Hey Good Look'n

Photo Art

McKaso

Photography By: Steve Sullivan

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Maybe you are the photographer who just trekked through knee-deep mud, losing your shoe twice and falling over once. Or maybe you just stood in a mountain stream that is freezing cold for two hours and you can’t feel your toes and your shoes squish with every step. Or maybe you had the bad luck of standing on the bank of a stagnate pond one early morning and slipped in (personal experience and praise the Lord I had brains enough to have used a tripod, so the camera stayed put on the bank - another good reason to use a tripod). Or maybe you had it easy and took your prized shot from the inside of your air conditioned or heated vehicle beside the road (you know who you are and you make the rest of us sick J because we would never have such luck). However you captured that beautiful moment in time, you my friend, just invested endurance, time, money, patience, and maybe some embarrassment (as you’re walking around the entire day covered in mud and green stuff from the pond, while leaving behind a peculiar scent).

So, now you may be asking yourself what does all this have to do with lookin’ good? Nothing yet, but the answer is fairly simple. Your journey is only half done and now that you have your photo it’s time to get the prize. A good lookin’ finished product that will endure the cruelty of time hanging on the wall. Whether you are selling your print or just displaying it for your own satisfaction you must invest in quality framing and quality printing, (another article for a different day) whether you do it yourself or have it done by a professional. I myself have a fairly small area to work in, so all of my framing material is cut by a trusted source, shipped to me, and I assemble the finished work. Whatever your choice is, good workmanship is a must.

1) Take the time to match your photo with the color and texture of your mat board or boards if double matting. If you have an inventory search through it or if you are like me and order the material, invest in corner samples.

2) Take the time to match your photo and boards with a frame type. Again invest in corner samples in order to make a good informed decision.

3) Use only “acid free” material to avoid leeching. This includes your mounting board, tape, hinging, matt board/s and frame. Many materials are available from treated to rag. As far as frames are concerned I use only metal frames (usually black) as wood frames have acid. You should use a barrier material to protect the edges of your print when using a wood frame. I am also a firm believer of simplicity and making sure the photo stands on its own without the help of a fancy frame. Framing is simply a personal choice and there is no right or wrong way. Just minimize the prints contact with acid.

4) Handle all of your prints only after you have washed your hands and use white lint free

gloves to avoid leaving behind oils, salts, and dreaded fingerprints.

5) Handle your prints in a clean environment. Notice I didn’t say a sterile level five containment area with a suite and air supply, just an area that has been cleaned of dust, dirt, pet hair etc… and has enough room to assemble your project without causing damage (tears, spots, bent corners, scratches etc…) to the print, frame, or glass.

6) Make sure you use glass to protect your print and always use a mat board to keep the print away from the glass. Glass is vital to keeping your print clean and protected from the elements. A mat board looks nice, but it serves an important function as it prevents the print from adhering to the glass over time. It is like that printed business card you carry in your wallet (the one that has sat in the plastic credit card sleeve for a year) and when you finally pull it out you find its stuck. Giving it a hard pull half the ink from the card sticks to the plastic surface of the sleeve. The same thing happens to the print if it is against the glass and that is not good. Keep in mind that there are also several choices of glass including standard, non-glare and UV filtering or museum grade glass. There is also a difference in cost.

When your prize is assembled and hung on the wall care still must be taken to insure a long good lookin’ life.

1) DO NOT hang your prize in direct sunlight!!! This by far is the single worst thing to do to your prized print. It will fade to a sad condition very quickly from direct light and UV light.

2) Do not clean the glass by spraying the surface with glass cleaner and let it run down. It will leak around the edges. Use a lint free cloth, lightly spray the cloth with an approved cleaner, and gently clean the glass.

3) Display the print in a environmentally stable room that maintains a stable temperature and humidity year round. Do not store you photos in the basement, attic or along outside walls as environmental conditions are difficult to control in these areas. This will also prevent mold and mildew from forming on your prints. Good air circulation is another consideration. It is generally said that a good environment is 68°F with a relative humidity of 30% to 40%.

4) Also beware of atmospheric pollutants such as sulfur compounds or gas-by products from cleaning supplies may cause deterioration.

5) Keep your prints in an area away from food or drinks.

Now take the time to sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor and show off that Good Lookin’ Photo.

Good Luck & Happy Shooting J