<b>... I suggested to a poster here that his photos, in fact all photos, here on the web look better when seen against a black (or very dark) background. That is, NOT as seen in the KodakGallery or other galleries that put up the photos against a white background. My reasoning being that a white background is fine for reflected light viewing as for prints. However, for viewing with transmitted light source as with a PC monitor, a black background is better. With a monitor, to me, a (large) white background overpowers or washes out the colors in the photo. (A small white border like you use is good to separate and contrast the photo from the background).
You have any comments on this?</b>

Hi Tom,

If you're interested enough to check out a library book then Ansel Adams' &quot;The Print&quot; has a few pages on wall colors and backgrounds for print displays, which agrees with what you are saying (pg 162-165).

Basically he says white walls (or backgrounds) make the prints appear too dark, black backgrounds make the prints appear too light, and medium gray or slightly darker backgrounds are ideal.

I have a nice textured gray background I use for images when there is no text but I think the text looks better on a black page (more contrast) so I use black for these narratives, feeling making the prints look brighter is OK

Check the pics Andy Biggs just posted ... the presentation looks very classy, with small thumbnails linking to larger prints, all on a slightly-darker than mid-toned gray. A very effective way to present a lot of images ...

Bill

Hi Bill, thanks for your reply. I have that book by Adams and a couple of his others. All very interesting, he is a very lucid writer. I also have one of his prints, not printed by him (I wish) but from his Yosemite Gallery and printed from HIS original negative and printing notes. The book you mention fascinates me because he shows you that taking the picture, making the negative, is only the start of the finished photograph. He has to make a print which means choose the paper type to print on, negative areas that need dodging and burning and how much of that, the developer and times in the developer. I'm sure he would be delighted with what he could do today with Photoshop.

I saw Andy Biggs' new gallery and great photos as always. As expected he uses a very dark (charcoal?) background. And did you notice the photos are &quot;framed&quot; with a very very narrow white stripped frame of dark gray. Very nice.
Also, as has been discussed recently, his photos there are mostly less than 100KB size, and 625pixels wide.

I don't recall seeing your photos on a textured gray background but if you have linked them here at sometime, then I indeed have seen them.

I'm in the process of moving the few safari photos I have over to the Smugmug site where I can control the background and presentation much better (than Kodakgallery). I thought I had it well in hand then discovered that there was a lot of color shift after uploading then viewing. Turns out is was the sRGB, Adobe RGB, color space/profile thing. I had sent them as Adobe RGB - wrong. Color management will be the death of me, it has already driven me to drink Help, Ansel, we need you!!!!
regards - tom

Bill and Carol, thank you for such a wonderful photosafari/journal. Beautiful images and great commentary makes for a great combination.
Regards,
Eric

Bill,

It's always a real pleasure to look at your pictures.

Greetz,

Johan

OHMIGOSH! I am just getting to view these Bill, as I am just now reading the trip reports from Jan &amp; Feb of 07 (I know, I'm a little behind!)

I cannot beleive the variety of animals you saw and the INCREDIBLE pictures, you guys - wow - are really GOOD!

And I really enjoyed reading the daily 'what went into this shot' - I wasn't able to read them all yet though as reading from a screen really makes my eyes tired - is there any way I can print it out to read other than getting the black background with the white print?

Whenever you start doing photo safaris - PLEASE let me know!

PS - just wondering who the agent or outfitter was so that I can get that into the index?

Thanks!

I have just spent some wonderful Sunday morning hours greedily feasting on such wonderful photos and, as a keen amateur photographer who dreams of reaching your standard, I loved the accompanying text too.

THANK YOU for doing this.

I hope you change your mind and do similar for the next trip too!

<b>just wondering who the agent or outfitter was so that I can get that into the index?</b>

Hi Lynda,

We booked direct with Roy Safaris in Arusha on the last two trips.

Also, the address used when I posted this is no longer active, we moved the web pages to http://www.hiltonphotography.net/

<b>is there any way I can print it out to read other than getting the black background with the white print?</b>

Not that I know of (you can print the HTML code like that but then you have all the HTML tags showing, making it harder to read) ... I can easily flip it between black background - white text to the reverse but the white background is too bright and the photos don't look as good.

Glad you enjoyed the pics!

Bill &amp; Carolyn

Thanks Bill, no problem on the black with white print, I'll read it on the screen - thanks for filling me in on your operator - as soon as I finish reading it, it will be next up in the index!