Tip of the Day #1: It's A Frame Of Mind

I am often asked by people to share any tips or tricks I might have for taking photos in various situations. So, I thought it would be fun to start sharing some interesting (and hopefully useful) photography tips through my blog. I'm going to focus on basic tips that can be applied by anyone who owns a camera. Please feel free to e-mail your questions to me as well!

Tip of the Day #1: It's A Frame of Mind

I recently ran across a cool blog that had a great article about Framing Your Shots. Check it out at this link DPS. Below are some good points from that article:

Composition Technique: Framing Your Shots

Framing is the technique of drawing attention to the subject of your image by blocking other parts of the image with something in the scene. There are lots of different types of frames that can be used in photographs, such as interesting doorways, windows, overhanging tree branches, and even people.

Benefits:

1. Gives the image depth & adds an extra dimension to the shot.

2. Leads the eye towards the main focal point.

3. Tells a story about where the photo was shot.

4. Intrigues the viewer- clever framing leaves the viewer wondering a little.

The frame doesn't need to go around all of the edges of the shot - just across one or two corners. In fact, you want to be sure the frame isn't distracting. Too much and the photo becomes cluttered- in other times it turns an okay photo into an awesome image.

Last, but not least, you need to decide if you want your frame to be in focus or not. Using a blurred frame can really add a nice dimension to the image and create a mood. You can acheive this by using a large aperture. Other times a frame that is in focus can help add context to the image and in this case choose a narrow aperture.

Notice the types of framing I chose for the two images featured in this article. I have a personal preference for blurring the frame in the foreground. Take a look around this week and try to frame out your images before you click the shutter....I think you'll be amazed at the difference it can make.