (or self cut) usually beveled mat goes on top of Photograph. They are a variety of ways to attach. Some use a 3M tape. There is double sided squares and tape, permanent and release type. Office Max, Michaels etc. has them.
They probably do not want permanent mount on mat/backing board.
I have a dry mount press I'd like to resurrect, but not sure it is recommended for inkjet papers. Dang I loved it.

Trippmeister Loc: Los Gatos, CA

I like the eagle, what if it were cropped a little tighter?

Cas Loc: Maine

Trippmeister wrote:

I like the eagle, what if it were cropped a little tighter?

I agree. :lol:

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

Nice eagle, but I submitted a pic of a heron in a tree in my local club and it was cut because of branch in front of the bird - too distracting. Unfortunately I couldn't get it from any other angle. On #2, if you could get rid of the hot spot and maybe blur the two leaves on on the left, it would make the single flower and bee more prominent. Nice moon, but personally I'd go with a tighter crop. Just a couple things I've learned from my many failures (out of about 10 or 12 submitted in my club, I got only one 2nd place award). Good luck!

hedyd4me

OK since everyone likes the Eagle tell which one you would enter. The one I already posted or one of these two because I can only submit one of each subject.

Eagle in Flight

Just chillin'

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

I'd do the BIF with a tighter crop...would like to see it downloadable. Looks like there's some nice detail. The other one seems a tiny bit overexposed and the leaves behind the bird are distracting...jmho.

hedyd4me

How about these?

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

It's up to you, but i still like the BIF, even though there is some pixelization noticeable in the sky. I'd guess it's been blown up a bit.

Archy Loc: Lake Hamilton, Florida

hedyd4me wrote:

I was always told the only dumb question is the one you didn't ask. I am entering a photo contest at our State Fair and one of the rules is "the photo must be matted with no backing against the photograph". What in the world is matted and where do you put it if not on back of the photo?

I would also like your honest critique of the photos.

#1........... :thumbup:

tlbuljac Loc: Oklahoma

To answer your question they are in this order: an eagle, a flower and the moon....hope this helps