Project 52, Week 20, Framing

Framing, this week, means to compose the photo so that the focal point is "inside" a natural frame that you find in the environment around your subject.  The frame can be in front of, behind, or to the side of the main subject.  It doesn't have to surround your subject like a "picture frame", but can be around 1 or 2 sides or even just in one corner.

Framing draws attention to the focal point.  It can also be part of the story, creating a different mood.  For example, a photo of a bird framed by the bars of a cage evokes different feelings than one with the same bird in the middle of a tree.

Things to Consider:

• Framing adds depth and dimension by creating layers in the scene.
• Framing shouldn't look too contrived or over-used.  Some photographers feel that using tree branches has been overdone, others feel this is one of the most natural framing materials you can use.
• Just about anything can be used as a frame: trees, doorways, windows, people, rocks, driftwood, fences, playground equipment, flowers, gates, tunnels, clouds, light, shadows, - get the picture? (pun intended)
• Don't forget to move around to get the best angle and find the best frame. 

Suggested Readings and Examples:

1. Framing Your Subjectby Rhonda Callow from Bright Hub, informative short article with good examples
2. Framing by Nate Kay from Photography Blogger; 20 examples of framing (Do you think some of the frames break the "too contrived" rule?")
3. Framing Your Shots - Photography Composition Technique and Frame Your Images by Darrin Rouse from Digital Photography School, short articles 
4. Basic Photography: Framing, 3 minute YouTube video from playthattv 
5. Framing Your Shots - Photography Composition Tips from School of Digital Photography

Framing can also refer to the entire scene and the placement of the elements in the scene. Remember that scene in that TV show where the movie director made a "frame" with the thumb and forefinger of each hand and pretended to be viewing the scene from different angles to see how it would look through the camera lens? When you move around, up and down, left and right, and across the street  zooming in and out, to find different angles of view/viewpoints, you are "framing" your subject through your camera lens.   The "frame" defines the boundaries of the scene and determines which elements in the environment are available for the composition.  View a 4 minute Youtube video, Photography Composition and Framing, which lightly touches on this subject with tips by Charles Cramer from Marc Silber