This is an example of framing a subject. I used the tree branches to focus attention on the subject, the mountain in the background.
To focus attention on the photograph’s subject, you can use several techniques. You have all probably heard the term composition, as it refers to art. But do you know what it means to compose a good photograph? For a photo to have good composition means that the subject of the photo is emphasized, and the viewer’s eye is naturally drawn to the subject. This can be accomplished in the following ways:
You can emphasize the subject through the placement of the subject in the frame. The frame refers to the four-sided area that you see through the viewfinder of the camera. This becomes the four sides of the photograph, once it is printed or viewed on a screen. While we’re on the subject, avoid placing the subject directly in the center of the frame unless you have a very good reason for doing so. Many inexperienced photographers do this, and it usually produces a boring composition.
In this picture of Jessica, notice how the curve of her headband and the curve of the top of her shirt force you to focus on her face. While the bridge of her nose is about dead center, the photo works because I am focused on her face, up close. In shots like this, focus on the eyes. If the eyes are out of focus, all is lost.
While I try to avoid rules when taking pictures, there is one that is very helpful. If you try to use it, I think you will see a great improvement in your photos. The rule is called the rule of thirds. If you divide a photo into threes, both vertically and horizontally, and place your main subject near where the lines cross, you will have a strong photograph. The viewer’s eyes will be drawn right into your picture and right to your main subject.
My measurements are a little off here, but you get the idea. Notice Jessica’s shoe in this shot. It appears large because it is closer to the camera than her face. This is an example of using relative size (mentioned below).
This doesn’t mean that you look through the viewfinder and move the camera back and forth until the subject is exactly where those lines would cross. It means that you start to think a little bit differently that you normally would, if you normally put your subject dead center in the picture. This will help you to get the creativity flowing, since now there are many options available to you as to where to put your subject in the frame.
Another way to emphasize your subject is through relative size. By getting close to your subject, you make it appear larger than the objects around it. When you look through your viewfinder, move in close or use a longer lens to make your subject stand out in size, unless you want it to appear smaller. Most beginners in photography don’t get close enough to their subjects, especially when it comes to pictures of family and friends.
Framing is another method for drawing attention to your subject, or emphasizing it. Framing means using some object in the picture that is not the subject of the photo, to emphasize the subject of the photo. Take the example below.
Here, I used a hole in a fence post to frame the riders on the horses. I have forced the eye of the viewer to zoom right into the subject, the cowboys on the horses. I’ve also used selective focus, which we’ll discuss later, to emphasize the subject of the photo.
There are five more techniques to emphasize your photo subjects, and we’ll cover them in detail later. They are: selective lighting, converging lines, selective focus, repetition, and motion. But you have enough to work on with the already mentioned techniques. So get out your camera and start practicing!