Using a foreground element to create a frame within the photo’s frame can be an effective compositional tool. The framing element not only isolates and emphasizes a subject, but also gives the picture a feeling of depth. It can serve to obscure distracting details or to create an interesting foreground where none exists. Some frames, like this overhanging tree branch, seem so natural that we’re not always conscious of their presence, just the pleasing effects. Framing devices work best when they’re somehow thematically related to the subject, such as the silhouetted tree branch framing Morro Rock in the background—both are objects found in nature.
 |
| © Lynne Eodice |
About this image:
I was visiting Morro Bay on California’s central coast several years ago, and decided I wanted to photograph its most famous landmark, Morro Rock. It was early in the morning with unusually clear weather conditions, so I walked around the bay and took a variety of images. After shooting for a while, I felt that the rock alone wasn’t a terribly interesting subject as the morning wore on and the light became increasingly flatter. When I framed it with this tree branch at a nearby park, I discovered the best composition that morning. I captured this image with a FujiFilm FinePix S2 Pro, and a Nikkor zoom lens set at 24mm. My exposure was 1/250 at f/8 for a great depth of field; I also based my exposure on Morro Rock so that the tree branch would be rendered in silhouette.
Let us know if you found this article useful, and tell us what kinds of articles you'd like to see in upcoming issues. Send your comments and ideas to Lynne Eodice.
|
