In this series on Photography Composition Rules, today we will be talking about another very interesting and one of my favourites - Frames. No, we are not talking about frames you put around your printed photographs but frames you can find while clicking photographs. These frames can be made up of natural elements like trees, leaves, flower or things like bridges, doors, pillars, arches, monuments, people and so on. We will try to share advantages of having farming in your photographs through some examples from my own photographs. These may not be some of the best examples of frames but I assure that you would be able to understand the purpose of this composition rule and how to make your photographs more beautiful through this Photography Composition Rule.
Frame helps in drawing attention on main subject in your photograph :
Frames have various uses when it comes to composition in photography. Frames can isolate your subject, by drawing the eye directly to the main subject and hence make photographs more impactful. While clicking photograph, you can also hide other objects that you may not want to be in photograph behind your frame.
In above photograph, series of pillars and arches create a beautiful frame for the person sitting at the end of it. It not only drawing attention of viewer but adding a beautiful depth. And there is another example of depth below where frames make 2 dimensional photograph look 3 dimensional with decent depth.
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Frames add depth in Photographs :
By adding a frame in the foreground with respect to main subject, gives a photograph depth and perspective. And suddenly your two dimensional photograph starts representing 3D view of the space around your main subject.
Above photograph of Qutub Minar is a good example. Without framing the high minar would look too plain and 2 dimensional. With this frame, suddenly you can appreciate the space much better.
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Frames can be great StoryTellers :
What do I mean by Frames can be great story tellers? Frames can be used to tell better about the space. In above photograph, idea is to click Vibha reading that information board at an observation deck inside one of the cloud forests in Monteverde, Costa Rica. Imagine I would have clicked a photograph only with Vibha in it and this observation deck. And now you see this frame of trees and their leaves which add a flavour of natural space. The other girl their is trying to hide and not come in my frame but I didn't mind covering her inside the frame as that for me tells that this space is visited by tourists visiting the forest. In short, this frame of leaves is telling that place had reasonable greenery where this photograph is clicked.
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Natural Elements make great frames :
While we are talking about frames made of leaves in example just above this, let's take this conversation further. Various natural elements can help you creating frames for your photographs. Above photograph shows a couple walking around the forest and the frame made up of bushes and leaves gives nice depth to this photograph. So whenever you are clicking, keep a watch around natural elements around you which can be used for framing your subject/photograph.
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Frames help in making a usual view look unusual & interesting :
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Natural Elements make great frames :
While we are talking about frames made of leaves in example just above this, let's take this conversation further. Various natural elements can help you creating frames for your photographs. Above photograph shows a couple walking around the forest and the frame made up of bushes and leaves gives nice depth to this photograph. So whenever you are clicking, keep a watch around natural elements around you which can be used for framing your subject/photograph.
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Frames help in making a usual view look unusual & interesting :
Imagine above view without this frame of car window. It was pretty plain photograph and if you think it's clicked in Spiti valley it's very ordinary. But when you add this frame, the overall view of the photograph improves by many fold. And also adds a perspective about this photograph was clicked while we were driving around Spiti Valley. So experiment with frames, if you are not convinced, click 2 kind of photographs - with framing and without framing. Most of the times you will find frames make photographs interesting and add context to them. In some desperate situations, you may not get that much value by adding frames.
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Shadows can also create Frame for your main Subject :
Light distribution in your photograph can also help in creating frame of shadows around your main subject. In above photograph, special lighting on face of this boat-woman makes in interesting and shadows around it makes it even more compelling. In this photograph, it's very easy for viewer eyes to see her face at first glance. Some subtle details in shadows part add context to the photograph but still these shadows are working at frame.
Frames don't need to have 4 sides or circular :
Frames can hide unwanted items behind it and also provide depth to the photograph. Which helps create context well in your photograph. In above photograph it's a frame which may not be surrounding the subject from all sides but this one also solves what we want to achieve - focus on subject, loss of distractive elements and some perspective etc.
When you think of frames you will probably see something that goes around each edge of the subject but you can use a frame which may not be circular or may not have all sides. Notice all photographs in this post and you would realise that framing is not really about any shape of frame and don't have fixed definition in terms of how many sides would be enclosed etc. So here is an opportunity to define your frames your own way, as far as they solve the prime goal of making your monotonous shot interesting.
When you think of frames you will probably see something that goes around each edge of the subject but you can use a frame which may not be circular or may not have all sides. Notice all photographs in this post and you would realise that framing is not really about any shape of frame and don't have fixed definition in terms of how many sides would be enclosed etc. So here is an opportunity to define your frames your own way, as far as they solve the prime goal of making your monotonous shot interesting.
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Humans can also be used for Framing :
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Above photograph shows an example of frame created by other humans around this lady on phone. There can be different other ways of using people in the photograph as frame around main subject you want to shoot.
Frames can be 2 sided as well :
Frames can also be in background of the subject :
Humans can also be used for Framing :
Above photograph shows an example of frame created by other humans around this lady on phone. There can be different other ways of using people in the photograph as frame around main subject you want to shoot.
Frames can be 2 sided as well :
Frames can also be in background of the subject :
Generally frames will be in foreground of main subject but elements in the background can also look awesome. Above photograph is a good example of that where my friend driving is main subject the care window in his background is creating a frame along with interesting sunset colours in the background.
Colours in the photograph can also create Frames :
Let me extend above example of having frame in the background of main subject in your photograph. Does stone structure around door create frame in above photograph? And why do you think it comes across as a frame and not door? In fact, when I think more there are 2 frames in this photograph. The blue door - blueness of the door is making it an interesting element in this photograph. And then the outer structure. The outer structure is actual frame for the photograph of kids with background of blue coloured door.
Don't miss Frames which are already present in the scene :
When I was in Monterey Bay Aquarium, These jelly fishes were very popular and default photograph people would click close-up of these beautiful species, but why not click this default frame available. And in this case, it's not only about frame but this view gives better idea about the space which has these beautiful fishes all around.
And do you notice mix of Frames and Rule of Thirds in above photograph?
A Street can create a Frame for your subject :
Surroundings like a Suspension bridge can create a Frame for you :
Your frame can be man-made like bridge in above photograph, arches and fences etc. Below are some more examples of framing.
Use Composition Rule of Frames carefully & avoid clutter :
Not every subject of your photograph can be turned into a frame and not every subject looks right framed so take a good look around the viewfinder to make sure your shot looks right before you hit the shutter button.You may also want to keep in mind that what according to you is frame is actually adding value and not creating clutter in your photograph.
Other interesting links to check related to Composition Rule about using Frames -
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