border or no border

[ulidder]

I took this picture in my backyard and decided to add some sort of border around it. I am interested in what others on this website think about framing and border in general. I am using LR. And also all critique would be really valuable.





Photo without border





Photo with frame:

[Steve Eisenberg]

Maybe a plain black border at most. Otherwise it distracts from the subject matter (in my opinion).


It's a good picture. What equipment and settings did you use? And could you post it at 600 or 800 pixels?

[ulidder]

Thank you Steve. I tried a plain black border. I think it definitely gives more importance to the main subject. I used 70-200 f4 at 200mm. I am posting a shot at 800.

[ulidder]

Here is a second closeup of the same cat.

[Oren]

Maybe it's just me, but I think you should have used a higher f-number for greater DOF. Anyhow, I like both pictures (with the black borders).

[ulidder]

Hi Oren, thanks for your comments. The background in the second picture is grass. I guess it's kinda hard to make out with so much blur? but since there is no pattern of texture, I chose a low fstop. Next time the cat comes out I will try a high number to compare .

[Steve Eisenberg]

Here is a second closeup of the same cat.






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Thanks for posting larger, and I like the thicker, black border. I think the white on the cat is overexposed. Next time set to bracket 1 stop above and below, and 1/2 stop above and below, and see what you think. Or just set the exposure compensation to -1 and -.5. The camera is giving the darker tones priority and blowing out the details in the white, which cannot be fixed via the brightness settings in post processing. Although it could be worse, black and white cat , instead of black and brown!

[ulidder]

Thanks for your comments Steve. I like the bracketing idea. I haven't played around with it too much. Do you use it often? I am guessing it adds to the time if you are doing real time photography. I will try it out. Thanks for the idea.





I also read somewhere that is usually good to expose to the right of the histogram instead of towards the shadows. That was my instinct. But I agree with you that I have lost details in the white parts of the cat.





Thanks,


Upkar.

[Keith B]

Definitely not a fan of those brushed edges. Very 90s.

[ulidder]

thanks for your comments sir.