Photo ABCs

F is for Frame Destination

Preparing for my next show, I have placed a number of very large orders with Frame Destination, an online framing store. Over the past two years I have placed over ten orders with them. Each order has been executed in a flawless manner, with all materials arriving in perfect shape, always to the exact measurements, on the exact day they were promised.

Frame Destination was started a few years ago by Mark Rogers, a photographer who wanted framing supplies which would cater to the unique needs of photographers. Many photographers (like myself) print almost exclusively in full-frame dimensions, so need mats with openings with a 2:3 aspect ratio (e.g. 6x9, 10x15, 16x24, etc.) These dimensions are not often found at traditional framing stores without a custom order. 

At Frame Destination, every mat and backing board is available in countless dimensions, including all of of the full-frame aspect ratios. For example, I just shopped for artcare foamcore backing boards. At the store I previously shopped at, they were available in five traditional sizes: 8x10, 11x14, 16x20 etc., with a minimum order of ten. At Frame Destination, they were available in over 50 sizes, with no minimum, all at a lower cost, with volume discounts starting at four boards.

For my most recent order, I discovered that they will custom cut mats, as well. For my upcoming show, I wanted a mat with three openings. All I had to do was email them a diagram of my mat dimensions, and for a very small set-up fee they took care of the rest. A few days later and the mat was on my doorstep, perfectly cut and packaged securely so that damage was not possible. No driving or traffic hassles for me, just great service!

Mark routinely participates in photography discussion forums, taking a personal interest in excellent service to fellow photographers. Their supply of mouldings is somewhat limited, I imagine this keeps prices low. I do wish they would supply white frames in the near future, and maybe a floater frame for canvas, but aside from that, they supply just about all of my framing needs at very low prices. Frame Destination gets my highest recommendation!

Meadowlark Trio, near the Salton Sea, California:

B is for Best of Nature

There's a great show now on display at the San Diego Natural History Museum. It's the Best of Nature Photography Show, on display through September 13. It features 75 photos juried in from over 2300 entries from around the world.

I viewed the show at the reception yesterday, and there is one great image after another. My friend Lew Abulafia took best of show with this stunning shot of the Grand Canyon.

 

©Lew Abulafia

 

My image, Something To Crow About, is also on display. 

 

©blake shaw

 

H is for Harman Baryta Settings

After testing most of the fairly new baryta papers, and a number of others, I decided to print my upcoming show on Harman Baryta gloss paper. It has wonderful detail and the gloss really doesn't get in the way of the image. It gives lovely prints on my Epson 3800 printer.

Aside from image quality, I chose this paper because it is one of the very few papers available in 17x25 inches, which is just right for a 16x24 inch image.

After printing the majority of my prints at 10x15 and 12x18 inches, today was time to print some 16x24 prints. I spent hours of frustration as I encountered head strikes, with vertical and horizontal scratches on the fragile paper. (not to mention lots of $ down the tubes). Adjusting the platen gap seemed to have no effect. It may be that because the large paper never lies completely flat, combined with a very hot day today, caused more head strikes than normal.

Well, after a number of internet searches, I finally found a review on Outback Photo with suggested paper settings which seem to have solved my problem. The key was to adjust the paper thickness from 3 to 4 and the platen gap from auto to wide. (These settings are found on "paper configuration" in the Epson printer driver.)

Thanks to Jack Flesher and Uwe Steinmuller for saving me more hours of grief!