How do you do display your personal photographs?

[tonysmith]

I am an hobby photographer, hopefully improving but slowly. I decided when I started that I did not want my images just to pile up on my computer, but wanted my best work in print. That seemed like the proper conclusion of making an image.

So I bought a good printer, a matt cutter and four 16 x 20 frames. Approximately each month I take my best four photos, cut the matt, frame the photos, and hang them on a corridor wall in my home. I do this primarily for my own enjoyment and the opportunity to critique my work but always hope that visiting friends and family will notice and comment. This rarely happens, but twice to my delight someone has asked to buy a copy, which I have then been happy to give without charge.

As each photo is replaced, I put it with the matt and backing sheet in a polybag and store it. I started this thinking my images were so good they should be preserved. Now I realize they are ephemeral and will abandon this practice so I can reuse the matt.

I am very interested in what others do with their images, once they think they are finished. I am particularly intersted in whether others print, or find that computer display, perhaps through a service like flickr, is all that is needed. If you are happy with computer screen display, are you concerned that much detail is abandoned in the necessary downsizing? Also, if you print and hang in your home, I am interested in what reaction you get (or don't get) from others.

Many thanks

Tony

[Rob C]

I am very interested in what others do with their images, once they think they are finished. I am particularly intersted in whether others print, or find that computer display, perhaps through a service like flickr, is all that is needed. If you are happy with computer screen display, are you concerned that much detail is abandoned in the necessary downsizing? Also, if you print and hang in your home, I am interested in what reaction you get (or don't get) from others.

Many thanks

Tony

Tony

I can't answer you from your own amateur perspective, but from the old pro one, I find that I get the most kick from converting Kodachromes into black/whites for two main reasons: being old shots they look new when so converted; they allow the pics a new shot at living which is beyond their original commercial remit. When you took a lot of care with your work, that becomes important. It also reveals how little commercial work of the past qualifies as art today.

I have a pile of aluminium frames that I originally filled with proof sheets from calendar shoots, now long faded and thrown away, and these frames currently house the result of some of my computer labours. Trouble is, I have both limited space and limited pockets, and I don't like to remove shots from the wall if I still think them good.  As a result, I have a few boxes of A3+ pics that are going to be framed and exhibited in April, after which I suppose I might start printing fresher work if the current stuff shifts.

Perhaps the most important question you should pose to yourself is this: for whom am I doing these pictures in the first place? From the answer should follow your route to a conclusion regarding how or even if you exhibit. Remarks from others should be the last thing you consider if your status remains amateur. Do it for yourself whilst you can.

Rob C

[Lisa Nikodym]

I'm an amateur who does very much like you do, putting my most recent photos in a long entry and hallway area in my house, only it's about 30-40 photos instead of 4, and I use quick clip frames instead of matted frames because they're cheaper and very quick to replace the photos.  I do it for the same reasons you have.  They are usually from my most recent vacation, and some of my friends are interested in seeing them; mostly they say things like, "Gee that place looks cool/pretty/interesting!"  I also enjoy looking at them myself, because they remind me of the vacation itself, until the next trips' photos go up.

After they get replaced, the prints get stuffed in a stack in the closet, and are rarely ever touched again.  I could probably throw them out at that point, but can't quite bring myself to do so.  I have a web page that I consider to be my main "permanent" storage of them.

Lisa

[bill t.]

I have no personal artwork on display for pleasurable viewing.  But every inch of wall and quite a few doors are covered with framed art waiting for wallspace in some commercial selling venue.  In addition, there is occasionally artwork sitting on the rug and leaning against the walls of every hallway.  I have two walk-in closets holding about 20 large pieces each, neat Avery labels on the sides make it possible to pull out just the right piece without having to dangerously riffle through frames in tight spaces.  A couple of weeks ago I had 37, 7 and 8 foot wide pieces stacked up against the wall in my living room.  At one time I had well over 100 pieces of large, framed artwork in my house.   To make matters worse, these pieces are almost all wide panoramas, so to save space they are often hung or leaned at 90 degrees to minimize width, visitors have complained about sore necks.  I like seeing my art out and about in the world, but when my art career finally grinds to a halt it will be a pleasure to have absolutely bare walls in my house for at least a couple years.

[Rob C]

I have no personal artwork on display for pleasurable viewing.  But every inch of wall and quite a few doors are covered with framed art waiting for wallspace in some commercial selling venue.  In addition, there is occasionally artwork sitting on the rug and leaning against the walls of every hallway.  I have two walk-in closets holding about 20 large pieces each, neat Avery labels on the sides make it possible to pull out just the right piece without having to dangerously riffle through frames in tight spaces.  A couple of weeks ago I had 37, 7 and 8 foot wide pieces stacked up against the wall in my living room.  At one time I had well over 100 pieces of large, framed artwork in my house.   To make matters worse, these pieces are almost all wide panoramas, so to save space they are often hung or leaned at 90 degrees to minimize width, visitors have complained about sore necks.  I like seeing my art out and about in the world, but when my art career finally grinds to a halt it will be a pleasure to have absolutely bare walls in my house for at least a couple years.

Bill, do you live alone?

Rob C

[bill t.]

Bill, do you live alone?

No.  My wife is also an artist, I was only describing the half of the clutter that is mine.

[Rob C]

No.  My wife is also an artist, I was only describing the half of the clutter that is mine.

I that case, I shall refrain from the next obvious question and offer, instead, my congratulations.

As you might remember from a previous hesitant post or two, I have a show coming up in April. I have also, ever since the offer, wondered why in hell I wanted it so badly when I have such a tiny amount of wallage avaiable for more orphans. As with my first sentence here, some other questions are perhaps best not asked!

Rob C

[bill t.]

As with my first sentence here, some other questions are perhaps best not asked!

Questions regarding the impulse towards art and its consequences are dangerous.  If asked and answered too earnestly they will surely lead to a life as a real estate agent.

With that old fashioned stove of yours, have you considered compact storage options for unsold pieces such as framing in wood rather than metal?

[Rob C]

Questions regarding the impulse towards art and its consequences are dangerous.  If asked and answered too earnestly they will surely lead to a life as a real estate agent.

With that old fashioned stove of yours, have you considered compact storage options for unsold pieces such as framing in wood rather than metal?

Point 1.

Real estate agencies are more profitable - unless run by an idiot - than normal photographers' businesses. I know this to my pain because of relatives on their umpteenth his'n'hers Mercedeses (?). My Escort is eleven years old, but did pass its roadworthines test in July...

I still rather have it than a Boxter. And if you belive that, you'll believe anything. On second thoughts, it's quite therapeutic in that it has nursed me away from those terrible years when I worried about parking it anywhere than in an empty field. On the other hand, maybe those empty fields contributed to the rust that will also provide the basis for some interesting colour close-ups within the next five or so years.

Point 2.

The stove might be a good idea, but I have a more romantic one which involves emulating the Viking's last sail. Imagine, going down in a blaze of glory with all your unsold art! Bon Jovi take note.

Rob C

[kbolin]

I do two things...

1) Print, Matte & Frame some of my best work in my home and occasionally move those prints around to different rooms.  I've got a few good walls of prints.  

2) For other work I use an Apple TV and sync my favorite photos to it.  Then on my 52" TV in the living room I have photos changing while the music is playing through my in home sound system.  It gives friends & relatives an opportunity to see some of my other work that I don't want to print, matte & frame.

[RSL]

Like Kelly I do two things:

First, I pull out possibles, print them approximately 5 x 7 inches on letter-sized double-sided matte paper and comb bind them -- ultimately with 1/2 inch combs. Like this example of the one I'm currently filling:

[attachment=17533:Book.jpg]

I haven't counted these lately, but I know I have more than a hundred of them. I use matte paper because it holds up better as family members and visitors page through them.

Second, I mat and frame the pictures I like best. I have about 90 of those hanging at home, and 27 hanging in my office. Like these over my work tables:

[attachment=17534:Wall.jpg]

I don't have space for more prints than already are hanging, so when I get a new one I like I decide whether or not it beats out anything already hanging. If it does, I mat it, frame it, and swap it with the one it superseded. Since this is a competitive process, some of these prints have been hanging on my walls for years. Others live a short life before they're pushed aside by their betters.

One happy thought: We're currently making some additions to our house. When they're finished I'll have more wall space for prints.

[Justan]

Mostly, I use thumb tacks.

[Rob C]

Like Kelly I do two things:

First, I pull out possibles, print them approximately 5 x 7 inches on letter-sized double-sided matte paper and comb bind them -- ultimately with 1/2 inch combs. Like this example of the one I'm currently filling:

[attachment=17533:Book.jpg]

I haven't counted these lately, but I know I have more than a hundred of them. I use matte paper because it holds up better as family members and visitors page through them.

Second, I mat and frame the pictures I like best. I have about 90 of those hanging at home, and 27 hanging in my office. Like these over my work tables:

[attachment=17534:Wall.jpg]

I don't have space for more prints than already are hanging, so when I get a new one I like I decide whether or not it beats out anything already hanging. If it does, I mat it, frame it, and swap it with the one it superseded. Since this is a competitive process, some of these prints have been hanging on my walls for years. Others live a short life before they're pushed aside by their betters.

One happy thought: We're currently making some additions to our house. When they're finished I'll have more wall space for prints.

Russ, you really need to Photoshop that corner cable out of your life.

You can, of course, plaster it away too, as I have with the cables to the speakers of the hi-fi (cute retro-term, non?) but that assumes that you have decided on a settled layout for your space...

Rob C

[RSL]

Rob, That's a network cable you see in the corner. It's been there since my third son and his partner started a now-thriving business in the big room next to the one I showed in that picture. They've been gone for quite a while to a fairly large building down the street where they now occupy two floors filled with a couple dozen employees, and have walls decorated with my prints. I'd think about ripping out that and the other cables in the office suite except for the fact that as soon as my over-the-garage studio is finished I'm going to move in there and let the office go.

[bill t.]

Mostly, I use thumb tacks.

You're on the right track.  I worked for ten years at what is arguably the greatest design studio of the twentieth century.  We used a lot of thumb tacks for in house display and mock up, not a frame in sight.

[Justan]

In my case it’s the utility…

…and I have thumb tacks...

But more importantly, what did you do at this studio??

[ashley]

I've very recently started putting up a few images from commercial assignments I have done, hanging 30x40cm prints in some simple wooden frames that have been painted metallic silver and works quite well in a modern house like ours. The prints are done on an Epson R1800 with a CIS from Inkjetfly and matte paper from Innova. It took me almost 3 years after moving in though before I started to do this because there always seemed like too many other jobs to do. The attachment has been photoshopped to make the two framed pictures appear closer than they really are.

[Dave Carter]

Tony,
On select pictures, I print a picture to just fit on a precut 16" x 20" matte board.  Each picture is printed with a thin ( 0.075") black border.  The pictures are bonded and trimmed to the board size.  The board can then be matted and hung for awhile - not showing the black border.  After that the over matte is removed and I keep the 16" x 20" boards in a close to vertical stack on a shelf.  Some never get hung.  They are in the stacks by category - location, wildflowers, old cabins, etc.  Anytime you want, you can easily thumb through the stacks and look at a picture or rehang it.  Also, hang some of these with just the black border and no cover matte.

I would like to show them on our TV, but I am just starting to think about slide show software.  Right now I am thinking about FotoMagico.  But, I do not have it yet.

Dave