4.2: Framing

Last updated
Save as PDF

Page ID: 3141

\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

This lesson will help you learn and practice Framing. In Get the Basics, you'll get explanations and photos to build understanding. In Explore, you'll find additional online resources to learn more. It's important to review and learn from these resources also! You'll have opportunities to practice in Build Your Skills. Finally, answer the questions in Record Your Findings at the end of this topic, be sure to include information you learned from the Explore resources.

Get the Basics

Just like a picture frame can surround a photo, in photography, framing is a technique using something in the foreground that “frames” the subject, leading the eye into the photo to focus on the subject. It also gives a feeling of depth because the subject is further away than the frame. Here are some examples of framing.

1. The shadow of the arch in the front frames the building in the distance.

silhouette of person with building in the distance

2. Here's a similar photo with an old stone building forming the frame.

looking through an old stone arch at a barn

3. You can frame the subject in a doorway.

woman in a room seen from the doorway

4. Even trees can serve as a frame.

the ocean seen through the trees

Notice that you can use a variety of things for frames, like an interesting arch, tree branches, door frames, and even a crumbling building. Can you think of other frames?

Explore

Before shooting your own framing photos, learn more about framing at Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition: Framing from Photoinf.com:
http://photoinf.com/General/KODAK/guidelines_for_better_photographic_composition_framing.html

Get ideas for framing with LOTS of examples at Framing - Photography Composition from Photography Blogger:
http://www.photographyblogger.net/framing/

Build Your Skills

Shoot four or more photos - no pairs this time. See if you can find ways to frame subjects. If you can't think of enough ways, review Framing - Photography Composition from Photography Blogger (see above). You can get lots of ideas from the many examples in this blog posting.

Review your framing photos. Select FOUR photos. Share your photos with your teacher, and be prepared to discuss how they show what you’ve learned. Download your photos to a computer to keep them for the portfolio you’ll create in the end-of-course final project.

Record Your Findings

What is framing?
How does framing affect your eye when you look at a photo?
Name four things that could frame a subject without using any of the examples in GET THE BASICS.

References

Image	Reference	Attributions
	[Figure 1]	Credit: Wayan Vota; April 23, 2010 Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dcmetroblogger/4698282492/
	[Figure 2]	Credit: M Bergman; July 11, 2009 Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/31801547@N02/3718142121/
	[Figure 3]	Credit: Cait; March 21, 2007 Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/chismecait/429175204/
	[Figure 4]	Credit: Peter Kemmer; April 24, 2011 Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/pkmousie/5654194323/