Preparing photographs for publication and exhibition

A detailed guide to Preparing photographs for publication and exhibition.

Selecting for the medium

A magazine depends on spreads and page rhythm, an exhibition on scale and the viewer’s route, and the web on sequence, speed and varied screen proportions.

Colour and proofing

Colour profiles, paper, exhibition lighting and test prints help predict changes in shadows, contrast and saturation.

Format and sharpness

Resolution should be judged against physical size and viewing distance. Excessive sharpening creates artefacts and removes natural texture.

Archiving

Source files, working versions, final exports and licensing information should be stored separately with clear naming and a backup.

Putting this knowledge into practice

The most effective way to retain these principles is to work deliberately with your own material: make photographs, leave them aside for a while and return to the edit without attachment to the circumstances in which each frame was made.

Compare not only individual images but also their neighbours, presentation scale and viewing context. These relationships are where photography begins to function as a language rather than merely a record of an event.