What do you think of a frame used in post-production? I will use a vignette often as a way of directing the eye, but rarely use a frame, such as can be created in LR. This picture...

bgberlin Loc: On the Delaware River

I will use a vignette often as a way of directing the eye, but rarely use a frame, such as can be created
in LR. This picture seems to work with a frame - opinions? Do you use this technique?

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I usually use a vignette which is meant to direct the viewer to a particular part of the photograph. However, it's exceptionally subtle. Yours is quite noticeable almost to the point of distraction.
--Bob

bgberlin wrote:

I will use a vignette often as a way of directing the eye, but rarely use a frame, such as can be created
in LR. This picture seems to work with a frame - opinions? Do you use this technique?

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

While I have dabbled with frames in the past (there are some good looking ones out there), I once heard someone say "let the photograph do the talking". I took it to heart and haven't used a whole lot of them lately. That being said, I DO create a 2 px black stroke around the edges of my images. It's almost unnoticeable as a frame, but puts a sharp edge on the boundary between image and background color.

bgberlin Loc: On the Delaware River

Bob, Bob,
Appreciate the feedback. It's not an element I use often but occasionally I will pull it out of the tool box, dust it off and see how it looks.

dadaist

I believe the use of frames helps to bring you "into" the photo. Artists use it to create a 3D effect. In art museums, the frames plus the borders help bring you into the photo or painting-the same way the artist or photographer uses lines, form, shadow,shape,color,to give a feeling of depth to the painting or photo. Some of us do it by design-other folks do it without realizing it, other than:it looks better to them.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

That's great for hanging on a wall for display. It certainly beats thumbtacks in each of the corners. However, for posting on a site where there are size limitations due to monitor size or site restrictions, frames are eye candy the are of which would be better served by presenting the photograph. I'd rather see more photograph than some "fancy" frame, which serves only to distract from the work.
--Bob

dadaist wrote:

I believe the use of frames helps to bring you "into" the photo. Artists use it to create a 3D effect. In art museums, the frames plus the borders help bring you into the photo or painting-the same way the artist or photographer uses lines, form, shadow,shape,color,to give a feeling of depth to the painting or photo. Some of us do it by design-other folks do it without realizing it, other than:it looks better to them.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

rmalarz wrote:

That's great for hanging on a wall for display. It certainly beats thumbtacks in each of the corners. However, for posting on a site where there are size limitations due to monitor size or site restrictions, frames are eye candy the are of which would be better served by presenting the photograph. I'd rather see more photograph than some "fancy" frame, which serves only to distract from the work.
--Bob

I agree with Bob on this issue. If you are going to hang a picture on a wall use a frame, thumb tacks are really tacky. On the other side if you are posting on line i just fail to see a need for a frame. JMHO

dadaist

You have given some great examples of why certain restrictions are "real" and I concur with your examples.

bgberlin Loc: On the Delaware River

Thank all for adding to the discussion. As a further note, I posted the pic on various groups in FB. Within those groups that focused on photography, it received fewer "likes" than those groups that were more generalized in their focus. 📸