In this issue:

• What's New
• Where in the World is Mitch?
• Framing Fine Art Photographs
• Picture of the Month

What's New

After finishing up my China trip in early March and a one week trip to New York City, I am now home for a couple of months. It will be a nice break and give me time to get some much needed work done on the web site. Over the past week, I published a new travelogue on the St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City and added six new images to the galleries. There will be many more images, and some new galleries, to come over the next few weeks.

The New York trip was great fun, albeit rather cold and windy. Susan and I ate far too well and too much, but I refuse to feel guilty about it. As usual our food choices were eclectic, ranging from Italian to Japanese to Portuguese to Cuban to Jewish Deli. I also made my pilgrimage to B&H Photo. Unfortunately, Susan accompanied me, so I could not buy too much. I did, however, acquire a new carbon fiber tripod. What is life without toys?

Where in the World is Mitch?

My travels are over for the next couple of months. At the end of May, I will be spending a week in Moab, Utah at Moab Paper Company's Moab Experience. Six days of river rafting, white water, Arches National Park and photo seminars. In June I may be going back to China, July will be Steamboat Springs, CO and in October, Susan and I head for the Maine Coast. Lots to look forward to. In the meantime, as Spring takes hold in the Rocky Mountains, I will spend some time hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park. I am also hoping to get a weekend in to go to the Sand Dunes National Park in southern Colorado.

Framing Fine Art Photographs

As most of you know, Mountain Storm fine art prints are sold as prints only; no matting, or framing. The reason I do this is that matting and framing is a personal preference, usually done to match a living/working space and requiring specific styles and colors. What makes a good frame/mat combination depends on many factors and is, I feel, best left to the owner's individual preferences. There are, however, some basic rules that you should follow when framing your photograph.

The foundation of all framing rules is that the purpose of framing a picture is to draw the eye of the viewer to the art itself. The framing treatment should never be the point of interest. Framing should complement the photograph, but never overpower it.

Photographers, when preparing for an exhibit, usually use "museum" framing. This consists of a thing, plain, black metal or wood frame, with a white mat. The picture, having detail and color/contrast, immediately draws the eye. At a recent exhibit of mine, I used such framing. After the exhibit, Susan wanted one of the photographs, a picture of a red jacket on a red door. It would go nicely in our living room, which contains many of the artworks and souvenirs I have brought back from China. Unfortunately, the framing, which worked so well in an exhibit setting, looked terrible on the wall of our house. We reframed the photograph with a simple, 1 inch bamboo frame in gold, and a double mat, cream on gold. The simplicity of the thin frame, the light colored mat with a darker 1/4" inner mat, provides a framing treatment that fits the colors of the room and the photograph, yet does not become its own center of interest. Rather, it draws the viewers eye to the photograph and shows it off to its best advantage.

So, some general guidelines when framing:

• Choose a simple frame that is not too wide. Wide, ornate frames become their own art and draw the eye away from the photograph
• Choose a mat that will create contrast between the photograph and the mat itself. Because the photograph has detail, it will draw the eye. Make sure that the mat is acid-free, archival quality mat board.
• Using a double mat can help frame the image. Use a contrasting color, as a thin, 1/4" band around the photograph.
• Choose complimentary colors. The predominant colors of the photograph and the environment in which the photograph will hang should be complimented by the frame and mat.
• Attach the photograph to a backing board that is acid free. Acid free Foam Core works best.
• Do not dry mount the photograph. Use acid free hinging tape to attach the top of the photograph to the backing material. The backing and the photograph expand and contract with humidity changes at different rates. Using hinge tape to attach only the top of the photograph to the backing will prevent the photograph from forming ripples over time.
• Always mount photographs behind either glass or plexiglas glazing and do not allow the photograph to touch the glazing. Don't use UV rated glazing, as it will detract from sharpness of the image.
• Hang your framed picture out of direct sunlight.

 

Following these guidelines will result in a fine art photograph that will be displayed to its best advantage and provide years of viewing.

 

Picture of the Month

In March of 2005, I did a weekend trip to Beijing. On Sunday morning it was sunny and getting rather warm when we visited the Summer Palace. During the winter, the Summer Palace, while still magnificent, is not very pretty. Many of the lakes and connecting streams are dry, the vegetation is brown and there are no flowers to brighten things up. When I have conditions like these, I tend to narrow my view and pay attention to small details, as opposed to looking a wider landscapes and views.

As we walked along the various paths, there were many groups of people exercising. Some working with swords, some doing Tai Chi, some doing routines I could not identify. Off to the side of one path was a building, and in front of the building a lone, older woman was performing Tai Chi by herself. As the day was getting warmer, she had removed her coat and hung it on the door. The composition of her red coat and scarf, and the traditional design of the equally red door caught my eye. My friends, who were with me on this trip, could not understand my fascination with this, but the image has become on my favorites.

If you are interested in purchasing this image, go here