The Evolving Photographer

Taking digital pictures is free, good prints are only a few bucks and great looking mattes and frames are available at affordable prices if you know where to look. One of my favorite recipies includes an 11x14 print, an 11x14 to 16x20 matte and a frame all for about $35. The result isn't gallery quality but it is living room worthy.

The Photo

Start with a photo you like and find a spot to put it. It's important to know where the work will hang to pick an appropriate frame. Prepare the photo with the post processing software of your choice. In the spirit of frugality, here are a few recommendations that are completely free. Picasa from Google is excellent at organizing photos and the latest version improves the editing features considerably. GIMP is a free image editor similar to Photoshop and handy when the editing tools in Picasa are not enough. If you want to try your hand at HDR, QTPFSGUI will do the trick.

The most important thing to remember is to crop the photo to the same aspect ratio you plan to print at. Picasa lets you pick 11x14 then gives you a box that is the right shape to move around and stretch until you get it right.

The Print

Now fire up a web browser and send the picture in to your favorite printer. My local Costco does an excellent job and I don't have to pay or wait for shipping from an online retailer for small orders. 11x14's are $3. If you're looking to spend a little more for a higher quality print with more paper and finish options I like the results at MPIX. A recent black and white 20x30 print I ordered looks fantastic.

You can print it yourself. If you want to do that, go find another blog for help with the printing. Printers drive me nuts.

The Matte and Frame

My favorite source for frames and mattes is Michael's. Their whole marketing strategy is based on promotion - fill the store with every possible craft related item you can think of then mark everything 40-50% off every other week. The important thing to remember is never pay the sticker price.

Go online and get the local ad for your store and print out the coupon. If there isn't an ad posted, just wait a week. For most 16x20 frames the price ends up about $25. Pre-cut 11x14 to 16x20 mattes are available for $5. Many of the weekly ads offer 40% off any one regular priced item so you can save a few bucks no the matte too.

Target is another good source for frames. They charge a little more but often include a matte. Bring the print to the store and pick simple frames and white mattes. All black, stained wood or metal work best. Complicated frames distract from the print. To fight the temptation of fancy frames hold the print on the frame in the store and stand back. Do it with a fancy frame and a plain one. You'll see the difference.

The Assembly

Mount the print to the back of the matte with one piece of tape at the top, centered and about half the width of the print. Scotch tape will do or pickup matte tape for a few dollars.

Carefully clean the glass for the frame inside and out. Watch out for dust or specs stuck to the matte (easy to see on the white matte). Drop in the glass, matte and print then hold the frame over your head. Check for dirt and alignment of the print. It's much easier to fix problems before reinstalling the backing. Also check the orientation of the print matches the mounting hardware on the frame. More than once I have gone to hang something and realized the print was upside down.

All done! If you get tired of the print, just take it out and put another print in. Living with a work on the wall is a great way to get to know it. If you like it more over time and visitors comment on it you have a winner. If you get tired of it and people pass it by, take it out and pick something else.

This little dog was hanging out at the central square in Aachen, Germany while his owner sold crafts at the market. The market was shutting down, there were things everywhere and he was leashed to a car bumper. Crouching down and composing just right created a whole different scene. Shoot with a Canon Rebel XT, ISO 100, f/6.3, 1/80 sec. The "kit" 18-55mm lens at 39mm. He now hangs in the downstairs bathroom.

My wife calls my camera my "blankie". At first I carried it just because I was excited to have it and the habit stuck.

Before long I discovered just carrying it improved my work. This happens three ways.

First, opportunity and inspiration. When you happen upon a scene worthy of a capturing, your ready, no more "I wish I had my camera!" And when the artistic mood strikes the camera is there.

Second, an awareness of the photos around you. Something about having the camera on hand makes for a more watchful photographic eye.

Finally, the omnipresence of the camera helps dissolve the feeling of awkwardness carrying and using a camera evokes. Holding and using the camera becomes natural and unhindered by self concious hesitation. Not noticing other people noticing you using a camera is a valuable skill.

Carry it everywhere. Carry it all the time.

This shot was just a door in an art gallery I passed through last week in Mexico. Without a camera at the ready this would have passed without a capture. ISO 400, 1/50 sec, f/5, Sigma 18-200 at 42mm with stabilization on.