Throughout the process of organising my ocean prints I have had to make several key decisions regarding the creative approach.

One of these decisions in reference to the finished print has been the overall composition or print format. A “style” that is to become my signature and also allows the images to present in the best possible way has been the goal. I have chosen to use two formats, square and panoramic.

Square images create a sense of stability and balance within the finished presentation. The square format allows the image to start from a neutral base and it is purely the elements of that image’s composition that create the interest in the art piece.

An image presented in a square format is perfect to stand alone on a wall but just as suited to clustering with other images particularly if they also square.

The square is not how we are typically presented with images/art/entertainment. Most of these will come in a rectangular format. Think of magazines and television. Despite the neutral shape of the square this uniqueness creates additional interest in an artwork.

From my heritage I started my photography on a Hasselblad 503CM which produced a 6cm x 6cm negative/transparency and have loved the square format ever since.

 

 

My second format choice is a panoramic and interestingly, do so, for almost the exact opposite reasons for choosing a square.

A panoramic image creates it’s own interest just because it is panoramic. The image has a head start. Well used this format is very strong for an art presentation.

With my subject matter often including strong, horizontal lines within the composition this format is perfect. The panoramic also reflects well on the environment that I shoot. This environment is often broad and can take in everything to the left and right and will continue to the horizon. The panoramic by its shape reflects this broad all encompassing mood.

The panoramic is very strong as a wall presentation of art.  As a stand alone print it creates immediate interest and, if done well, can be fantastic for grouped images.

An additional point with my finished images is the paper choice. I have chosen an art stock with softer tones and contrast. This will certainly be harder to do well and will force each image to rely on it’s own compositional elements to create the “art” value.  I won’t shy from this challenge but will also, when the situation requires it, utilise a more commercial paper stock with high contrast and saturated colours.

Despite the challenge of these papers the art stock gives a more real and sophisticated look to the finished image. It will be more “art” than pizazz.  I want my images to be timeless and to hold their value in an artistic sense for a lifetime.

Edit Oct 2011.

As a note with all of my smaller sizes, (up to 40cm in panoramic and 30cm in square) I have designed the layout so that there is lots of surplus space around the actual image. Within this space is my name and “first edition” and “year”. I have also embossed the Warrahwillah symbol which is a discreet but sophisticated touch. (I love this design element)

So to give an example the image on a 20 x 20cm print is just that, 20 x 20cm, but it comes printed on the art paper which is a total size of 31cm x 21cm approx.

The importance of this space is that it allows you to frame without a mat board and using a floating mount. Hard to describe but a far more contemporary look than a standard mat, frame, print set up. Talk to a good framer and they can explain.

This look leaves the old mat board setup for dead.

I’m at the Markets as of this weekend and will have some there so if you see me come and check it out.